Art Dolls by Du Buh Du Designs

A Colorful Obsession or Two

Artists Nathalie Lete's work

 

Every so often I am asked what my sources of inspiration are for my artwork. It's a broad question that usually leaves me with the only truthful response of .."Well that depends.." Being that I haven't been working on dolls in the past few months I can say that my latest source of inspiration (obsession, really) is coming from the use of color by certain artists. And when I mean inspiration  I mean something that makes me want to get off my behind and actually start working again. Perhaps my latest inspiration with color comes from the slow ushering in of Springtime or from the fact that I recently painted my studio bright white and moved all of my fabrics back in there which added a wall of color that had been missing for awhile. Maybe having been in the doldrums for so long and just now coming out of it I am noticing it all  around.

The designer wearing one of her creations 

Whatever the case I can not stop thinking about the art work of French Artist & Designer Nathalie Lete (you may be familiar with her work as it has appeared in Anthropologie recently). I love how she uses color in her prints, ceramics, rugs, clothing and in her studio and home. Her work makes me want to paint floral images on my walls, birds on my furniture, to take up latch hook rug making..well almost. That's not likely to happen, but perhaps with the next set of dolls you may or may not see an exorbitant use of color..at least you'll know why that's the case!

 

Lete's studio..I could  work in a space like this :) (all above images in this post copyright N. Lete)

above  (top): "Ex-Voto 2001",

(bottom): "Before Falling Asleep" by Austrian  Artist Sarah Lechner (images copyright S. Lechner)

 

Another artist whose work I really have been fascinated with lately is Sarah Lechner. I marvel at her use of color and texture so much I have been eyeing my jar of embroidery floss already picturing what I want to do with this.. You can visit her blog here~

 

Hope all of you Mothers out there had a lovely day on Sunday or at least a restful one! I got to choose how we'd spend "my day " and like last year I was eager to visit our local nurseries in search of plants and flowers for our garden. Unfortunately it's been a bit of an extended winter here in Central Oregon and the offerings were slim (well that and I'm a sort of picky)..perhaps by Fathers Day there will be more flowers blooming ~

I'm mother to this sweet little kid..lucky me :)

Oh and lastly I received this nice surprise in the mail this afternoon..the documentary I mentioned in the previous post. Thanks Mom!

   

Artists and Mothers

above: "Who does she think she is?", a 2008 film I'm eager to see

I just wanted to pop in and send out a quick hello to all and a special Thankyou to those who participated in the recent Cigar Box Shrine Auction! It was wonderful to witness such generosity.

Though this is a brief post ,consider me 'back to blogging' :)

Happy (early) Mothers Day wishes to you!

p.s.. My latest Frida is now a print that be found in my Etsy shop~