One of my favorite sources of inspiration for color and form is flickr. While my flickr favorites include many polymer clay pieces, I love exploring other mediums through flickr as well.
If you haven’t looked at felting in a while, you are likely to be amazed at the variety of new work being done in this medium. This mixed media piece, “Parasite Variscite” by “Ginga Squid” includes plexiglass, sterling silver, wool, silk threads, copper (heat patina, prismacolor, etched), brass microscrews, fine silver heishi and recycled green glass.
I love pictorial quilts and have used them as sources of color inspiration for years. The quilted panel at the right, by Judy Coates Perez, is a rich combination of color, form and texture. The variety of textures is particularly apparent in the closeup below.
I find flickr images that thrill and inspire me by going to the sites of artists whose work I know and love, then following their links to their favorites to see what inspires them. A click of the mouse transports me into a whole new world of artistry and possibilities. Of course this can go on indefinitely… favorites taking me to new artists whose favorites take me to other new artists, and so on. This activity has made for some very late nights.
This carved wood sculpture appeals to me for its rich color, sensuosity and its mellow patina that begs to be touched. I love the way the Georgia O’Keefe like form emerges from the natural bark-covered trunk.
This photo of a pitcher plant is a lovely accompaniment to the sculpture and makes a perfect transition to the softer colors of this impressionist landscape created from needlefelted wool on felt. (below, by Deebs Fiber Arts)
What else inspires me?
This collage made of paper and new and vintage and old watch gears and pieces by Letha Colleen Myers (below).
And this sculpture made of stacked pebbles on native stone by “irOny,” among many, many others.
If you’ve never found images like this on flickr, I invite you to start with my own favorites.
