My Print Made it to the Front Page of Etsy!

This is another quick post share some news! One of my prints "REMEMBER" made it to the front page of Etsy today.

More Vintage Photographs

This is just a quick post to show a couple of vintage photographs I purchased from Ebay. I have not posted any art work for a couple of weeks - I am hoping to post a finished piece of work by the end of the week - fingers crossed! I am now putting my prints on both Ebay and Etsy; there is a link to my Etsy Shop on this blog - I haven't managed to work out how to link to Ebay yet. All my prints sell for around £5.00 or $10.00 on both Ebay and Etsy.

Nesting Fairy

Another image which is for sale in my Etsy Shop.

Three Blind Mice

Hello, one and all. I have not blogged for a week or so, I have been very busy - trying to make new work and doing research. Here is my latest offering - I have called it "Three Blind Mice" - as it is my version of the nursery rhyme of the same name. The girl who featured in the original vintage photograph I used for this image was infact blind. Her portrait gave me the inspiration to make this work.

The origins of the tale of three blind mice is taken from English history. The 'farmer's wife' refers to the daughter of King Henry VIII; Queen Mary I. Mary was a staunch Catholic and her violent persecution of Protestants led to the nickname of 'Bloody Mary'. The reference to 'farmer's wife' in Three blind mice refers to the massive estates which she, and her husband King Philip of Spain, possessed. The 'three blind mice' were three noblemen who adhered to the Protestant faith who were convicted of plotting against the Queen - she did not have them dismembered and blinded as inferred in Three Blind Mice - but she did have them burnt at the stake!

Three blind mice

See how they run

They all ran after the farmer's wife

Who cut off their tails with a carving knife

Did you ever see such a thing in your life

As three blind mice

I will in a day or so list this image on Etsy and Flickr and possibly Trunkd.

Vintage Postcards - Before and After

Just a quick post - I thought I would share a couple of my vintage postcards with you - these cards are a great source of inspiration to me. I have about ten of this particular card - on the front is the word "Debauger" and EP. I have made one digital collage using this set of prints - I have posted my digital collage entitled "Sleeping Mermaid". I hope you like it!I think the image I made needs a partner, so I think I will do another one to make a set. I have a lot of unfinished pieces of work at the moment, so it will have to go on my "to do list"!

A Lovely Find - ACEO's (Art Cards Editions & Originals)

I was rummaging through my books today - I have a lot of them.! I found these lovely little cards (I have been told these are called ACEO's (Art Cards Editions & Originals). I purchased these from Ebay a couple of years ago. The artist you made these is called Amanda and her website is http://www.maygreen-fairies.co.uk/.

New Image - Nainsi (Irish Spelling)

Hello, this is just a quick post to let you see my latest digital collage! I have been busy this week and have managed to finish two images. Again, I am working on the theme of human/bird hybrids - I started off with a vintage postcard; the dress was the inspiration for this piece of work - the rest of it just fell into place. I wanted to put something around her neck,; but was unable to decide what - so I have left it for now.

I will put her on in my Etsy shop and on Flickr.

The Mimics - New Image

This is my latest offering - I have called this image "The Mimics" - it is based on ideas which can be found in folklore and mythology pertaining to shapeshifting, that is that animals; in this image hares, are "tricksters" ie. they transform and take on human form. Once again, I am using the Endicott blog for reference - Terry Winding has written a very informative article on this subject (see link). It is worth a read and the images used are wonderful.

I have listed this image in my Etsy Shop - you can also view it on Flickr!

http://www.endicott-studio.com/rdrm/rrRabbits4.html

Wonderful Vintage Postcards

Just a quick post - I want to share with you, two postcards I purchased recently from Ebay. They both have a theatrical theme, featuring boys and girls. To me they are like ying & yang - they are meant to be together! I hope you like them... and agree with me! I am sure they will be inspiration for future digital collages and you will see them in my etsy shop!

I am working on a collage at the moment; again it is on the using a hare - I am looking at the symbology of three hares in mythology and shape-shifting. Look in again and I will post the finished image.

The Gothic Hare

I finished this image this evening so I thought I would share it with you. I have added a link to this post to http://www.endicott-studio.com/rdrm/rrRabbits.html. They can explain the sybmolism, mythology and folklore associated with the beautiful hare. Visit this wonderful website has there are some interesting interpretations on the theme of the hare.

One interpretation by Carl Jung (Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious) in his theory the "hare" symbolises the archetype (universal images) of the "mother". A Cornish (my part of the world) superstition says a young girl who dies after being abandoned by her lover will turn into a white hare in order to pursue her faithless love. The hare is associated with the cycle of life, birth, time and ultimately death. My interpretation is to do with expectations (no pun intended) birth and fertility. I hope you like it.

Under the Purple Sky

I thought I would share this image with you, I finished it today! I spent a lot of time over the weekend looking at the Surrealist movement. Half way through this image, I nearly deleted it, as I wasn't sure of where I was going with it. I decided to persevere....

Surrealism - Inspiration

I'm not going to say much here; for those of you interested in Surrealism - take a look at these wonderful and inspirational paintings. The first image is by Paul Delvaux - The Crucifixion (1952). The middle paintings are by Dorothea Tanning, The Birthday (1942). The second image by Dorothea Tanning is Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (1943). The fourth painting is by Leonora Carrington, The Inn of the Dawn Horse - Self Portrait (1936/7).

BIRD SYMBOLISM

http://www.brigids-haven.com/bos/info/birds.html

For those of us who use the computer to manipulate and make art, then reading the book "Landscape of Dreams" by Maggie Taylor, this beautiful book is a must. The ISBN number is ISBN: 321-30614-7. Maggie Taylor, uses vintage images, anthropomorpology, bird nest, eggs, wings, masks, rabbits etc. in her work.

The American Artist Joseph Cornell often worked with birds in his assembelages. He was, in my opionion, one of the great artists of the 20th century. His work was considered "Outsider Art" - and outside the realms of the art establishment. The second image above is called Hotel Eden.

Portrait of the Artist/Maker as a Bad Character

I spent much of yesterday warding off emails from a group of fellow image makers/artists on Etsy and Flickr. Even though my images have been in "cyber space" for a couple of months, I have suddenly been accused of plagiarism. My immediate reaction was to retaliate, which I did, albeit, briefly. However, the debate of plagiarism has gone on since men/women were drawing on cave walls. However, one's natural instinct is to defend... who am I defending myself from? Faceless, virtual bullies... Is there such a thing as original thoughts/ideas?

Going forward, if my work appears on this blog or on another internet site, please feel free to ask questions about my work. I believe I have been open about my sources, if you read my previous blogs from last week, you will see where the idea for the image Peek-a-Boo came from. The original idea was from a vintage photograph, as is my image "Twilight Oz Fairy" - I have shown before and after images. As my tag is Valentine's Attic - I use the symbol of the heart, both in my image making and also in my jewellery (jewelry) making. The heart is a motif that transcends time and will be used after the trace we leave have gone.

I have debated about intellectualising my work, as my aim when starting a blog and trying to sell my images was purely to make a little pin money from Etsy and other internet platforms and possibly bring someone, somewhere, a little joy through my image making. Sometimes simple intentions have a way of backfiring. As you will see from my Etsy shop - I have sold 3 images in 3 months - hardly a roaring success!

I have given a lot of thought to how fairy tales, folklore and myths, are interpretated in contemporary art and to how in the 21st century we use iconographical motifs vis-a-vie birds, masks, horns and dolls etc. to tell a story. Over the coming weeks, I intend to "refocus" and do further research on this subject and by doing so, hopefully share some of my findings with you. Looking at not only how but also why we use these universal symbols.

I have taken solice from my degree work entitled "Look at Me". Two of the images are above.

Cynthia Ozsick, who wrote "Portrait of the Artist as a Bad Character" - see the irony. One of my favourite quotes is from her:

"What we remember from childhood we remember for ever - permanent ghosts, stamped, inked, imprinted, eternally seen."

Some further reading:

http://www.artsjournal.com/aestheticgrounds/2007/04/public_art_plagiarism_vernacul.html

http://quote.robertgenn.com/getquotes.php?catid=228

http://publication.nodel.org/Utopian-Plagiarism

An Open Letter To Internet Bullies

I have been making artwork on and off for over 30 years. Today, I logged into my Etsy account and was accused of stealing another persons ideas. I have also been left malicious content on Flickr and a spiteful email on Etsy! I am an honest person, and to have my integrity and reputation sullied is hurtful and sad.

The iconography of the work I produce is woven into the fabric of fairy stories, mythology and surrealism. I grew up near Rochester, Kent, the home of Charles Dickens. From an early age I collected, objects, wings, bugs, and all manner of emphemera - I catalogued and I stored. I collected and remade. I could list a dozen artists whose work is similar to mine. In academic terms yes, the SIGNIFIERS (SIGNS) or reference points as described by Fernand de Saussure, that I use and thousands of other artists use are similar, however, they codes are imbedded in our culture, they are not unique to me or any other art producing imagery on ETSY, FLICKR or anywhere else for that matter.

TO ALL OF THOSE SPITEFUL PEOPLE - WHO THEMSELVES PRODUCE BEAUTIFUL; BUT NOT UNIQUE WORK. YOU DO NOT NEED TO FEEL THREATENED BY ME. REST ASSURED, I AM NOT GOING TO BE BULLIED OR STOPPED FROM PRODUCING THE IMAGES I MAKE.

I will not answer anonymous comments, if you feel that strongly, you should have no qualms in leaving your details. Enough said. My final word on this is - REALLY - my god, there are awful things happening is this world, step down from your ivory towers and take a reality check. Shame on you.

Peek-a-Boo

This is the latest image I finished it this afternoon. This little lady is playing peek-a-boo.

I have been asked a lot where do I get my vintage photographs from. Mainly from Ebay, and very occasionally local second hand shops (or thrift stores). The image I used for Peek-a-Boo I have had for over a year. I was working on two other images and not getting very far, so I started to play around with this photograph and three days later and a lot of hard work, an image.

This image is on sale in my etsy shop.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=10913588

Lots of lovely vintage photographs

I received £20.00 for Easter, instead of an easter egg! I decided to add to my collection of vintage photographs and postcards, so I brought 10 postcards for @ £2.00 each from a very nice gentleman on Ebay. The two sisters, where from another etsy seller.

I adore both images! I have called the top photograph, Art Deco Fairy, as I will probably put wings on her! I am working on a digital collage incorporating her, at the moment. However, it is proofing to be difficult. I will try and finish it this week and post it here. Also, it will probably go into my etsy shop - the link is in the sidebar.

I am also working on incorporating the two sisters into a digital collage. Again, my creative juices are not firing at 100%!

Just before I go, I have just put some of my images on Flickr, I have had some great feedback - which has given be confidence to continue.... until the next time.

The Mad Hatters Tea Party

My apologies, I have not posted any images for a couple of weeks.

I buy a lot of images via the internet, with the intention of re-working them with my own narrative. One of my prize possessions is this tableaux of what looks like a school play - it is so unique and to me, perfect. I will leave this image as it is, and just look at it for inspiration.

Twilight Oz Fairy - Vintage Photographs

Just a quick post showing the source of the image I have made entitled "Twilight Oz Fairy". I bought these two vintage photographs from Australia, I was expecting one image, to my delight two turned up. If you look at the girl dressed as a fairy/rabbit outfit, she is also in the other image of the two little girls (far right)! - how wonderful!

I have not manipulated the image with the two sisters yet, I am sure I will in the future.

New Image - Just Finished - Alouette & Avila

I have just finished this image, I thought I would post it before I changed my mind. I have been working on it, on and off, for weeks. This is another image of Alouette and Avila, the birdy twins. They do very little, apart from waiting and watching, the ever present crow soars above, he is also watching....