Sunday, 23 August 2015

Show Your Face on Friday - Inspired by June Walker.

Hello and welcome to Magpieheaven! Oh, my goodness! I am so honoured! I just saw that Kim at 'Show Your Face' has been inspired by me this week, along with three other artists whose work I love - Lee, Susi and Valerie Jael! And here am I sounding like the student who arrives at school not having done her homework on time, but with an abundant supply of excuses! I am really behind with linking up; commenting on friends' blogs and in writing blogs myself at the moment! Our family - including our dear old cat, Daisy - have not enjoyed a healthy summer! First my mum came down with a throat infection and flu, then my son and finally myself! Daisy is an elderly lady and she is poorly from time to time. She chose the day before my daughter's return from holiday not to get to the litter tray on time and soiled the beautiful, freshly laundered duvet cover I had just placed lovingly on Matilda's bed to welcome her home! The laundry had to be done again immediately - at 1.00 am when I had just returned from seeing an old friend who looks after his elderly mum!
Anyway, enough complaining! This summer I also discovered Kim Dellow's wonderful blog where we are invited to 'Show Your Face on Friday'. This has been a great place for a whole group of people interested in 'making faces' to hone their skills, experiment and just have fun! Please click here if you want to find out more, be inspired and link up yourself! Last summer I joined a fantastic class called 'The Imaginarium'. This was where I rediscovered that I love to draw faces and that it doesn't matter if they are not perfect - they just have to be fun. I've been participating in Mary Jane's excellent Tinytopia class this summer and now I've discovered the joys of Pyrography! So...this week I'm inspired by Mary Jane's class and also the art of June Walker. I love the way June places her portraits in a fantasy land and also the bright, dream-like colours she uses. I wanted to translate some of the dreamy quality to the little wood-burned houses I've been creating.


Because this is work in miniature, I couldn't manage so much colour on the faces, but I hope this little clown's hat made up for it!


In this fantasy land even the trees and the sun have faces!


I love how June's colours are always so vivid and spring-like. I wanted to evoke that same quality, but with translucent PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paints and charred wood.


A little while back a friend asked if I would create her a tiny house/wardrobe inspired by C. S. Lewis' 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'. I have now made this for her and I also created a second one. I want to give my friend who is caring for his mum a little gift and I'm not sure yet whether he would like the miniature house above, or the recent Narnia 'wardrobe'.


It's very wintry so I might save it to give for Christmas.


 In my version of the land of Narnia, all of Nature has a face to show!


I will never forget the magic of being read this story when I was at primary school and that sense of following Lucy into the snowy land beyond the fur coats!


Thank you so much for stopping by Magpieheaven today. I do hope that I will be able to visit more blogs in the coming week and see all the exciting projects my crafty friends have been creating! I do hope the coming week will be a creative and a healthy one for you! And thank you Kim for 'Show Your Face on Friday'!

18 comments:

  1. What with poor health in the family (two and four legged) and houses and faces you've had quite a busy summer... love your projects and anyone I am sure, would appreciate such a beautiful gift! Hope things slow down a bit for you soon so you can enjoy "stuff" more!!

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  2. Love your oodles of wonderful faces and fantasy in your post. Narnia was and is one of my all time fave stories, love our creation! Hugs, Valerie

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  3. I am absolutely blown away by the two magical creations you have to share today! The detailing is mesmerizing and truly transport you to a world of fantasy. Thank you for sharing, and don't worry that you were a little late to your show at Kim's blog, my friend!

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  4. Oh my word Julie Ann!! So much wonderful goodness in your pieces-I don't know where to begin! I really felt magic as I read and looked closely at your pieces! Your tiny work is Astounding and the faces on the wardrobe- Perfect! I want to climb in to that little land of imagination and WONDER! Oh the perfect student you have been for Mary Jane, as you have captured the essence of Tiny Topia! xoxo
    ps: what is the hat made of?

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  5. Your little pixie house is charming - the hat is adorable - and I just love the Narnia doors opening and opening in every direction to reveal new delights (but no Turkish Delight). Wonderful, imaginative creativity as always, Julie Ann, and I'm delighted that Kim has highlighted you as an inspiration (never a truer word) to take the edge off some of the less lovely things going on in life at the moment.
    Alison xx

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  6. So sorry to hear you've all been so poorly. It doesn't seem to have affected your artistic bent though, your little houses are just fabulous. I had to go back three times to look at them again and again.You really have achieved an amazing depth of colour. It's positively luminous! Hope you are all on the mend soon (including poor Daisy). Lx

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  7. I do so love these little sculptures, little treasures! I loved the Narnia books too. Children's literature is very inspiring for visual art! The little clown with his colourful hat and sad little face is too gorgeous for words!!

    I am glad you were inspired by my colourful faces art. They make me feel happy when I do them! Probably because I use wax crayons ...and they make me feel like a child.

    Funny co-incidence how we were inspired by each other...this week.

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  8. Oh I feel your pain with all the illness and that duvet cover...isn't that always the way!! That's why at 35 years of having dogs I've had a 6 year break! Love love your little pieces. How would he decide... Not sure how I would. Probably couldn't resist the little roof on the house..so adorable... Good job!! Hope you get back on track soon!

    Hugs Giggles

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  9. Such exquisite little pieces of miniature art Julie Ann!
    I hope you are all feeling much better now!
    Alison xxx

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  10. Fabulous Narnia house with secret opening. xox

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  11. how fabulous are these, wow blown away, I love them, and thanks for such a nice comment on my blog

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  12. Sorry you have had so much illness. It has not hampered your art though! Lovely little pieces. So whimsical.

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  13. Wow! I'd say never mind visiting - just carry on making wonderful art like these lovelies so that we can come and visit you! Hope things calm down a bit for you, hugs, Chrisx

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  14. You are constantly one of my inspirations :) I'm just blown away by everything you do Julie Ann. Totally gorgeous and seeing as life is super busy for you at the moment too it is even more amazing. I am completely in love with your Nania! really, really love it! No really. Have I said really enough? :) gorgeous. Thanks for linking up to Show Your Face and for the shout out too! Kx

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  15. You never fail to transport me to a land where the flora and fauna are of the gentleness of nature, possibly with a dash of mischief but we can forgive them their mischievous ways when it is only to bring a smile to our faces and joy to our hearts.
    That is what I experience each time I visit your blog.
    Wishes
    Lynne

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  16. I also wanted to add that I am sorry that Daisy has also been so poorly. I hope she is now on the road to recovery.
    Wishes
    Lynne
    Julie Ann, I know you are an avid reader and wonder if you have read "Of Bees and Mist". When reading it I thought of you and how I am sure it would appeal to you. x

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  17. Julie Ann I am hoping all the illness's are a distant memory and the future bright and healthy <3 Love your pieces so detailed and magical :) Love the Narnia!

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  18. Sorry you have had such a poorly family, yourself included and I do hope you are all well on the mend now.

    I've missed commenting on lots of your lovely posts but am so loving your little houses. I have to say the 'Narnia' one would be my choice but not an easy call to make as they are both so beautiful.

    Hugs
    Lesley Xx

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