STUFFED.....Inspirational Pause #3?

I'm not sure I can call the site, Crappy Taxidermy, an inspirational place to visit - and it may not be to everyone's taste, but it definitely is fascinating.

There are currently 65 pages on this site with multiple submissions of various forms of taxidermy. Some are bizarre, some are inventive, some are just plain BAD. This site is great for those that work in the fantasy realm, as even some of the really bad stuffed critters, could possibly spark an idea. For those that like to create anthropomorphic creatures, again, some good reference on this site.

I have some more sites I've found to share with you over the next few days and then I have to hit the studio and start work. Hubby has been off for vacation this week (and next week), and I've been busy with him. I do think all this web surfing has lured my muse back though..... yaaaaayyy!

Update: When I posted this I had only gone through several pages on the site. I just finished going through the whole site and while I did see some things that I found fascinating (most of it was works by other artists), by the last page I was also feeling rather nauseous. I love animals, and this emotion fought with my quest to find some ideas. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post - the site is definitely not for everyone.

Inspirational Pause #2.......AGO

I want to thank Ingrid of Fashion is My Muse for blogging about the fantastic Surreal exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario. We spent a delightful afternoon yesterday in Toronto at the AGO taking in the fabulous examples of art, fashion, furnishings, jewelry and
accessories that had all been part of the surrealistic movement.

I want to go back and see more. My head was swimming with all the fabulous exhibits, however I know I missed things. So many artists were represented, as well as fashion designers. My absolute favorite is Elsa Schiaparelli and I could have studied her
gowns for hours.

Silk chiffon "torn" dress - collaboration with Dali

Skeleton dress, another collaboration with Dali

Long Black coat with 'vase' embroidery and applied roses on the back - collaboration with Jean Cocteau

Pieced wool felt "harlequin" coat

handsewn plaited gold braid coat and cape

The above are just a few examples of Schiap's designs that are on exhibit. Another favorite of mine is Charles James, who had several gowns and this very 80s looking jacket:

Not to be outdone in the fashion section, there was Dali's "Aphrodisiac" Jacket:

There were costumes from the Ballet Russes.....a couple of them below:

Along with some wonderful painted wardrobes and other pieces of furniture, there was this corset chair by Leonor Fini:

There was so much to see in this exhibit alone, that we had very little time to see some of the other exhibits. The AGO is a huge place and well worth a whole day visit. Numerous paintings by masters, including some of the Pre-Raphelites, sculpture, some fascinating and quirky installations, just sooooo much......I'm definitely planning a trip back!

I will end this with a picture of Dali's lobster phone.......

Obviously, this exhibit has nothing to do with dolls, however art of any kind can be inspiring and feed the creative juices and yesterday definitely proved that!

Inspirational Pause #1

Inside the Otter ~ Elizabeth McGrath

While I've been waiting for my muse to return and for this horrible heat and humidity to diminish, I've been having fun checking out different sites and various links on sites. I've found several artists that really intrigue me and am slowly feeling that creative spark returning.

Elizabeth McGrath is an artist that is new to me. I am fascinated by her inventive and creative pieces.

A short excerpt from her website bio:

Los Angeles-born artist Elizabeth McGrath has always had an eye for the strange beauty in the grotesqueries of life; this appreciation is nowhere more evident than in her work. Inspired by the relationship between the natural world and the detritus of consumer culture, she brings forth a new cavalcade of creatures from the darker corners of the streets, the city, the imagination. It is this melancholy interaction between man-made status symbols and suffering specimens of nature that make up her intricate body of work. Today she lives in Downtown LA with her hairless dogs Blue and King Tut, and her Husband Morgan Slade. They play together in the band Miss Derringer.

To see more of this talented artist's work, please visit her site.

Fast Pop In

Gosh, after being sick, I had planned on posting on my blog regularly, but as they say, "the best laid plans...."

I have not been on the computer much the last week, my muse is still on vaca and the weather has become very hot and humid - which means my studio area is like an oven.

In the evenings I have been doing some web exploring and
searching for inspiration. Have found some and will start throwing up some short posts, as some of you may be inspired too

Hope to be back on a regular posting basis soon....however I must say it is kind of nice to take a break from the computer! LOL

Wishing everyone a wonderfully fantastic weekend!

Oh Where ...Oh Where

...has my muse gone? Did the flu scare her off? Is it the hotter summer weather? Maybe because I have had my mind on things other than art? Or could it be she can't abide the mess in my studio?

As I lay in my sickbed (how dramatic does that sound!), I fretted about not getting several pieces done. I was worried about the time it was taking to shake this nasty bug. Now I am feeling good, BUT, any and all inspiration seems to have left me. When Inspiration fled, Motivation went right along with her.

I have been doing everything but creating. I've been going shopping

Checking out end-of-season (where has the summer gone?) sales.

Having lunch with friends.

Going to the beach (well, it was more a park with a lake - but you get the idea)...

Basically, I've just been hanging around

(all posters.com)

....and definitely NOT creating. So my plan of attack is to clean my studio, and start checking out sites for inspiration. Once I am inspired, I know I will be motivated. Hmmmm, maybe I should check out sites first - and THEN clean my studio!

Better

I'm not actually skipping around my yard in diaphanous swaths of

fabric, but after recovering from that flu bug, I certainly felt like it! I want to thank everyone for the concern and good wishes that they posted on my "sick" blog and also in emails that were sent to me. Never had a flu like that before and I am so glad it is gone!

I feel like I haven't been on my blog for months, and I have also missed so many of my fellow bloggers posts. I'm SO out of touch!

This is a holiday in Canada, and I'm hoping later today to do some catchup to find what out fabulous things everyone is up to!

I have to send out a Happy Birthday to our youngest daughter, Keara today. Twenty-three years ago, we were blessed when she was born and she has given us nothing but joy ever since.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!