Your Art Inspired by Raggedy Ann Doll

Enjoy the art inspired by Helen's painting, Raggedy Ann Doll

(The inspiration image is at the bottom of this post..)

Sara Harley: Raggedy Metamorphosis

@saraharley.photos

story cloth (aka modern quilt)

Although I consider myself a photographer, I have recently become addicted to creating "story cloths", my version of a modified quilt. Creating a warm and comfortable blanket using Raggedy Ann as an inspiration was a wonderful challenge for me. I tried to take the essence of Raggedy Ann and stitch her into a one dimensional form. Black stripes for her shoes, a strip of red and white striped fabric for her stockings, flowered strips for her dress, and white linen with zig zag stitching for her pina fore. And let's not forget the wild, wild red appliqued strips for her hair!

Inspiration Image:  Raggedy Ann Doll  by Helen Eaton

Someone recently told me she thought Raggedy Anns were creepy.  What?!  I cannot imagine how a floppy doll with big black saucer eyes with zig-zags underneath, a red triangle nose, and out-of-control bright red hair could be seen as creepy!!  Oh...  Hmmm...
I've always had a soft spot for Raggedy Ann.  Oh, how I loved mine!  New toys come and go, but some special ones stand the test of time.

Your Art Inspired by Apple Slices

Enjoy the art inspired by Helen's painting, Apple Slices.

(The inspiration image is at the bottom of this post.)

Sara Harley: Tree of Strength

Website: saraharley.ca

Photographic Art

October 2020 will be the tenth anniversary of my breast cancer diagnosis. During the time between my surgery and my treatments, I felt powerless and I decided to adopt a tree as my personal symbol of strength. Since that time, I have photographed many trees. Just like us, each tree is unique. Trees face many adversities and stand strong and resilient.

In response to Helen's Apple Slices, I decided to create a four season tree combining images of a century old apple tree that I photographed throughout the seasons several years ago.

 

 

Sheila Strickland: Back-to-School

Website: Welcome Home Retreat

Scrapbook pages, 12"x 12"

Inspiration Image: Apple Slices by Helen Eaton

While it’s true that 2020 has its own set of anxieties, back-to-school is such an exciting time! Brand new tennis shoes… crayons with sharp points… long yellow pencils… names on desks… sparkles in the eyes of happy faces... Between being a student and being a teacher, I got to feel that jittery first-day-of-school joy 47 times! 

An Apple for Teacher... For so long the apple kind of symbolized who I was.  It’s an odd thing when something that’s a huge part of your identity runs its course and comes to an end. Who will you be now? What will your new symbol be? 

Your Art Inspired by Autumn Joy

 Enjoy the art inspired by Sara's photograph, Autumn Joy.

(The inspiration image is at the bottom of this post..)

Lynn Hanousek: It's Fall

Facebook: Lynn Hanousek Designs

Acrylic painting on stretch canvas, 12"x24"

Truth be told, I had just told my husband, “I need to start working on larger canvases” and then the September inspirations were posted. One of Sara’s was a single, beautiful autumn leaf. Last year I had started a 12x24 inch canvas filled with leaves falling on a cat. I left it to the side wondering if I’d ever finish it. Well, I did. What a feeling of accomplishment: finishing a long forgotten painting, working on a larger canvas and meeting the challenge for September all at the same time. I truly have “Autumn Joy”!

 

Sheila Strickland: Autumn!

Website: Welcome Home Retreat

Scrapbook pages, 12"x 12"

Helen Eaton: Autumn Pleasure

Instagram: @helenpowelleaton

Oil on Canvas, 8"x10"

The older I get, the more appreciation I have for fall.  Maybe it's because I have more time to appreciate it now.  We are lucky to live in a part of the country that gets all kinds of beautiful fall colors. I love the gold trees beside our driveway, the big yellow hickory tree behind the house, the cherry-red leaves of our dogwoods, and even the browns of the oaks.  I picked up all the leaves for this little painting around our home one day last autumn. 

So many amazing colors... what a pleasure!

Inspiration Image: Autumn Joy by Sara Harley

I'm thankful that I live in a place that has four distinct seasons. I was thrilled to find a leaf on a recent walk, filled with the colours of our upcoming fall season. Soon it will be time to savour all the joys of autumn.

Your Art Inspired by Pondering

Enjoy the art inspired by Sara's photograph, Pondering.

(The inspiration image is at the bottom of this post..)

Julie Brandt: Lotus Love

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JujuBeePaints

Oil on Canvas, 12"x 12"

In my pond,
   in my backyard, 
   where we have spent so much time,
         I had a lotus flower.  
 
The lotus flower represents purity, and enlightenment in many religions.
Floating on a long stem above the murky waters, a sacred water lily. 
Eastern religions say it is hope and strength and rebirth.
        I need hope and strength in this murky world.
 
The lotus was given to us by a friend, and once planted in the pond proceeded to take it over!  It would send new stems, roots, and leaves out every day.  Many entertaining hours were spent watching the frogs jump off the leaves and watching new flowers bud, then open.  Nature in my backyard has become a sanctuary in this time of home.

Helen Eaton: Peace Like a River

Instagram: @helenpowelleaton

Oil with Palette Knife, 11"x 14

If you were in a rowboat floating down this stream, would you want to reach down and glide your fingers across the water? I would.

If you stood in front of this painting on the wall, would you want to reach out and stroke your fingers across the canvas?  I would.

If you like the way this image makes you feel, would you want to know how it feels?  I would.

 

Nelvia McGrath: Cherry Blossom

Instagram: @nelviamcgrath

Acrylic, 9"x 12"

I started by cleaning off the Gelli plate which created the background.  I’d decided I wanted to do a series on geishas as I am a huge fan of Oriental art and would like to try to paint the colors and patterns of the kimonos.  I loved all the colors that composed the whitened face which fit well with the muted colors of the background.  In working on improving composition and making it more complex, I decided to add the hint of cherry blossoms.   I’m hoping the skeleton of the tree serves to frame and lead the eye into the face and create energy and movement into the piece.

August Inspiration: Pondering by Sara Harley

We have a small garden pond beside our back deck. Every day, morning and evening, I sit on the edge of the deck and watch the fish. I let my mind wander, and relax, and problems slip away in those quiet moments.

September Inspiration Images

Four new Inspiration Images are here!  Which one makes you want to create something of your own? The unique thing about Inspiration Collaboration is that there is no way to predict how what direction YOUR mind will take.  The possibilities are endless. Paint, yarn, glass, stone, pen, paper, words, fabric, photography... and more!

Click HERE for instructions on how to submit your work.

So much beautiful and creative art has come from this community of artists. It's a pleasure to see each new work that YOU add to the growing collection of Inspiration Collaboration 2020.  If you haven't contributed before, maybe this is the month that you will!

September Inspiration 1: Apple Slices by Helen Eaton

While it’s true that 2020 has its own set of anxieties, back-to-school is such an exciting time! Brand new tennis shoes… crayons with sharp points… long yellow pencils… names on desks… sparkles in the eyes of happy faces... Between being a student and being a teacher, I got to feel that jittery first-day-of-school joy 47 times! 

An Apple for Teacher... For so long the apple kind of symbolized who I was.  It’s an odd thing when something that’s a huge part of your identity runs its course and comes to an end. Who will you be now? What will your new symbol be? 

September Inspiration 2: Pondering by Sara Harley

We have a small garden pond beside our back deck. Every day, morning and evening, I sit on the edge of the deck and watch the fish. I let my mind wander, and relax, and problems slip away in those quiet moments.

September Inspiration 3: Raggedy Ann Doll  by Helen Eaton

Someone recently told me she thought Raggedy Anns were creepy.  What?!  I cannot imagine how a floppy doll with big black saucer eyes with zig-zags underneath, a red triangle nose, and out-of-control bright red hair could be seen as creepy!!  Oh...  Hmmm...

I've always had a soft spot for Raggedy Ann.  Oh, how I loved mine!  New toys come and go, but some special ones stand the test of time.

September Inspiration 4: Autumn Joy by Sara Harley

I'm thankful that I live in a place that has four distinct seasons. I was thrilled to find a leaf on a recent walk, filled with the colours of our upcoming fall season. Soon it will be time to savour all the joys of autumn.