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| Dior 1950s. Sparkly, yes. Gorgeous, yes. And yet I would not buy this. |
I like to share the work of artists I admire. Like most ladies my eye is attracted by a bit of sparkle but to hold my attention and make me part with hard earned monies items need to have more. Much more.
What I really love are things which sparkle AND tell a story. This skill is known to a few wordsmiths, painters, and the magic hands that can bring life to a lump of clay. What these artists create are my Objects Of Desire.
I have always been interested in folklore, the telling of it and how it came to be. My dream home would be in a wood. We live close but not quite in amongst the trees. I need a pale hound to walk beside me while I ramble. I have caught sight of many beasts therein, some real, some imagined. Some timid as this Roe Deer, some clever like a Fox, some fierce like the Wolf.
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| A Roe Deer in the woods by our cottage |
I think that wild things beckon to us because we see something in them which we have lost or hidden deep inside ourselves. I have Native American ancestors whose beliefs enthralled me while growing up. I was alternatively fascinated and frightened by Totem Poles and the ancient carvings of beasts you see all over Europe remind me of them. I like the stories that lie within the images of Totems and Idols.
So it is no surprise that I am attracted to the work of Joanne May of Willow Treefox Art and Midori Takaki of DoGoo Contemporary Clay Idols. These two artists both create stunning items which tell a story. Their lives are shared with beautiful animals, Joanne often writes about her magical Bengal Cat Zigsa who was the inspiration for her Fairy Cat illustrations and Midori shares wonderful photographs of all the animals who inhabit her life including the dogs Pearl and Topaz and the Hen named Pumpkin.
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| Fox Moth by Joanne May Willow Treefox Designs Etsy Shop |
Willow Treefox Design artist Joanne May lives in the Wiltshire countryside which inspires her to create her beguiling fairytale illustrations of creatures known to us, and not known to us.
On her Etsy profile she says, "Jo is inspired by natures woodland magic, fairy tales and the Victorian fairy painters such as John Fitzgerald and Arthur Rackham. The Pre-Raphaelite arts movement and the Celtic myths and legends greatly influence her work too.
Joanne also creates unique handmade jewellery using gold and silver findings with semi-precious stones, ceramic and glass beads".
I love this Moth Fox illustration she has created. I like to imagine he lives in the old willow tree at the bottom of Jo's garden, and that maybe, just maybe, some of his relatives can be found in my woods by the stream. The photo does not do him justice, he is exquisite and this print has so much detail it is very close to a real painting. He will have pride of place in my bedroom where he can look out the window to the trees beyond and listen to the song of The Thrush that lives in the woods.
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| Willow Treefox Design Fox pendant by Joanne May |
This fabulous Fox pendant is one of her stunning jewel creations. This Fox was made from clay and hand painted and he has two faces, it is so detailed that both the front and back of the pendant are painted! Each of her designs is unique, no two are alike. I adore the small charms hung from her items. I was torn between an Owl and a Fox pendant but the Fox won my heart. It was a hard decision!
Her creations are in her Etsy shop and on her facebook page where she sometimes has giveaways of her work. Her Etsy shop also sells cards of some of her illustrations and magical little Fairy stickers. But you have to be quick as they sell out fast! She makes new designs from time to time so keep checking. This one is currently available and is greatly tempting me!
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| Snowy Owl Spirit pendant http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/128978658/snowy-owl-spirit-pendant-made-of-clay?ref=shop_home_active |
Willow Treefox Design Etsy Shop
Joanne May Illustration & Jewellery Design on facebook
Her blog: Willow Treefox Art by Joanne May
Midori of DoGoo Contemporary Clay Idols lives in Canterbury, England and is a sculptor who can turn her hand to the discipline required to produce a perfectly shaped traditional bowl or jug and yet she can also give her imagination free flight to create items of fairytale origin.
I especially love this most perfect little milk jug adorned by the rabbit on the handle and a paw mark at the lower end of the handle.
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| Buy this wonderful cup here: http://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/123079403/handmade-rabbit-porcelain-creamer?ref=shop_home_active |
I am enchanted by her interpretation of the story of Red Riding Hood and The Wolf which she has shared with us on her blog. I hope that she will not mind me posting this here.
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| Red Riding Hood plaque by DoGoo Contemporary Clay Idols http://dogoo-midori.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/test-pieces-before-firing-and-pearls-joy.html |
I think what she has written on the profile of her Etsy shop perfectly captures the spirit of her work and explains her strong tie to nature and the world around her which she has great love and respect for.
"I make ceramic figures inspired by nature, fairy tales and myth. I was fascinated by metamorphoses in Greek myth, and love the world of Narnia.
My figures usually have stories behind them. When I make faces, they often start talking to me and they build their own characters from there. Although I make shapes for them, I don't feel I create them. I just help them appear. The deep almost unconscious dialogue that I have with the subjects is the source of my joy of making them.
My work will bring smile to those who see them. That makes me happy.
I also make tableware too. They are inspired by plants, especially flower buds and leaf buds.
I am taking an MA course in Applied and Fine Arts in Canterbury Christ Church University as a part-time student. I used to work as interior designer in Tokyo. I had my first exhibition at Artists' Open Houses in October 2011.
I have studied sociology and anthropology for BA and MA, and interior design at a professional level. My most favourite place to visit is V&A, and the place I have liked to visit most is Hermitage at St. Petersburg.
I live with the husband, three parrots, two dogs, one finch and one chicken in a beautiful old city in Kent.
I love life, feel optimistic and lucky. I am sometimes too imaginative for my social reputation!"
DoGoo Contemporary Clay Idols blog
Midori's Etsy Shop
I believe that both Jo and Midori take commissions. Why not allow something from your own imagination to come to life under their magical hands?
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| Red Riding Hood meets a wolf, by Arthur Rackham My favourite Red illustration which graces a wall in our cottage. |
I keep meaning to write a post about Little Red Riding Hood but my love of this tale is so great that I am frightened of not doing it justice. Where to begin? Where to end? While I continue to collect, disect and mull it over in my mind and eye, Kristin over at Tales Of Faerie has posted this recently about Red Riding Hood and werewolves in Europe, and it offers another bit of informaton in the unravelling of the story.
http://talesoffaerie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/werewolves-and-little-red-riding-hood.html