artist – monadnock mama

I recently discovered the work of artist Heather Sleightholm, otherwise known by her blog and shop name “Audrey Eclectic.” I was immediately captivated by Heather’s folk-art style religious paintings. Using the basic structure of icon paintings, Heather has created religious works for the 21st Century; her colors are bright and vibrant, and her subjects’ faces are open and accessible, drawing one right into the heart of the painting. I am particularly enamored of her Madonna & Child paintings — one can almost feel the love emanating from Mary’s face. Her “Woodland Madonna” is my absolute favorite (below, right).

Heather has also created many works that feature scenes of home and faith. Given my own domestic aspirations, I’m always looking for role models and inspiration in the world of art. Heather’s painted families garden, prepare for festivals, attend church, and just spend time in each other’s company. Amidst the chaos of the modern world, there is such comfort and hope in these images of simple lives in which home, family, and God are central.

In Heather’s own words:

The things that inspire my art are wide and varied, but I love when the things I love speak to others as well. If I’ve gained anything through my art, its been amazing friends! If there is a common thread in my art, it is a deep love of family, tradition, faith and history. These things tend to mingle in all I create, and it’s my hope to make art that gives others a sense of peace, happiness and warmth when they add my art to their home or give it to their friends or family.

I have to say that I am kind of astounded by the number of things that Heather and I have in common, from our discovery of the Episcopal church later in life, to our love of Scandinavian culture, to our preference for historical fiction — I never knew there were other versions of “me” out there! I’m also so impressed with the way in which folks from various faith traditions come together in the community that Heather has created with her blog and her Instagram account. I really encourage you to check out Heather’s blog, where she posts about her artwork, but also about many other things that might interest or encourage you. I’m especially fond of her “Tasha Tuesdays” series, where she writes about and shares aspects of Tasha Tudor’s art and life. And, of course, you must see more of her work, which you can find in abundance in her Etsy shop. Thank you for letting me share a little bit of your enormous talent, Heather!

*Right now Heather is doing a giveaway — see more details here.

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A lot of photographers, when asked who their influences are, might name someone like Ansel Adams or Dorothea Lange. What’s interesting to me is that I’ve never really been drawn to the work of “famous” photographers; my biggest photography role model has always been my own mother, Roxanne Copeland. I decided that I wanted to do a feature on her work, and so I started looking back through some of her earlier pictures that she did on film. I was amazed, stunned, and completely in awe of her talent! And, the funny thing is that, looking back at these photos (a lot of which were taken during my childhood), I can so clearly see the influence of her work on my own picture-making efforts. Some of these pictures I’ve knocked off without even knowing it! I hope you enjoy seeing this little slice of my mom’s talent — which, I might remind you, was all done on FILM — and I’ll be back with a follow-up of her digital work sometime soon.

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Today I’d like to share with you the work of another of my favorite artists, the children’s book illustrator Gerda Muller. Born in the Netherlands in 1926, Gerda Muller has enjoyed a long and successful career, having illustrated more than 120 books for children in her lifetime, many of which have been translated into multiple languages. Floris Books, which has published several of Gerda’s books in English, kindly gave me permission to share some of her illustrations here on my blog. With so many wonderful books to choose from it was difficult for me to narrow down which images I wanted to share, and what aspect of her work on which I wanted to focus. In the end I decided to feature her series of picture books about the seasons because we use them all year long as part of our nature table display.

Illustration from Spring by Gerda Muller

Illustrations from Spring, left, and Summer, right, by Gerda Muller

I first encountered Gerda Muller’s work whilst enrolled in an Early Childhood teacher training course that was designed with the work of Rudolph Steiner at its core. I was particularly drawn to Gerda’s seasonal treasury of wordless, beautifully illustrated board books, entitled Spring, Summer, Autumn, & Winter. I knew we needed them in our home library, and so I bought all four at once. What I love most about these books, and Gerda’s work in general, is that each time I read them I notice something new, even after years of looking at them with my children. The images I’ve chosen to share here mostly feature outdoor scenes, but there are lovely images of home life in each book, too.

Illustration from Summer by Gerda Muller

Illustration from Autumn by Gerda Muller

I’m particularly enamored with Gerda’s images of children at play in the natural world, which is why we use these books as part of the subtle seasonal meditation that the whole family participates in through our nature table, and various bits of handmade decor that the children and I create as the year turns. I also love the glimpse that one gets into another way of life from Gerda’s books; her illustrations feel both foreign and familiar at once and give one a sense of nostalgia that lingers. The lives of her subjects seem slower, more deliberate, and more joyful than do those of some of us in the modern world, as they happily progress through the seasons caressing baby animals, splashing in the sea, gatherin acorns, and catching snowflakes on their tongues. The simplicity of these illustrated lives inspires me to seek the same for myself and my family. We also own, and I cannot recommend enough, Gerda’s book How Does My Garden Grow?, which makes a beautiful companion to summer gardening adventures with children.

In Gerda’s own words:

I love my profession and have spent my whole life drawing for children. When I work alone in my studio, I feel the presence of a child who looks over my shoulder and often guides me. It is for this child that I work, not for parents or publishers.

Illustrations from Autumn, left, and Winter, right, by Gerda Muller

Illustration from Winter by Gerda Muller

I hope Gerda will not mind that I, a parent, enjoy her books just as much as any child, and that I find myself looking at them even when my own children are not around! Her work does transport the viewer to the world of childhood but, if you look carefully, you will see adults busy working and playing in her illustrations, too. You can read more about Gerda Muller’s life and work on her author page, as well as purchase all of the books I mentioned and several others at Floris Books.

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It has always been my intention to feature my favorite artists on my blog, because art is an incredibly important part of my life and I want to share the artwork that inspires me. But, it seems like something I keep filing away in my mental “to do” folder and it never actually gets done. This morning I woke up determined to make a go of it, so I’m going to get started with the Portland-based artist and illustrator Phoebe Wahl. I’m not sure when I first encountered her work, but I do know that the first time I contacted Phoebe and asked to feature her on my blog she was still a student at RISD (it was 2012). While I never got around to writing that post, I continued to read her blog and it’s been so interesting to watch her career really take off. Phoebe’s work has been featured in several places, including Taproot Magazine, and she is now working on writing and illustrating a book of her own for Tundra Books.

What first attracted me to Phoebe’s work was its themes of home and family life. Her work really conveys a sense of nurturing and safety that appeals to what I would call my “inner hobbit.” Her characters inhabit simple lives, in slightly disheveled yet welcoming abodes, moving through the seasons organically as they engage in everyday tasks like cooking, caring for littles, and reading. Her environments are richly colored and textured. She often dabbles in the world of fairies and whimsy. I have a visceral longing to be one of her little creations. Beyond the fact that I am drawn to Phoebe’s work aesthetically, I also find her little vignettes very inspiring and hope that I can create, to whatever degree such a thing is possible, the same loving, nurturing environment for my own family.

In Phoebe’s own words:

I find that when I create, more often that not it is inspired by something from my childhood. I make images I would have want to have seen when I was a kid, or objects I would have wanted to have, or stories I would have wanted to read. My content, both in 2D, 3D and writing is largely rooted in that nostalgia for childhood, as well as in dreams for my own future. I’m drawn to create safe spaces in my work, images that foster closeness and comfort and celebrate nature. Creating has always been my sanctuary. A comfortable place to play and dream and think. And I hope that comes across in my work, I hope my work provides that for others.

If her intention is, as she says, to provide a safe and inspiring haven for others, she has certainly succeeded in doing so for me. I’ve selected only a few of my favorite pieces for this post, but you really should spend some time browsing her blog, tumblr, and etsy shop to get a sense of the true scope of her work. Phoebe’s website also features images from her sketchbooks, as well as her amazing sculptures and other three dimensional designs.

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I recently discovered the artist Kate Hansen, and her Madonna & Child Project, and I really wanted to share it with you. Although I no longer consider myself a “Christian” in the traditional sense, I have always felt a strong affinity for the image of the Madonna and infant Christ, most famously portrayed by Raphael and da Vinci. This is especially true since I have given birth to my two children.

Kate Hansen has re-created this iconic image using contemporary mothers and their children, and accompanied the portraits with compelling birth stories. Her materials are conte crayon accented with gold leaf. For the patterned halos, she used paper snowflakes as templates. All images copyright Kate Hansen.

In Kate’s own words:

After the birth of my son in 2007 I felt an incredible energy and drive to make art. Contrary to the popular belief that art making is one of the things that fall to the wayside after the birth of children, in my case I felt inspired and compelled by my experience of childbirth and motherhood. It was almost as though the creative act of making another human being awoke a creative drive in me…After my daughter was born in 2008 I had determined to form a series of mother and child portraits and accompany them with birth stories written by each subject. I wished to express simultaneously the imperfection and fallibility of the mothers but capture an element of the divine in the mother/child bond. Each mother also shares a birth story, be it life changing, beautiful, or a harrowing experience, and these common stories serve to unify a very diverse group with a common theme- of love, of self sacrifice, and transcendence. I owe this inspiration to my children- for their beauty, for their challenges and for the unique bond of motherhood that I hope to capture here.