Jen McCleary Art and Design » Wunderkammer (inspiration)

Lisa Nilsson

Jen — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 01:56:48 +0000

I’ve been leaning more and more toward working in 3D/assemblage lately, even though it’s still early days and I’m still experimenting and haven’t really produced anything worthwhile (yet). So I’m finding Lisa Nilsson’s work especially inspiring right now.

I really like the Tissue Series, which are anatomical cross sections rendered in paper through the technique of quilling. I have vague memories of my mom doing quilling for a while when I was very young. I think she made some flowers and a 3D hollow Easter egg. It’s really interesting to see modern art made with the same technique.

Take a look at her website for some close-up shots where you can really see the detail!

I also love her Boxes series. Such interesting arrangements of objects with different textures and colors. I’m a sucker for anything medical/science/natural history/wonder cabinet-related and these works fit right into that theme. It takes some serious skill to take a bunch of objects and put them in a box and have it all work together to mean something. It could all just be some stuff in a box, but it isn’t, and that’s the magic of works like this.

Inspiration: Leap Organics Soaps

Jen — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:29:52 +0000

I’m in love with these soap boxes by Leap Organics (and also with the fact that they are 100% vegan and organic, the packaging is recycled, they use renewable energy and follow sustainable business practices!). I’m a sucker for pretty packaging so when I saw these I knew I had to have them. Check out all the colorful details and charming old-timey language (“for sullied skin!” “quite very splendid!”):

There are even little messages inside the box. I thought this one was quite appropriate given that I’m now trying to figure out how to display soap boxes in my bathroom in a way that doesn’t look weird: (“Don’t you agree that this is a lovely little package you’re holding? Pretty pictures all over. We’ll understand completely if you want to display it in your museum of toiletries. But if you have no patience for the arts, then please recycle this box. Whatever you do, don’t just toss it in the garbage.”)

Pretty pretty!

Jen — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 02:49:44 +0000

I was dropping off some necklaces at Square Peg Artery and couldn’t resist this awesome blown glass magnet! (I forget the name of the people that made it, but if I find it out I’ll post it here!)

Mariko Kusumoto

Jen — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:53:54 +0000

I was perusing a book called “The Metalsmith’s Book of Boxes & Lockets,” which is full of fascinating things, particularly the work of Mariko Kusumoto. Seeing her work for the first time was one of those jaw-dropping moments, a why have I not seen this before, heartbeat-skipping moment. I’ve realized that I’m terribly particular about many things, especially art and music, but when I do find something I like it’s this instant, visceral recognition of something that resonates with me for some unexplainable reason.

Kusumoto makes metal box sculptures which are often interactive. I could write at length comparing her work to that of Joseph Cornell (my old favorite!) but that would be boring, so here are some images instead:

Jewelry Inspiration

Jen — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:20:41 +0000

I’m taking a class in jewelry design and metalsmithing, which starts next Monday. I decided it would be a good idea to have something in mind that I want to make, so I searched Etsy for things that I love. I tried to find things that are actually fabricated from metal instead of just beaded or pieced together. I actually had a harder time that I expected finding pieces that I thought were really unique and inspiring. I found some really nice pieces with beautiful gemstones in plain bezels, but didn’t include them unless they were really unique somehow. I didn’t spend too long searching for things that incorporated watch parts or gears, because it just irritates me how little is being done in that vein that is original at all. It’s somewhat infuriating to see shops with pieces that obviously took no more effort than attaching a found watch part to a chain or a premade adjustable ring, and then selling tons of them for rather a high price. (Sour grapes? Righteous indignation at an apparent lack of originality being rewarded?) Anyway, here are some lovely things that I found…some common threads seem to be texture, a feeling of organic-ness, drilled holes or other patterns…

Rustic Moonstone band by Silver Sparrow Designs (I love the combination of the moonstone with the oxidized, textured silver)

Fossil Dream by silvervine (great fossil in an interesting setting)

Inger Spinner ring by lunaticart (fun and textural!)

Circuitry by aprilkawaoka (I love the patterns in circuit boards- works really well here in ring form)

Nevada Variscite necklace by mcfarlanddesigns (beautiful stone- nice shape and color. I like that the bezel is textured to complement the stone instead of being perfectly smooth)

Starscape ring by bddesigns (I like how texture was added both by drilling and by adding material.)

icicle pendant by sirenjewels (I like the shape and how the metal encases the beads)

Bubbles Bubbles Everywhere ring by MikeandMary (more drilled texture, and I like how the pattern seems regular at a glance but is actually random.)

lunar flash blue labradorite pendant by nectarjewelry (more drilled holes- make this piece unique)

Spikulum Pendant with sapphires by amieplante (cool organic feeling to this one!)

Tree Necklace by SarahHoodJewelry (more organic-ness. This one is so cool. I probably couldn’t wear it though, I bet it’s poky)

Canary Yellow Giant Marble Necklace by barebumstudio (this one reminds me of my teenaged experiments with making necklaces from marbles and wire. I would heat marbles in the toaster oven, then drop them into ice water so they would crackle.)

Two Gear Necklace by katrinbird (A nice combination of watch parts and fabrication. Definitely something I want to explore)

Dino Ring by organick (the silver bubbles on the side make this a really interesting ring)

Silver-plated fork bracelet by erinschock (I tried to find some examples of jewelry made from utensils that were unique. I have a ring made from a spoon handle, and there are tons of such things on Etsy. I thought this bracelet was really clever.)

Fork Pendant by doctorgus (Another unique use of cutlery. I like how the tines have been woven together).

Galactic Ring by missyindustry (Looks like part of a retro spaceship or something. Awesome)

Cretian- Quartz Druzy Ring by MidwestAlchemy (I love this one. Very textural and organic.)

Silver Relic Pendant by StudioDax (Nice patina/oxidization/texture- looks like the moon)

Constellation Cuff by NixeNitz (More drilled holes! I really like what an interesting shadow it casts too.)

Amethyst Bubbles Pendant by metalology (beautiful simplicity and assymetry.)

Handmade Kites by Clemens Habicht

Jen — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:31:40 +0000

I love these kites by Clemens Habicht- so simple and beautiful. And clever- just look at how the head of the hangliding person forms the eye of the bird in this one:

I had a REALLY hard time choosing which ones I wanted to post here! They’re all so beautiful.

A Record of Life

Jen — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:14:08 +0000

I love this video A Record of Life, made by Owen Gatley and Luke Jinks. Beautiful hand-drawn animation. Someday I’ll figure out how to embed video here, in the meantime here’s a link! (Thanks to Drawn!, a great blog about illustration and cartoon art, where I found this!)

Tim Noble and Sue Webster

Jen — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:08:18 +0000

Check out these amazing junk/shadow sculptures by Tim Noble and Sue Webster! I’m not generally a huge fan of sculpture, but this stuff is so cool. I love the repurposing of old forgotten things and the use of light to turn what looks at first glance like a pile of trash into something unexpected.

Real Life is Rubbish, 2002

Image via Pantherhouse, via Environmental Graffiti, which is a fantastic blog chock full of inspiring images from around the world.

Jonathan Yuen

Jen — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:34:45 +0000

Check out the online portfolio of Jonathan Yuen. It’s one of the coolest Flash-based site designs I’ve seen.

Live Hawk Nest Video at Franklin Institute!

Jen — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:59:30 +0000

The Franklin Institute has a camera set up at a window recording live video of a window-ledge hawk nest. Right now there are three fluffy babies in the nest, and I saw one of the parent hawks a little while ago but he/she left again. The babies are so cute, alternately sleeping in a pile and standing up and stretching their wings out. When they stand up they are a little wobbly!