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Saturday, May 22, 2010

the evolution of an idea

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Remember my last post? Well I wasn't kidding about looking for inspiration around me and applying it to my own work! My weekends are often spent dyeing and painting fabric for the week and today I just had to create a few yards of fabric and a purse inspired by my peacock experience at the zoo yesterday. I thought it would be fun to show you what I call "the evolution of an idea" with the hope to you inspire you to go out and look for your own muse! And no this doesn't mean go paint peacock feathers- it means turn the computer off and take a break from surfing websites and blogs for inspiration (thats me using a tough love approach) and go search for the things that make you swoon, that give you butterflies or goosebumps, make your heart skip a beat or simply excite you.

Regardless of the medium that you create in (drawing, painting, scrapbooking, art journaling, photography, quilting, sewing, home decorating, cooking....) challenge yourself to search for unique inspiration- it will spark fresh ideas and bring authenticity to everything you create!


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Out of the 250 photos that I took of the peacocks yesterday, this one was my favorite. I really liked the blurry bright green leaf that is obscuring the right side of the photo and since what I am often looking for is color inspiration, I was drawn to the electric green paired with the blues and I knew that this photo would be great to loosely base my abstract and whimsical fabric on.


Here is how it all evolves-

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36 comments:

  1. Wow... that is impressive. :) Amazing stuff.

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  2. You are amazing and that fabric is beautiful.

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  3. I was going to comment on your very cool fabric, but I've gotta turn my computer off now and go find my butterflies and goosebumps! :) I love your blog....so much inspiration!

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  4. I ADORE this! Do you have a post on how to make your own fabric like this? Awesome.

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  5. you are absolutely AMAZING & inspiring!!! my kids (boy 17, girl 11) and i love looking at your blog!

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  6. I love to see how folks get inspired and their work & thought processes. AWESOME bag, too!

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  7. What an amazing idea! I love how you painted your fabric with the peacock inspiration in mind. Thank you for sharing!

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  8. Beautiful bag, love the fabric!

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  9. Just beautiful. Absolutely.

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  10. Your bag is gorgeous I love how it all came together for you - true inspiration

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  11. whyducks2:52 AM

    Beautiful bag, it would have been wonderful as a dress too. I wish it was as easy as you make it look. I would have spoilt it all by messing up the black lines for the feathers!

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  12. Oh Alisa! You are such an inspiration. Your fabric is magical.

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  13. Wow, what a gorgeous tote! Thank you for sharing your inspiration process with us. I think that is something missing in the art circles right now: how to find authentic inspiration, not just copy other's work. You are a wonderful teacher as well as a wonderful artist.

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  14. How lovely!
    Have you ever done a tutorial on paitning fabric?
    Have a great weekend :)

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  15. how fun to see your mind at work. amazing!

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  16. WOW ... that is SO cool!!! I LOVE it.

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  17. Anonymous9:10 AM

    You knooooooooooooooooow, you are so inspiring!

    I was wondering: I need to revamp a painted canvas my daughter, my friend and I painting that ended up being too big for my daughter's apartment. Do you think it would be too thick to take the canvas off the stretchers and tear it up for a bag like this? I think Alli would just love to see her painting refashioned into something unique like this.

    And THANKS for being so utterly cool! Come to Rhode Island!

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  18. Even though I'm probably older than you are, when I grow up, I want to be just like you! Such talent. Now I must head outside, camera in hand. :o)

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  21. Anonymous11:51 AM

    Incredible....I can't get over your amazing and prolific art!

    Susan

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  23. Kittyj1:24 PM

    Absolutely awesome!!!

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  24. These are so my colors. Thank you for sharing your creative process. You did an awesome job. Happy creating...

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  25. We are on the same page I just listed a peacock pendant I finished last week :)) amazing purse

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  26. You are incredible...not only are you so creative but generous at the same time....Thanks for sharing all your wonderful ideas with us and giving so inspiration.
    I will follow you advice tomorrow...by the way, georgeous fabric.
    Hugs

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  27. I love love LOVE this bag. Really cool to see an idea from inspiration to fruition. Thanks for sharing!

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  28. absolutely gorgeous!!

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  29. Wow, that's the way to sieze the muse! The fabric is beautiful!

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  30. love the fabric. beautiful job.

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  31. I found this post especially inspirational because not only is each picture gorgeous from peacock to fabric but peacock feathers are very special to me. My MIL used to raise them and when my husband and I got married I asked if we could use the feathers in the decorations. We made 'bouquets' of peacock feathers for the bridal party to carry and the men wore them as boutonnieres. Vases were filled with the feathers and the girls even had to wear peacock colored dresses. (Sorry girls:-)) Your wonderful post reminded of our wedding and now I feel inspired to put a little peacock into my jewelry. Thank you so much for the beautiful reminder!!

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  32. this is lovely ALisa! You are such an inspiration to me - i just blogged today about this post since it took my breath away. I love how you showed us step by step your creative process. Your drawings are amazing and the finished product is so gorgeous!
    Love, violette

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  33. Anonymous1:41 AM

    Oh, I'm so pleased I stumbled on your blog. We're regular zoo-goers too and I always find myself taking a million photos of all the textures and colours. Now I'm completely inspired as to how to USE all of this nature-provided inspiration!

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