What Inspires Me the Most

Bayeux Tapestry via britanica.com.

I'm delighted to be a part of SFGirlByBay's "Blog it Forward" project. Swoonette was the link before me, and Taking the Long Way will be tomorrow. All 300 participating bloggers will be answering the question, " What inspires you the most?".

This is a difficult question, so I'm focusing specifically on what has been the most inspirational/influential to my art and "folky" illustration style for Sycamore Street Press's (aptly titled) Folk line. (Sycamore's other two stationery lines -- Lark and Pop -- are written and designed by my friends Amy, Kristin, and Stephanie.)

I'm fortunate to come from a family of makers. They pride(d) themselves in using their hands to make their surroundings more beautiful. Some of their skills were self taught and some were passed on from previous generations. In turn, they've passed on what they could to me. (For example, the two main styles of hand lettering I use in the Folk line comes from my great-grandmother, Eva Maria Wilhelmina Lundh Hubertz.)

Papercut by Christine Warren Pollock (my mom).

Fabric doll by Laura Lee Warren (my granny). 

Footstool by Eva Maria Wilhelmina Lundh and Carsten Hubertz (my great-grandparents). 

Quilts on couch and in basket by Ella Smith Getty (my great-grandmother).

During college, I was able to study briefly at a Maori art school where I became captivated by the beautiful line work of Ta Moko, as well as by the deep meaning behind those lines. Ta Moko is a traditional skin art which is very sacred to the Maori people, and expresses both the individual and tribal identity of the wearer. The fact that some of my ancestors came from the Ngai Tahu iwi (a Maori tribe) only added to my respect and admiration for this art form.

Ta Moko by Julie and Rangi Kipa. Images via tepapa.govt.nz and maoriart.org.nz.

Inspired by Ta Moko's patterns and focus on genealogy, I began to study some of the folk art of other countries and cultures of my ancestors: Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, English, Scottish, Manx, French, Otoe, Colonial American, 19th century Maritime, Mid 20th century suburban American, etc... My BFA final show centered around the textile patterns of these different traditions. In grad school, this interest blossomed into a love of folk art from all traditions.

Otoe moccasins via powwow.com.

Swedish folk style illustration via animationarchive.org.

William Morris textile drawing via The Textile Blog

Lubok (Slavic folk woodcut) via squidoo.com.

Indian miniature painting via wikimedia.org
Pyrex Butterprint dishes via geekxnerd

dutch wax fabric via vlisco.com

Scrimshaw image via atlantic_cable.com.

I also began to be drawn to contemporary fine artists who were obviously influenced by folk art:

Kiki Smith etching via Milk & Honey

Margaret Kilgallen installation via ArtNet

Jockum Nordstrom drawing via The New York Sun

Shazia Sikander watercolor via Todd Hosfelt

Yinka Shonibare paintings on fabric via the Smithsonian Magazine

It was during grad school that I learned how to print on a letterpress. The very nature of letterpress printing lends itself more easily to linear work rather than big solid shapes. I decided to shape my drawing style to work with letterpress rather than try to force it the other way around.

Two more adorable sources of inspiration: Felix and Oscar. They belong to one of my best friends, Zuzanna Smolarkiewicz Audette. It was her idea that I draw the "hairy babies" for a card design. It was so much fun, and we got such a great response that I've drawn her Frenchie and Pug many times since then and branched out into other animals as well.

Oscar & Felix images by Zuzanna Audette

Finally, I studied French in school and then lived in France and Belgium for almost two years (and my mom lived there for 9 years when she was younger), which accounts for the occasional francophile tendencies in my work.

Right image via Christine Warren Pollock.

I love being a part of this blogging community. It allows me to connect with other creative people all over the world and inspires me to keep making. Thanks for letting me share "what inspires me the most".