Inspiration can come in many forms and every artist is inspired by different things. I could easily say I’m inspired by almost everything, but today I wanted to share some my main sources.
Many years ago, my grandmother gifted me an old 1930s Sears Catalog. She‘d had it a long time and as a child I found it fascinating... Still do! Since then, that interest in vintage advertising has become almost an obsession. Anytime I come across a magazine or sewing pattern that elicits a nostalgic feeling, I have to have it.
Most of these images are of women or are aimed toward women. Its such a reminder of how progressive we have become! The depiction of women in the media has come so far (but in some cases still has a ways to go).
At the same time that nostalgic feeling can be deceiving. It’s easy to romanticize the past when the imagery is so elegant and attractive. I guess that’s effective advertising for you!
This is where these images inspire me the most. They lead me to wonder “how has media and advertising molded the viewer over time?” Most of my paintings are exploring this theme and searching for the answer. It does not have to be a profound social, political, or feminist statement, just an observation of where we are vs where we have been.
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