Crow Shoes

Perhaps the most exciting thing about being creative is meeting another creative individual who inspires or informs your own work.

As many of you know, I spend most of the last decade in London, and once upon a time, as a baby art student at University College London, met a Mr. Geoffrey Stein – an incredibly talented painter and as much a supporter of life drawing and painting as myself.  He spent a very patient weekend exploring Edinburgh with myself and two other girlfriends, and since our time at the Slade, has continuously impressed me with his ever-expanding list of gallery shows and exhibitions.

Imagine my delight this afternoon when I opened my email to find a visual response to yesterday’s post from him!

Please be inspired by his work here.

Photos of New York and London by Geoffrey Stein

January, poor darling, got short-changed.

After December’s glitz, presents, and parties, poor January’s just cold, dark, and broke. All she’s got are a few resolutions and leftover Christmas lights.

Drawing and Photo Collage by me, Whistler’s “Nocturne in Black and Gold – The Falling Rocket”

Took a break from work and made a mad dash to Fort Worth Saturday afternoon to take in the Caravaggio and his Followers in Rome exhibit at the Kimbell Museum.  While the exhibit proved more like a Spot the Caravaggio Amongst the Followers exhibit, the Kimbell always makes for a good afternoon. Designed by Lewis I. Kahn, the museum is known for its ingenious use of natural lighting. When he designed the museum, Kahn’s vision was to design a building “with the luminosity of silver.”

We concluded the afternoon with drinks at the speakeasy-influenced bar, The Usual. Specializing in Prohibition-era cocktails with a modern twist, my Old Fashioned with aromatic orange bitters was the perfect conclusion to the afternoon.

Photos by me. The Kimbell Museum 3333 Camp Bowie Boulevard Fort Worth, TX 76107-2792 & The Usual, 1408 West Magnolia Avenue, Fort Worth TX 76104-4249

It’s been beautiful weather lately – lots of crisp, golden winter light to usher in a new year.

I’m quite pleased to see the end of 2011. It was rough in many respects: I lost a very good friend, and there were assorted minor dissappointments. But that’s what new years are all about: the promise of the new and the unknown.  2012 looks to be a busy one, with lots of projects underway, and trips on the horizon: New Orleans, New York, a west Texas expedition, and beyond, and I’m excited for the possibilities.

I recently ordered the Drape Drape Japanese pattern book series in the hopes of honing my sewing skills.  (Nevermind I can’t read Japanese – a minor set back. All positive thinking here for the new year!) The books have stunning photography shot in natural sunlight to showcase the intricate patterns.  If all goes well, I might one day in 2012 sport a beautifully draped dress or skirt, carefully crafted by my own clever hands, or I might end up with a rumpled mess that looks like swaddling clothes.

Here’s to the possibilities.

I hope this year holds wonderful surprises and adventures for each of you.

Images from Drape Drape 2 by Hisako Sato

My own personal Santa was very good to me this year, leaving me these beauties to dance and twinkle my way through the holiday season.  They are so beautiful – a shoe designer’s dream!  Thank you, Santa! xx

The days after Christmas always leave me a little sad: after all the hustle and bustle is over, the presents unwrapped, and the relatives heading off home, everything seems a little too quiet. It’s all over too quickly for so much build, and I was so busy this year, I hardly had time to enjoy the fleeting holiday spirit. I’ll leave you with a few images I snapped last night to console myself and to cheer you.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and best wishes to you and yours for the new year.

xx Raven

Here’s hoping all of you are enjoying the magic of the season (even if it does get a bit stressful at times).  Happy holidays!

Well, hello there! Remember me?

Forgive my lack of illustrative posts of late, but I’ve been extraordinarily busy these past few weeks.

 Here are a few images from my inspiration files to get you in the mood for some trick-or-treating (or stay-at-home candy eating, or late-night partying, or whatever trouble you might be getting up to tonight…)

Happy Halloween, Dearies!

From the top: Vintage Cocteau’s Beauty and the Beast movie poster, Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2009, chandelier photograph by unknown artist, Gaultier Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011, Night of the Living Dead 1968 film still, Giles Deacon Spring/Summer 2012, Harrod’s Window, Thom Browne Spring/Summer 2012, the performance artist Rick Genest