Harmonizing with a Cup Full of Inspiring Women Artists (Plus Reading & Watch Lists) - This is Part 1 of a 4 Part Blog Series

I love learning about women artists that have made their mark in Art History (or Herstory in this case!). I recently participated in a fun online challenge inspired by many interesting female artists. I was familiar with some of them and others were new to me. I learned about the July challenge from Lori Siebert on instagram.

One aspect of the challenge was to incorporate a cup in some way to represent a cup full of inspiration. While I stretched the way I added cups beyond typical styles, it was nice to feel the collective vibes from participating. I’ve collected the highlights from the experience, along with a few resources about the artists in this 4 part blog series for you. Each post in this blog series features tributes to 3 female artists. This could be adapted to make great homeschool or after school art projects and lessons as well. I’ve included recommended resources in the Reading & Watch Lists at the end of each post.

The painting featured above is my rather unconventional take on the first prompt since there is no actual cup imagery! The circles in the upper left were made using a coffee cup to represent coffee rings. It’s called “Mornings at Freeda’s Sidewalk Cafe” inspired by Frida Kahlo. Though the name is spelled differently (after one of my pet fish, Freeda), it still reminds me of the prompt and Frida tended to do things her own (sometimes weird) way… which I love. So, I’m doing the same. I admit that I sort of cheated a bit since this is my normal creative practice aside from the coffee inspired circles. Yet, while I was sketching, I thought about interpreting “full cup” as gratitude in the present moment.

I also love finding ways to be outside while creating like this. I made a free video and e-book about making art outdoors if you’d like to join me. You can get it immediately through email.

The next one invites meditation, exploration, and tapping into your intuition. Pause & let the symbols speak to and through you. Art can be a beginning for an interesting conversation within you. I’d love to hear if you’d like to share any insights in the comments!

It is called “Harmonizing with Hilma (& the Full Spectrum).” Are you familiar with the life and work of Hilma af Klint? She was a fascinating woman and early abstract artist. I’ve been inspired by her for a while, yet this is the first time that I actually referenced her work directly while creating. It was a very meditative, slow, and interesting process. Hence, the word “harmonizing” in the title. It’s a sort of collaboration even though I only chose to use symbols that had personal meaning to me or that I’ve used before. I shared a secret from the creative process in a short video below. The word “full” was added in the marks. Looking at it later, I continue to find new messages and meanings. I’m curious how it may speak to others whether in similar or completely unexpected ways!

Which title do your prefer for the next one? “Have a Cup of Flower Power” or “Flowers in Her Air” (a play on words from a song… do you know it?)

This is the first of the women artists from the prompts that I wasn’t already familiar with by name. Gudrun Sjödén is a Swedish fashion designer. Exploring her fun floral designs, I immediately thought of a message & energy from the Born to Bloom Bright book that I wrote last year. (You can enjoy a free video reading of the book and meet a few of the contributing artists from Italy & India via email.) There is a page towards the end that says, “I’m bountiful to enjoy even as I grow elder and wild.” Gudrun seems to be a lovely example of that and a spunky woman who is aging with style! I’m grateful for women like this who display such vitality in the second half of life.

I first chose an image from Gudrun’s posts with a model holding a vase of flowers as inspiration for this. As it evolved, I decided I wanted the figure to represent Gudrun instead. The see-through clear vase for the “cup” was a new challenge for me! Portraits can also be daunting for some. I’ve learned to focus on expression, communication, connection, and story rather than some kind of illusive perfectionism! I love her bold red glasses. I’m going through a time now that I’m noticing my vision changing & blurring for the first time in my life. Hence, the glasses have extra meaning to me about continuing to see beauty within & around us as we age and appreciating the sense of sight right now.

I’ve been loving learning about so many inspiring women artists. You can read about the rest of them in Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of this blog series. It’s also fun to see everyone else’s creations. I’d love to see yours if you choose to make something inspired by this post and any of the women artists mentioned. You can share in the private group for co-creative artists or hit reply to any email to share that way.

Reading and Watch Lists relevant to this post (utilizing affiliate links) shared below. Please refer to the suggested audience ages for each book, movie, or documentary as some of them are intended for mature audiences. I’ve been fortunate to find most of these available through my local library system.

I’ve also made a playlist of short videos from this challenge on my Youtube channel. Please be sure to subscribe for more (hover over my picture in top left corner to subscribe from video below if using a computer). I’m working to grow on that platform and provide more content that way. Thanks! (PS. This is my first foray into Youtube “Shorts” which seem to limit the music duration.)

Part 2 of this blog series features: Mary Blair, Emilie Flöge, and Ray Eames

Part 3 of this blog series features: Justina Blakeney, Maud Lewis, and Sister Corita Kent

Part 4 of this blog series features: Yayoi Kusama, Beatriz Milhazes, and the Quilters of Gee’s Bend

Who would you add to these lists? Have you read any great books or seen any movies about women artists that you’d recommend? I have some more in mind that I plan to explore further in the future. You can keep in touch via email for updates and sweet specials.

If you’d like to explore the creative process in a more hands-on way with detailed guidance and video tutorials, you can join me for a fun online course. Some of them have multiple price points to make them affordable to anyone and some of them are collaborative courses with many other presenters.

Do you know any artists, teachers, or women who might appreciate this post? Please feel free to use the sharing buttons further below to pass it on. You never know what ripple effects it may have.

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning along with me in this way.

Love,
Jules

Jules Ostara is a homeschool mother, painter, poet, and survivalist turned thrivivalist. She greets a blank canvas as both a playground and a temple. Her work inspires people to grow and glow while exploring their own wisdom and wonder through the creative process. Making art helped to mend her heart after her mom died from ovarian cancer. She’s carrying on a legacy of love and zest for life. Jules is the author of “The Girl Who Dances With Delight” and “Born to Bloom Bright.” Jules also created the “Heart of Life” and “Soul Songs” inspiration card decks. She lives on a small homestead in the Blue Ridge mountains with twin boys, a guitar man, a few feisty cats, and many woodland creatures.