Playing with a Cup Full of Inspiring Female Artists (Plus Reading List, Watch List, & Playlist!) - This is Part 2 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. 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 women artists. I shared about the first 3 artists and the tributes inspired by them in Part 1 of the blog series. 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 first painting below was inspired by Mary Blair who was an artist for Disney. Though I didn’t know her by name, I’ve definitely enjoyed her art for years… from Peter Pan and Cinderella to Alice in Wonderland. I borrowed inspiration from her “It’s a Small World” work for this piece. I made up my own lyrics to add the text, but it was inspired by the small world song. I found a new favorite version of that song that I included in the resource music playlist at the end. The sticky song has been playing in my head so feel free to sing along! Here’s to co-creating our own stories, singing sweet songs, and adding a magic touch to the world!

You can see a compilation with short videos from the creative process featuring some of the art supplies further below. You can also get a free pdf with links to many of my favorite art supplies via email. I’ve just added a new paint pen brand that I’ve been trying to the list since so many people have been commenting on the colors.

The next piece is called “Playing with a Ray of Delight.” It’s my tribute to Ray Eames who was an artist and furniture designer with her husband. While I appreciate the beauty and sculptural form of the chairs they’re most known for, I wasn’t feeling very excited about incorporating that into my art. I considered skipping this one, but I’m glad I dug a little deeper! As a former Montessori teacher, homeschool mom, and lifelong learner, it was the toys and art of play that inspired me most. Once I chose to focus on their house of cards deck, other toys, and Ray’s early abstract art, there was plenty to enjoy. I used my own deck of inspirational art cards to draw outlines of cards and an actual cup for the circle around the letter A. Each of the letters I chose to include have special meaning to me and both of my twin boys’ names are represented.

Were you already familiar with Ray Eames? Are there any women artists from the past that have inspired you? I’d love to know who! Learning about the artists is one reason that I participated in the challenge along with some wonderful camaraderie.

I’m leaning in to the Love even though the next piece is my least favorite of the ones I created for the challenge. Rather than hiding it away, I’m sharing because an important part of the creative process (and life) is being willing and able to experiment, learn, and grow. It was inspired by Emilie Flöge who was a fashion designer and Gustav Klimt’s lifelong partner and muse. I turned one of her dresses upside down to create the “cup.” At first, I was envisioning a sort of champagne glass with bubbles coming out. Then, I saw a botanical design on one of her other dresses and added a few of those like a vase. Then, I thought it should really be a candle holder because she was a muse. She was also a light for women as a business owner and because she rebelled against corsets to design flowy dresses that helped women lighten up and have more room to breathe!

Admittedly, the “cup” turned out looking more like an ice cream cone than I intended. O’well, if I ever need to make one of those, I’ll be ready. While I can see some things that I’d do differently or adjust if I were to do this again, I can also find something to love and take that forward with me. In this case, it’s the gold posca paint pen on the turquoise and blue background and the wavy lines with the dots in the pattern.

I always try to remind myself and encourage participants in my courses to play and explore and make a marvelous mess. Say Yes to the whims. That’s often where the magic and discoveries are made! May we remember to focus on the beauty and joy amidst everything else in this crazy thing called life!

I’ve been loving learning about so many inspiring women artists. You can read about the rest of them in Part 1, 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.)

You can get the free pdf with links to many of my favorite art supplies via email.

Here is a music playlist with the full songs used in the videos (if the song was available this way):

Part 1 of this blog series features: Frida Kahlo, Hilma af Klint, and Gudrun Sjödén

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.