Collaborating with a Cup Full of Inspiring Women Artists (Plus Reading List, Watch List, & Playlist!) - This is Part 3 of a 4 Part Blog Series

I love learning about inspiring women 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 6 artists and the tributes inspired by them in Part 1 and Part 2 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. I really enjoyed browsing the following book while taking a break.

The first painting below is loosely inspired by Justina Blakeney. I’ve been familiar with Justina, the founder of the Jungalow home decor line, for a while. Lily Sol, who is one of the contributing artists for the Born to Bloom Bright book, had a few of her wonderful works featured as Jungalow limited edition prints. We all speak a similar bountiful botanical language. If you’d been lucky enough to see my parents’ lush tropical garden in the Florida Keys where I went to high school, you’d know why it’s so deeply rooted in my art and life.

I tried to find something beyond the botanical beauty to synergize with for the one inspired by Justina. Browsing through her posts, I was touched by her body positive messages. That is something I’ve struggled with, as many women have. Thankfully, I have a healthier appreciation for my body now. So, I focused on a woman who is comfortable in her own skin as well as her environment for this. It is called “Well Nourished Woman.” Do you see her?

The bowl was going to be a sort of fruit “cup.” Yet, as the painting evolved, there was a waterfall energy pouring in to the bowl. Maybe she’s collecting water from a natural spring after enjoying the fruit! It can still represent creative juices and being in the flow of life. There’s so much I love about the painting and that feels good! The pose was inspired by an actual image of Justina. I let her hair be a fun wild mane. I wish you could truly see the many delightful details that the screen fails to adequately display. The colors are vibrant and the energy feels both fulfilling and free. She seems to radiate warmth yet she’s also totally chill. I think it would be great hanging in a spa! (or even a women’s doctor or therapist’s office) I’ve added it to the Art Prints section of my shop.

I returned to my natural love and flow with the process for this. It is so rich and full of nuance, nourishment, story, belonging, appreciation and overall good vibes! I had to go bigger with it rather than confine it to a sketchbook page. In fact, I decided to make another one because I really wanted to do one with a fruit “cup” (bowl). The bowl itself turned out looking more like a banana! So be it. The positive body image and jungle-liscious setting are the main aspects inspired by Justina. The rest is from my imagination with free-spirited loose linework and lots of tantalizing texture. She’s a bit wonky and I love her!

Looking at her through loving eyes helps me see myself through them as well. Have you ever serenaded yourself? I highly recommend it! I started doing so a few years ago and this wonderful wonky woman reminded me to do so again recently. I explored the theme of Serenading the Self in my session for Loving, Healing, Creating if you’d like to play and sing along. I also happened to use the same tools and techniques as in the 2 paintings above for the projects.

You can also see some of the process for these in the video compilation further below. May we all be well nourished in every way from food we eat to the self talk and information we allow in. It seems that art is a form of intimacy with life, ourselves, and one another. That is a common thread running through my paintings, books, and creative adventures. Do you notice the energy in art and how it makes you feel? Do you explore and find hidden treasures long after the initial interaction?

The next one is called “Nostalgia’s View.” Sometimes, I travel through art rather than leaving home. What about you? This one took me back to summers in Maine visiting my Grammie.

It was inspired by the folk art of Canadian Maud Lewis. Do you know of her? I watched the movie “Maudie” earlier this year. Her resilience as an artist despite being born with a deformative condition and her attitude to paint beauty amidst a rather harsh life were inspiring. Her art also reminds me of my Grammie who spent most of her 97 years in Maine painting similar scenery. So, this is a tribute to them both. I mixed aspects from Maud’s paintings that had personal meaning to me. My Grammie was born on a dairy farm with a red barn. She often painted lighthouses and autumn trees. The cats represent my family’s 3 cats. The scene depicts multiple seasons from spring to fall because that’s do-able in art. If I recall correctly, Maud said something similar in the movie.

I didn’t feel like adding a cup in the scene so I put the finished piece on a mock-up cup instead. Yet, I think the coasters (inspired by the Maine coast!) are my favorite. There’s lots of other fun stuff with my art on redbubble and society6 as well.

This has been a total creative detour from my usual. I like to explore different paths to keep growing and making room for new possibilities. I love the folk art style that focuses more on stories than ability, skill level, or expensive supplies. It’s accessible to everyday people and acknowledges that creativity is for everyone!

The next one was inspired by Sister Corita Kent. She used the fun, bright colors of the rainbow and filled her art with encouraging messages. I also learned that she made up a word (which those of you who have known me for a while know I do, too!). According to the children’s book I checked out about her from the library, she combined play and work to make the word “plork.” That’s what led me to add my own thoughts about play to this one.

I replaced “practice makes perfect” with “play makes possible” as my motto years ago. Still, I sometimes need a reminder. Anyone else? As a former Montessori teacher, I have real respect for the value and potential of play! I might order one of these cups or hang a poster in my studio area. I’m glad I uploaded the image (and planned the image size accordingly) to see how it looks on a coffee mug. In the process, I learned that Society 6 has made some changes that make it more worthwhile as an artist to take the time to add art there. So, I’ll probably be adding more options.

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

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.