Today I’m playing along with Magpie Girl’s *8 Things post. This week’s topic is Artists Who Inspire.
Well how on earth to come up with such a list, to whittle down an amazing pool of world-wide talent to eight? I’m going to use geography and restrict my list to English artists. Of course I’m interpreting “artist” in the widest sense, and although some of these names are famous, some are not.
Here goes:
- Rima Staines, who made my clock. Her life reflects her art, and vice versa.
- Through Rima, I found dark folk musicians Telling the Bees (she did their website). Quintessentially English, they’re just beginning to get the recognition they deserve.
- The inimitable Mr Crisp, who made his life the canvas for his art and style, proving that you can be an artist in any way you want. He also wrote some very witty books.
- Film maker Sally Potter, whose work is a wondrous festival of independent experimental intelligence. Her most recent film, Rage, is for sale here. And I love this clip from The Tango Lesson from 1996, which Potter appeared in as well as directed.
- Looking at clothing as art, we Brits are pretty bloody good at that! Although she’s mainstream now, Vivienne Westwood has never lost her early anarchic edge, and while Alexander McQueen and the insanely talented John Galliano (who was brought up in the UK even though born in Gibralter) are huge names, there are amazing young English designers pouring out of Central St Martin’s each year – here’s a link to their 2009 BA (Honours) Fashion runway show. Warning: serious fashionistas only, it’s over an hour long. Heidi Klum, eat your dull suburban little heart out!
- OK, you got three for one under number 5, so this is the last: writer Sara Maitland. Her work is extraordinary: intelligent, compelling, completely unpretentious and sometimes very funny. Enjoy her collection of short stories On Becoming a Fairy Godmother, or her autobiographical A Book of Silence.
Well all that Englishness has given me a yen for a cup of tea and a ginger biscuit. Those are my eight inspirational artists. Who are yours?
Elsewhere:
Go check out other *8Things entries at Magpie Girl.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed 
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I also like Rima Staines, I have been following her blog since before they hit the road in their truck, very interesting.
Rima is how I found you. Other than her, I don’t know these others, though. I’ll have to check them out.
I’m not going to do 8 here, but the artist that has been inspiring me most lately is a new blogging friend of mine: jennystevning.blogspot.com. She’s definitely worth checking out.
Karen, thanks for your comment and I agree, Rima’s road trip is really interesting.
Pollinatrix, I didn’t realise Rima was the connection. Ain’t the internet grand? I will have to check out Jenny Stevning.
What an interesting list – you have given me a few artists I am definitely going to have to check out!
Thanks for stopping by.
I did the bucket list as well. A very worthwhile project!
Take care.
A delicious list. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for introducing me to the artists you’ve named. Very nice.
xo
BTW – Soul Collage with Lucy WAS amazing:)