I think that one of the few downsides to having my studio in my own home and having an internet based business is that you don't get to see a whole lot of other peoples work first hand. Which was why it did me the world of good today to have the chance to see a number of different artist's work up close and personal.
One exhibit that I've been interested in seeing for a while is Julie Arkell's. I really like her work, but I didn't realise just how much I loved it until I saw it for real today.
Her entire display area was completely wonderful and almost impossible to describe. It was a wonderland of textiles and paper mache, sewing and stitching.
It was the type of work that both inspires and overwhelms you. I'm torn between coming home and immediately getting down to work and just throwing it all in, because there's no way on earth that I'm ever going to produce anything as wonderful myself.
I didn't expect to enjoy Julie's work as much as I did, but I'm so glad that I got to see it today. It was exactly what I needed after the week I've had, and has left me feeling just a little more energised.
If you don't have the chance to see her work yourself then I highly recommend her book Julie Arkell - Home , it's full to the brim with photo's and is the next best thing to seeing it all in the flesh.
