Freewheelin’ Friday (#4)
Last two Fridays it was all about the top 2000 and New Year
(can you believe that was only one week ago?) but as of today
I’m picking up the “Freewheelin’ Fridays” again.
So here’s to random chitchat and some inspiration…
I start my mornings with black coffee, a cigarette and the morning paper,
and today’s paper surprised me with an article about schizophrenia…
not the text itself caught my eye, but the illustration that came with it.
This is a drawing made in 1915 by the Swiss (schizophrenic) artist Adolf Wölfli,
and I surfed the Internet looking for information about him. I came across this:
“Wölfli is the poster child of the Outsider Art movement. This guy had it all;
a troubled childhood, a history of abuse, and broken homes.
He was institutionalized in 1895 to the Waldau Clinic in Berne, Switzerland.
He was very disturbed and sometimes violent leading to him being kept in
isolation for his early time at hospital. In isolation he began to have intense
hallucinations. Shortly after this he began to draw.”
I found this text – along with some other gorgeous images – on the blog of
Katy Elliott but if you google on “Adolf Wölfli” you’ll find a lot more…
… like this page!
I fell in love with the way he uses music notes in his art.
Wikipedia said
this about it:
“His images also
incorporated an
idiosyncratic
musical notation.
This notation
seemed to start
as a purely
decorative affair
but later developed
into real composition which he would play on a paper trumpet.”
… I’m still flabbergasted by this guy and his art!
On to some things that came in the mail in the Christmas (top 2000) week
and I haven’t showed you yet.
In September, I joined an ATC-swap at SIStv. Everyone made ATC’s themed
on where they live. On the back of the card, we gave little facts or tid-bits
about the country/state/continent/city we live.
Here is what I made for this swap (front and back)
And here are all the ATC’s
I got back.
I heard stories of people
who had several bad
experiences with swaps
so I prepared for the worst,
but there were only a few
drop outs and the other
participants really put
an effort in making these…
Some beautiful cards here!
And more happy mail!
My good blogfriend
Danielle send me
this “just because..”
Isn’t she the sweetest?
And…
she turned
forty yesterday!
So hop on over to
her blog to
congratulate
and leave her
some hoorays!
Today, my son has a drawing exam at school. In 3 hours time he has to
draw a self portrait. He is allowed to use a mirror and a photo as an example.
Yesterday I made some portrait photo’s for him to use – and he’s in the
middle of his exam “as we speak” (Good luck hon! No worries, you’re drawings
are always fabulous so you can do this too!)
He didn’t
take this
photo with
him to
school
(too many
shadows)
but I think
it’s (HE‘s)
gorgeous!
And of course
he wanted to
take a photo
of me…
I edited this
one a lot tho!
Played with
the contrast
and highlights
’cause floodlight
on a 46 year old
skin… mwaaahhh!
I didn’t know
my wrinkles
were that deep!
And have you heard of A Year in the Life of an Art Journal
I found out about this last year. Michelle played along and uploaded
marvelous pages every two weeks… but I found it too late to join in so
I waited for this year to start. I was very surprised to hear they have
guest hosts this year, and two of my favourite scrapgirls and friends
are host – Wohweee! Congrats Glenda and Michelle
And on to the weekend! What are your plans???
I’m going to test my online community one last time (together with beloved)
and I hope to know all the “ins and outs” of it by the time my workshop
goes online. That’s in three weeks already, eeeekkk!!!
(If you’re new here… registration is still open and you can find all the
info about my workshop by clicking the image in the right side menu)
Still a lot to do, but I do hope to find some scrapping time this weekend too,
maybe just enough time to make an ATC…?
I wish you all a relaxed and creative weekend!
Je t’embrasse!
January 8th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
What a fascinating post! I have never heard of Wolfli, but his art is so arresting and inspiring. Thanks for sharing it. I am so glad you received such great atcs – I went through a period last year creating them but found the swaps to be quite disappointing. I make atcs like I do anything else, which is pretty much full-on – the fact that they are small in size does not mean they should be small in content; however, from my personal experience, I learned that not all artists feel the same way so I have not made any lately to swap. Having said all that, I have also received some stunning atcs and treasure them. Good luck to your son! Have a great weekend!
January 8th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Wow, some amazing artistic inspiration here!
January 8th, 2010 at 3:03 pm
What an interesting story.
I love your ATC – what a wonderful swap idea. Very cool.
January 8th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
What an inspirational story. Love the art, and the pics are great!
January 8th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
What a awesome post my friend. Amazing look into the art of wolfi * spelling might not be right on that* 🙂 How sometimes the clinically insane can be the most creative people. I sure his art helped him cope. Thank you for sharing.
I have never done the atc’s. Too small. But, love yours 🙂 Have a good weekend Marit.
January 8th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Hey, the photo-editing has worked out great, mom!
But I liked the photo you took afterwards more.
I think I can give you a link with the finished verson of my drawing sometime.
Thanks for the comments,
peace, Nout
January 8th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Thanks for writing about Wolfi.
January 8th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Loving that musical note piece! Wow!
January 8th, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Love the inspiration here Marit. Beautiful ATCs!
January 9th, 2010 at 5:48 am
Amazing artwork — wow!
January 9th, 2010 at 7:11 am
Thanks for the congrats Marit! I’m so excited to be guesting for A year In the Life of an Art Journal! The art by Wolfli is amazing!!! I had never heard of him – thanks for sharing! I hope you will post Nout’s finished drawing – it would be fun to see!
January 9th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Zo, wat is hier veel te lezen zeg!! En te zien ook! Geweldig!!
Gave foto’s van jou en je zoon! Tja….die rimpels… LEVE Photoshop!!!
Het mooie van jouw blog vind ik de verscheidenheid aan stylen die ik hier altijd langs zie komen! Nu ook weer, die fantastische kunst die je ons laat zien! Thanks!! Ik zou zo graag al die technieken willen beheersen..
Eerst maar eens even me opgeven voor jouw cursus. Ga het NU doen!
Fijn weekend!!
XXXJEnneke
January 9th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Ha Marit, wat een prachtige illustratie van Wolfli heb je in de krant zien staan (heb ik helemaal gemist, terwijl ik de krant toch ook gelezen heb!)
Wat een leuke ATC`s heb je rondgestuurd, zijn de huisjes gestempeld? Dan zijn het hele leuke stempels!!
Dan ga ik nu Jenneke`s voorbeeld maar eens volgen want ik moet me ook nog altijd opgeven voor je workshop 🙂
Fijn weekend, liefs Viv
January 9th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
always fun to stop by for a visit dear Marit!
Wölfli’s art is awesome! In Baltimore there is the American Visionary Art Museum (AVAM) it is full of outsider art and so amazing! I’ve done several posts on it, the outside of the building is done in mirrors and tiles!
Your son IS beautiful and so are you! Wrinkles show that we lived with a real face, not a stone face 🙂 (that’s what I tell myself)
Swaps can be so much fun when everyone’s plays nicely, you got some wonderful things!
Wishing you all the best on your online classes, that is very exciting!
oxoo
January 9th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Hey Marit! I love your ATC for the swap!!! I used to join the swaps over at SIS quite a bit and got some amazing cards from the various swaps! I havent’ for some time now and should check out to see if there are any new ones! Love the pics of you and your son and I totally know what you mean about harsh lighting. Picnik has become my bff!! haha I am super excited you will be playing along at the a year in the life of an art journal!!!! It’s going to be amazing!!!
January 9th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
prachtige kunst, vooral die met de muziek noten!en wat een leuke atc’s heb je allemaal gekregen!!!
is het examen van je zoon goed gegaan? ben wel benieuwd naar de tekening!
ik heb dit weekend mijn neefje te logeren…hij zit nu in bad, dus heb ik mooi even tijd om mijn favo blogs te bekijken 😉 fijn weekend!!!
January 10th, 2010 at 5:25 am
I have not heard of this artist before but the work is certainly fascinating, to say the least. Thanks for sharing.
I see you have received some wonderful ATCs. Very lucky. Everyone seemed to put their heart into their work.
January 11th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
thanks for the love on my recent lo’s …. and thanks for liking my recent STM lo….let’s hope after U read my journaling…. which i will be posting tonight….u still love it!!! LOL! :):):):):):):):)
January 11th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Wat een gave foto’s van jou en je zoon! Ben heel benieuwd hoe zijn zelfportret er uiteindelijk uit is gaan zien!
En wat een ontzettend leuke mail heb je gekregen! ben ik gek op!!
Groetjes,
Monique