Inspiration: The Man Has Style

For as long as I can remember men’s styling and old fashioned etiquette has been an inspiration.  From a young girl fascinated by the men in their suits, tipping their hats as I would walk by with a greeting of ‘Good Morning’, I found this to be so wonderfully refreshing. I love clean lines, layers, tailoring, beautiful trims such as buttons, jackets (how I love jackets), and don’t even get me started on my love of scarves.  I like slim and straight legs on pants, watches, gloves, vintage cars and binoculars.  I don’t sail but to be around yachts and beautiful sleek boats makes me feel on top of the world.  I love texture.  I like simplicity and clean lines.

I find inspiration in a short glass, with a heavy base, five cubes of ice, slightly rounded at the corners with a splash of whisky – not even so much the drinking of it, rather the feel of the holding the glass, the colours, the shape and clarity of the ice, mixing with the darker liquor.  

I like to read Ian Fleming and I have watched James Bond films more times that I can remember.  I adore Sean Connery, George Clooney and Tom Ford because they remind me of the inspiration I find in men’s styling.  I love Alfred Hitchcock films and the mystery of what he represents.  

I have a stamp collection, a reminder of hand written letters received.  Which reminds me of Mont Blanc, of superbly crafted writing instruments, because letters should be written with something as beautiful as the words you write.  These are all my inspiration.

My inspiration has refined from a young girl but it is quite clear it has been a long love affair with men’s styling.  I could write every day, on the inspirations and how I am in awe of such.

You can follow my men’s styling inspiration via Pinterest on my “The Man Has Style’ pinboard at http://pinterest.com/sarahcrawfordau/  

Images credits on my Pinterest pinboards.

MUST SEE :: Rankin & Damien Hirst Exhibition in LA

Rankin & Damien Hirst :: Myths, Monsters & Legends exhibition :: RANKIN Gallery LA

I am so in love with these images for the upcoming exhibition at RANKIN Gallery in LA.  Rankin and Damien Hirst have worked together with model Dani Smith to create the most amazing works of art.  One I do not want to miss and lucky for me, I’ll be LA just in time to catch this one.  

Myths, Monsters & Legends is on at RANKIN Gallery from 13 October to 5 November 2011.   

 http://rankinla.com/exhibitions-upcoming/

 RANKIN Gallery  :  8070 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046  : Open Tue-Sat 11am – 6pm

 

Rankin & Damien Hirst :: Myths, Monsters & Legends exhibition :: RANKIN Gallery LA

Red Hot Love in a Ray of Light

Sarah Crawford :: Ray of Light :: Mixed media illustration and collage

Passion is such a powerful force. I try to find it in my every day.  Passion for life.  Passion for love.  Passion for my art.  Passion for living.  Like a ray of light you see, so strong it pushes away the doubt, the insecurities, the fear and the negativity.  It makes you smile.  It helps you say to yourself each day as you wake that the day will be special.  The ray of light keeps reminding you of how lucky you are each night as you fall to sleep.  It shows you in so many things the beauty and gives you a red hot love for life.

Sarah Crawford :: Red Hot Love :: Mixed media illustration and collage

Love…Light… Truth or Dare… Fashion… Life… Love…

'Love Light' - Illustration using ink and markers on vintage mixed media collage

 

Sometimes I just love life so much is it kind of annoying to others… I smile all the time… my life seems like it is floating… no matter how hard it gets… I find joy in everything.  It’s when I feel love bursting from my heart… and I know how ‘airy fairy’ it sounds… but it is how it feels.  I give thanks to all I have.  For even the things that frustrate me most remind me of how alive I am…

And when I feel this way I want to draw pretty dresses and share my thoughts and tell the world how the sun shines bright every day… if you let it… if you can find that few minutes to see the light… your every day will be joy…

'Truth or Dare' - Illustration using ink and markers on vintage mixed media collage

The One That Got Away

The One That Got Away... work in progress

The one that got away.  The series that had a vacation while I went and explored.  Not at all forgotten.  I always like the work in progress, the works that I have put aside for some time, so I can go and explore – to figure out the next step.  And back to you I go… with clear direction, a vision in mind.

I feel so happy lately.  Falling asleep smiling. Feeling like a little girl and a strong woman at the same time.  The perfect balance that makes me happy.

I skip along in a pretty dress and feel the sunshine warm my heart.  I Love my Life xo

Bob Dylan, Sylvester Stallone, John Lennon, Justin Bieber, Michael Jackson, Debbie Harry

Bob Dylan, Sylvester Stallone 'Rocky', John Lennon, Justin Bieber, young Michael Jackson, Debbie Harry 'Blondie"

They pass through my life… and make an impact.  Their words and their actions stick in my mind.  They influence my life.  Sometimes it is through their lyrics, or as simple as what they have worn.  Their hair might have made me take notice, that moment in time where I felt inspired by who they are.  Simple things.  Their determination.  Their strength and belief in oneself and their vulnerability.  The indifference they face, for living their dreams.  The struggle of leading a public life.  Their amazing talent.  Their intriguing faces.  They inspire me.

Bob Dylan, Sylvester Stallone as Rocky, John Lennon, Justin Bieber, a young Michael Jackson and Debbie Harry as we know as Blondie – thank you.

 

Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Sylvester Stallone

Sometimes I just live in my own world.  The daydreamer world.  My favourite place.  You remind me of a time in my life.  Something that was so special.  You remind me a of a place in my life.  And you remind me of the special people in my life.

New beginnings, forever memories and moments of reflection.  Your words inspired me.  Don’t give up.  Live in the moment. Believe in your dreams. Have peace in your soul.  Have passion in life.  Don’t ever be afraid to show who you are.  Romance is alive.

The series of famous faces.  These are only the beginning.  I paint them so I remember.  And so I will never forget.  xo

You May Say Im A Dreamer - Acrylic & Spraypaint on Canvas

Yo Adrian! - Acrylic & Spraypaint on Canvas

The One You Love - Acrylic on Canvas

We Are Always Watching

We Are Always Watching - Mixed media on paper

Sometimes you feel a little alien. Sometimes you feel like you are being watched.  Every move seems important.  The slightest of moves you feel are so important in the big picture.  I wonder who is watching?  I wonder all the time.  The more I watch the more I wonder.  Have you seen me around?  You might notice my eyes, you can’t forget them.  They draw you in and your mind is taken.

All this time I knew.  Do you see me in the boat?  It goes so fast, so beautiful, so sleek.  I see timber, I see white and above all I see bright, bright blue.  Hair is dark and eyes so big.  Clarity and crispness.  The ocean surrounds.  The ones who helped me to this place are by my side.  We are always watching.  See our eyes?  We see your mind.

 

Ruby - Markers and ink on paper

You might see me sometime.  My name is Ruby.  I know style.  In the fashionable kind of way.

 

Tribal Chief Snapper - Ink and markers on paper

I’m pretty sure if you’ve been to Snapper I’ll have seen you.  I’m the Tribal Chief.  Nothing gets past me.

 

Danger Tallows - Markers and ink on paper

Remember that day you were surfing and a big shadow went under you?  And there was that feeling of dread.  What was down there?  Ever wonder how you didn’t see that shadow again?  My name is Danger Tallows… protector of the waters.

 

Queen of the Rain - Ink and markers on paper

I know you have all been watching me.  The Queen of the Rain.  There was conflict and it will settle.  I was nearly overthrown.  Order is being restored and life will get back to normal.

 

Big Eyes - Markers and ink on paper

You don’t need to tell me anything. I already know.  My big eyes read your mind.

 

I first saw one surfing.  Then I saw them everywhere.

17 Years Ago, Jimi Hendrix and Art School

Not much survived art school… myself included.  I have only a few pieces still, most lost or damaged over the years. I remember at one time my little Datsun 180B was full of artworks.  The whole boot and back seat was piled high with works.  And there was a skull on the back shelf thingy… somehow it inspired me to create more.  I look back and wonder about all those works.  I remember some but not many.  I remember music was such a huge influence on everything I did.

 

Jimi Hendrix - pencil on paper (never finished)

Recycled fashion, the word vintage was hardly a spot on the horizon, I just loved creating something new from something someone didn’t want anymore.  Oh so many years ago.  Makes me smile when I look back and remember.  I often dream of being back in that time, carefree, creating, each day being inspired by my own creations.  Art, music, fashion… Seventeen years ago… and all I the time I aspired to fashion.  I used to look at the fashion students and wish I was them.  As much as I loved my art and that side of things. I was so influenced by fashion and would spend hours upon hours with my head in magazines.  Collaging my room, drawing the beautiful garments.  Writing about the feeling of the big feature editorial pages – full of high fashion models and amazingly stunning clothing.

My life gets so busy sometimes I feel like I’m the middle of a big bird frenzy…

Beautiful Daydream - Mixed media collage

♥ For The Love ♥ Art Show

♥ For The Love ♥ Art Show by Sarah Crawford

I tell you I get so excited leading up to a showing of my artworks!  I start painting all through the night, I can’t sleep, my mind is racing a million miles an hour – and I also get anxious!  I inevitably try something new, then want to do a whole series of those new works, adding to the pressure, and generally forgetting the other works I need to finish.  Until a few days before that it, then I don’t sleep for a few days, wishing I had stayed focused on what I needed to do!  I wouldn’t change it (much!) because it allows me to come up with new ideas.  It would save a few tears I’m sure if I stayed within the boundaries, but where is the creative fun in that?

So what will you see at this show?  Of course there will be nudes, that goes without saying.  And fashion. There will be birds, dogs, maybe some fish.  Some famous faces and those aliens that seem to pop up everywhere.  There is even a special skateboard deck I have painted – a first for me.

My art shows are about sharing the passions in my life.  My passions have come for this show from your passions.  I see and hear you all with that special something or someone that lights up your soul.  Maybe it’s your pet, your dog, your best friend.  When you speak of him you do so with such passion.  He makes your life special.  It might be the music, the clothing – or just the love of the living of life.  But it lights up your life.

If you are on the Gold Coast on Sunday 5 December I would love for you to come along so you can see these artworks inspired by passion.  The show is from 3-6pm at littleBEANS on the Gold Coast Hwy at Nobby Beach.  A special place to me as it was the venue for my 1st ever solo show a few years ago.  And they continue to support me to this day.

The restaurant is open all day and is perfect for a Sunday afternoon drink!  Hope to see you there – You’ll see me doing something that lights up my life.

xo

www.sarahcrawford.com.au