Steampunk Miriam

I think I warned you that I would be re-visiting Miriam Angel.  It's a process.

Something gets stuck in my mind and I have to work it out.  I have now created three Miriam Angel themed pieces, read numerous articles, and managed to find and read two books about Israel Lipski, the man convicted of murdering her.

My first instinct when I heard the details of the case was to be outraged about the scant attention paid to Miriam herself.  I've unearthed more details about her.  She was 22 and pregnant with her first child.  She was having a difficult time with it, but still managed to breakfast with her mother in law every day after her husband had gone off to work as a boot riveter.

She was asleep in her bed, clearly visible through a hall window when the killer / killers came in and the murder occurred.  

As I worked my way through the information I could find about the case, the focus was always on Israel Lipski.  I can absolutely see why.  Based on the evidence, I really don't understand why he was ever even bought to trial.  

I suppose it came down to a case of his word against those of his two employees who pointed the finger back at him.  He was at the scene, bearing similar burn wounds in his mouth and throat as those inflicted to Miriam Angel, but the police chose to believe that the wounds were self-inflicted out of guilt.

Despite his swift conviction, enough doubt remained that the local Jewish community managed to have the execution put on hold until another police inquiry could be conducted.  While the investigation was under way, however, strangely, Israel Lipski confessed to the crime.  

As to be expected, he was hung in due course, but the trial and conviction remain controversial. 

Admittedly, I took a bit of a surrealistic bent on the crime as I did in my other two pieces featuring Miriam Angel.  

For whatever reason, my interest lingers on all things Victorian London, at least, those concerned with crime.

I live in south Louisiana.  Much local art features swamp landscapes and sea creatures.  Mine does not.

Admittedly, I didn't grow up here, but I also didn't grow up in Whitechapel at the turn of last century.  I did grow up in a world in which Victorian London seemed to represent all things magical and beautiful.  Remember "Mary Poppins"?  "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"?  I grew up on such classics so I think maybe the contrast between the Disneyfied version of that reality and the gritty contrast of what that world was really like is what draws me in.

I am wrapping up my Jack the Ripper series, but just know I will be back with at least one more Miriam Angel piece.  I read the title "East End poisoner driven to murder by Angel Lust."

How delicious and dark is that?  What exactly does Angel Lust look like?

As soon as I figure it out, I will share it with you!

Steampunk Ideas

Over the course of a day, we have ideas.  

They drift in and out of our minds.  

A light bulb goes off here.   

An epiphany occurs there.  

A little later, a moment of serendipity.  

Too often, we have that bit of insight, 

a brilliant idea for an art series, and then 

just as quickly, it's gone.

Last year, I participated in a course of study,

"The Artists Way".  One of the main tenets 

of the course is the daily writing of three pages, 

every morning, without fail.  

The course helps you excavate into your past.  

It  helps you look for those moments of 

past trauma that are echoing into the now, 

possibly blocking the flow of your creativity.

I loved the course as well as the other participants.  

I felt like I gained a lot of insight into my past

 as well as my current struggles with my creative self.

The course wrapped up last December and 

I have made a point of continuing my daily pages.

When I have an idea, I now have a place where it is 
recorded for later (I underline and star those bits!)  

A lot of it is gibberish, venting, and a staging place 

for my plans for the day, but the ideas 
that appear on my daily pages delight me.

They are a delightful series of little light bulbs going off! 

 I am trying very hard not to let them fly away!

Freedom Blooms

Time has been in short supply this week so my ability to log any art time has been far too short.

My children are in art camp so I've spent most of my past week there.

I have a pile of prints that need to be matted for my next art market.

I have my steady stream of orders to make and fill.

Finally, we have a scheduled meet of the Renaissance players on Saturday.

My poor blooming fellow!  I suppose it's a wonder that he was finished at all.

This is one of those pieces where all I knew going in that was that I wanted a goldfish bowl where his head should be and his head where the goldfish bowl would be.  Everything else remained to be seen.

I added details, like walls and cranes.  None of them worked.  I tried bars in front.  Bars behind.

I added a keyhole in front; a keyhole behind.  There is something about the intrigue and mystery of a key and a lock that always tempts me.

After tinkering and moving, tinkering and moving, several days later, it finally came together!

Which side is real freedom?

Don't fret, my friend, you have the key if you know where to look!

Do you have the key?

Some days I cannot see the forest for the keys!

Under Lock and Key

"I've spent all my life, on a search to find 
The love who'll stay for eternity 
The heaven sent to fulfill my needs 
But when I turn around 
Again, love has knocked me down 
My heart got broken, oh it hurt so bad 
I'm sad to say, love wins again 

So I placed my heart under lock and key 
To take some time, and take care of me"
               -Deborah Cox

Medieval Love Affair

Victorian Octopus Couture - 3Muse Fashion Challenge

Fairy Flight - TAW Bird Challenge

":I'm taking a ride with my best friend

I hope he never lets me down again

He knows where he's taking me

Taking me where I want to be

I'm taking a ride with my best friend

We're flying high

We're watching the world pass us by

Never want to come down

Never want to put my feet back down on the ground"

-Depeche Mode - Never Let Me Down Again

I thought it would be fun to add a little steampunk 

fairy flavor to the Take a Word Bird challenge!

Wind Me up!

Happy New Year! - TAW challenge

Steampunkopus - 3Muses Challenge

The challenge this week from the Three Muses was Steampunk.

When I think steampunk, my first thought is always octopus.  I realize that may 

just be me, but that is were my mind goes.

I started with a gorgeous vintage picture of a girl and her dog.  

I added color and did some damage control to the image.

Initially, I intended to add some goggles or some cogs but I really liked her as is.

I added a landscape from wikipedia commons and then went through my octopus and squid images.

What is it about about our underwater friends that sometimes has a purely alien look to them?

I had some tentacle fun and added some more water creature details into the sky.

To a purist, I may have missed the steampunk mark, but I liked 

my final result so here is my version of Steampunk Octopus.