Blog
For the Weird and Wonderful
03 . 25 . 2024
These four skilled makers that will be exhibiting at the One of a Kind Spring Show, April 26-28, enjoy exploring the whimsical and marvelous side of life with their quirky works of art.
Former Director of Sales turned full-time artist, Morgan Jones is inspired by the casual observation of people and life around him. His keen eye for texture and composition, coupled with a whimsical flare, creates works that are aesthetically engaging while also evoking a visceral response in the viewer.
Tell us about your creative process.
Morgan: I like to explore the whimsical, quirky and unusual side of life and bring my ideas to life through photography. My images are often staged and I incorporate various theatrical components. Each image is later fine-tuned in photoshop and then mounted to wood panels. Several coats of gel medium, varnish, and other mixed-media elements such as metallic leaf and paint are later added on.
What does your artwork symbolize?
Morgan: In my series "Masked" the masks represent our social selves, who we pretend to be while the balloons represent our essential self, who we truly are. I attempt to explore the disconnect between the two selves in a nod to our carefully curated society many of us find ourselves caught up in.
Is there an instance from your own life that has sparked creativity?
Morgan: I spent some time in Budapest and the unusual and brightly colored market fittingly named The Great Market Hall was a fantastic source of inspiration that led me to incorporate elegant tea parties photographed in dilapidated and abandoned houses.
Kendall Maslowski does a little bit of everything, sewing, designing, weaving, upholstery, but it all begins with a color palette. From there she finds a way to combine digital technologies with slow handmade processes to produce patterned textiles and housewares.
What led you to pursue a career as a maker?
Kendall: My grandmother is an artist and art educator so creating has always been encouraged in my life. That, plus seeing my mother have a successful career as an architect, lead me to combine colorful handmade art with thoughtful design in my housewares.
What do you hope to communicate through your work?
Kendall: My work speaks to the inner child in all of us, the loud, weird, colorful and joyful should not be restricted to the young, but all ages should be able to fill their life and home with colors, textures and patterns.
What is the story behind your business name?
Kendall: I have always had a love of patterns, and I view stripes and spots as base patterns. I hope that taking the names of the more iconic and simple patterns as inspiration for my business name will inspire visions of patterns, color and joy.
Rather than focusing on intent, Janice Jones focuses on the lines and small shapes that her ballpoint pen creates and then lets her whimsical mind explore what peculiar illustrations she sees beginning to develop.
What does your artwork represent?
Janice: My work is representative of the magic that happens when my pen touches paper. Sometimes it seems a little dark, but it is truly whimsical if the viewer takes the time to see the little images that appear within my illustrations.
What is the inspiration behind your business name?
Janice: Embrace your weird - Normal is overrated! This phrase, just like my illustrations, is an opportunity to escape from realism into a world of whimsy. I also give each of my characters names and they become more personal from that point onward - almost like family with all their interesting peculiarities!
What influences your creativity?
Janice: I naturally always walk on the creative side mentally, but I also find creativity in nature. I love seeing tree stumps that almost seem to be able to walk away on their own, different shapes in the clouds, shadows when walking in the woods, or glistening within raindrops that sit on a curled leaf.
John Peralta took his technical talents and combined them with master craftswoman Lynne Manning's creative vision, and together they make brilliant, whimsical, and fun creations.
Tell us about your work.
John: We search vintage auctions, estate sales, junk shops and even friend's basements and attics to find interesting things we can re-purpose into beautiful one-of-a-kind lights, clocks, and robots. We especially love making pieces that have some type of movement that brings them to life.
Why did you become makers?
John: Lynne is an amazing artist, and I cannot leave anything alone and must tinker with things. As a couple of old semi-retired people who only know how to work, we needed something fun to do. This was supposed to be a small thing to keep us busy but it grew, big! We're closing in on 70 and busier than ever.
What do your creations represent?
John: A land of fun and whimsy and we are looking to bring this fun into your homes.
Catch up with these makers and more at the One of a Kind Spring Show, April 26-28!