Just when you think you're good, someone comes along and amazes you...

... how thankful I am for that!  These past few days I have taken extra time to look around the Juxtapoz website and read about many of the amazing artists the magazine features daily.  While there, I stumbled upon, Candice Tripp.  Her dark, fairytale-like work is a combination of Alister Crowley's Thoth Tarot, Beatrix Potter's illustrations, Grimm's fairytales, and the weirdness of growing up similar to Neutral Milk Hotel's lyrical imagery.  In short, it's the scariest dream you don't want to wake from.

 

"Bobbing For Uglies"- Candice Tripp

Her beautiful works in ink and oil, which are shockingly larger than they appear (about 40"x40"), cross the line between illustration and painting leaving the digital viewer to wonder what medium she is actually using (I thought watercolor upon first glance). 

 

Drawing for Gogol Bordello - Candice Tripp

Aside from being fascinated with her beautiful work, I am sharing with you my discovery of Candice Tripp because she is currently doing what I am working towards: being a full time artist at 26.  If you are interested in reading a bit about her journey, you can catch a glimpse on her website.  I admire her amazing attention to detail (something I've always struggled with) and her elegant use of symbolism that stirs a nostalgia for childish decadence and fear.  

 

"Readied"  (Detail) - Candice Tripp

These characteristics in her art remind me of illustrations in my Dream Journals (examples below along with sketches about songs you might know). These are books of illustrations I have created by story-boarding significant imagery from my dreams.  Discovering Tripp's work has encouraged me to continue my habit of dream journaling and, possibly, actually do something with those images. 

King of Carrot Flowers - Olivia Hinds (me)

 

Two Headed Boy - Olivia Hinds (me)

 

The Birth of Knowledge (Dream) - Olivia Hinds

The other night had a dream that I was the last believer in the faith of the Sun and the Moon.

Unfortunately, I am horrible at keeping journals for an extended period, so we'll see how it goes.

Wake me up when it has stopped snowing.