People often ask me how I get inspiration for my artwork. My answer is that I don't really know when or how inspiration will come, but the key is to be open to the world around me.
For example, while researching the newly opened exhibition of hats at the
Victoria and Albert Museum curated by
Stephen Jones, I noticed this instruction sheet on the V&A website. Artist
Nick Robinson lays out visuals on how to make an origami hat.
I gave it a try, first with a regular piece of paper, and then using smaller pieces of paper. After a few attempts, it started to be fun. By that point, I was confident enough in the method that I could modify his instructions to suit my vision. I used pretty Japanese handmade washi paper and applied ribbon trims. In the end, I abandoned the origami method altogether and tried a pillbox style. And this was the result. These paper hats are very tiny (the pink one is maybe an inch tall).
A trio of Party HatsMixed media, copyright Ingrid Mida 2009
Paper Hats in a Teacup by Ingrid Mida (aka Alice).
Origami hat by Tristan Robin Blakeman of Enchanted Revelry (who provided me with the inspiration for this party!)
Queen of Hearts Crown by Lynn Wheeler of The Vintage Nest
Glamourous, an oil painting by Neda Maki at www.neda.ca
Ship Hat 4 by Judith Thibaut from Studio Judith.
I gave it a try, first with a regular piece of paper, and then using smaller pieces of paper. After a few attempts, it started to be fun. By that point, I was confident enough in the method that I could modify his instructions to suit my vision. I used pretty Japanese handmade washi paper and applied ribbon trims. In the end, I abandoned the origami method altogether and tried a pillbox style. And this was the result. These paper hats are very tiny (the pink one is maybe an inch tall).
A trio of Party Hats