I just started a tumblr blog of photos from my studio with works in progress. Check it out at http://marksloniker.tumblr.com/
Inspiration: Yuki Atae
Yuki Atae is a Japanese doll maker. His creations are exquisitely made. I was introduced to his work years ago by a coworker from Japan. She let me borrow a book on how he makes the dolls. Their base shapes are wire and then, I believe he adds clay and covers them with fabric. They are amazing. There are a lot of images on the web but they all seem to be the same so I've scanned these from postcards I have, except for the last image which is from the internet. In Japan, there is a Yuki Atae museum. Their website is in Japanese but there are a few photos where you can see his dolls. There is a series he did where he created a story using the dolls from the these first two photos about this elf. He posed the dolls in a real forest. Those photos were influential in my development as a photo illustrator.
Staceage: Feast for the Senses
I recently took a quick day trip to Atlanta. I often go with a few ideas in mind of stores or places I want to visit. This trip's plan was for fabric stores. I had found Staceage online and was fascinated by the look of the store and the bright colors that adorned the racks. It is a fabric boutique. Most of the fabrics are out of my price range but I haven't seen anything like them available anywhere else. They also upholster furniture. You may also purchase most of their fabrics online.