Whimsy Spot
Alexa Shoemaker Brooks
www.WhimsySpotDesigns.etsy.com
The natural world has held an interest for me my whole life. I grew up among the redwoods where there were constant encounters with blue jays, raccoons, deer and even the occasional coyote. In addition, my sister is an underwater photographer, and I grew up with her beautiful images of manta rays, nudibranchs, whales and all kinds of tropical fish. It has always seemed to me that not only do individual animals have their own personalities, but that they have, as a species, characteristics that could be expressed in an artistic way. I try to place animals into humorous situations that play off those characteristics. My greeting cards--with simple silhouettes of creatures and objects that already exhibit magnificent color variations--are expressed in the beautiful patterns of paper.
My 11x14 pieces are the heart of what I do. Inspiration starts with the playful characteristics of the world's wildlife. Starting with true-to-life photos, I then use Photoshop and my sketching skills to create templates for every element. Using my library of fine papers, I search for the right color, pattern, and texture for every piece - from the eyes to the fur, from the claws to tails. Every piece is carefully hand cut using an X-acto knife, and I begin to lay out the pieces on matboard. I then use bookbinder’s glue - oftentimes using a paperclip and tweezers if the pieces are small or delicate enough - to mount each layer, collage-style. Every piece is one of a kind.