{"id":2708,"date":"2013-09-01T00:01:28","date_gmt":"2013-09-01T06:01:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2708"},"modified":"2020-12-09T17:22:32","modified_gmt":"2020-12-09T23:22:32","slug":"7-imps-7-kicks-346-featuringup-and-coming-illustrator-phoebe-wahl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2708","title":{"rendered":"7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks #346: Featuring
Up-and-Coming Illustrator, Phoebe Wahl"},"content":{"rendered":"


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In The Flowers
Watercolor, colored pencil, and collage, 2013<\/em><\/center>
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\nHappy long weekend, everyone. It’s the first Sunday of the month, so I have a newly-graduated illustration student visiting 7-Imp today. Her name is Phoebe Wahl<\/a><\/strong>, and I’m so pleased she’s here this morning, sharing her artwork, because I really like it. Since it’s a long weekend, I might just hear the sound of cyber-crickets here today at 7-Imp, but I hope some<\/em> of you are around. Phoebe’s artwork is a treat. <\/p>\n

As you’ll read below, Phoebe likes to work primarily with watercolor and collage, making (for a reason I love, which she explains below) very textured works you want to reach out and touch. Her stylized, richly patterned illustrations make me feel … I dunno. The word cozy<\/em> comes to mind. Phoebe’s here to tell us a bit more about herself and then showcase some art, and I thank her again for visiting. <\/p>\n

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Phoebe<\/font><\/strong>: I am Phoebe Wahl<\/a><\/strong>. I graduated this spring from Rhode Island School of Design<\/strong><\/a> with a BFA in Illustration. I am originally from the Northwest coast of Washington state and am moving to Portland, Oregon, this Fall. My connection to the Pacific Northwest plays a big role in my work. While I was living in Providence during college, my homesickness definitely manifested itself through what I was making. I found myself constantly drawn to painting blue islands and evergreen trees. <\/p>\n

So much of my work is about the idea of home. Of comforting spaces. Spaces of nostalgia and sanctuary. Quiet moments between people and nature or parents and children or lovers. <\/p>\n

Textures and patterns are important to me. I work in watercolor and gouache, usually combined with collage and colored pencil. I collect lots of oversized quilting books or books about fabric that I cut from. I also make a lot of three-dimensional soft sculptures<\/strong><\/a> of animals and people, using thrifted and recycled fabrics and wool felt. Both in my two-dimensional and three-dimensional work, heavy handedness is important to me, touched-ness. I think as we move further into the digital age, the relationships we have with hand-made things are growing increasingly important. <\/p>\n

I have so many ideas for projects I want to make that I sometimes think I need a few more lifetimes to complete them all. I want to do children\u2019s books, and I would love to get more into animation<\/strong><\/a>. I want to make giant wearable puppets and incorporate them into a theater production I stage and design. I want to do textile design and learn how to quilt. <\/p>\n

I want to make objects and art that people feel connected to, as if they had seen it before in their childhood or a dream.
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The Encounter
Watercolor and collage, 2012<\/em><\/center>
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Heidi
(based on the book by Johanna Spyri<\/a><\/strong>)
Watercolor, gouache, collage, and altered book, 2013<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center>
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Journey to Freedom
Watercolor, gouache, and collage, 2013<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center>
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The Secret Garden
(cover re-design)
Watercolor and collage, 2013<\/em><\/center>
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Midsummer Parade
(Watercolor and collage, 2012<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center>
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From the Sketchbook:<\/strong><\/font><\/em><\/center>
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\nAll images are used with permission of Phoebe Wahl.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Note for any new readers: 7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks is a weekly meeting ground for taking some time to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. New kickers are always welcome. <\/p>\n

* * * Jules’ Kicks * * *<\/strong><\/font>
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We need to try hard to find some good news this week<\/a><\/strong>, huh? Even if it’s just the little things. <\/p>\n

1)<\/strong><\/font> I started my piano lessons! I like my teacher. I’m learning a lot. <\/p>\n

Part of my homework is to listen to this below. I LOVE THIS HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT.<\/p>\n