Everyone knows how much I love sidewalk cracks.
Recently someone asked me what inspired me as an “artist.”
I said, “Stuff on the ground, like sidewalk cracks.”
I could tell she was confused.
(I think I was supposed to say, “nature.”)
I am NOT strange! Don’t say that!
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This six pieces above were created from this single photo, below:
(I do have fun.)

















15 comments
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December 15, 2010 at 11:15 pm
nancy
Thoroughly enjoyed looking at each crack drawing; but was totally amazed that they were all from the one picture. Time to look deeper, closer and further. Thanks
December 15, 2010 at 11:40 pm
Genevieve
This is fantastically cool! Inspiration doesn’t have to be complicated!
December 15, 2010 at 11:46 pm
avisannschild
I love this! Thank you for inspiring me to look more closely at the world around me. Like Nancy, I’m amazed that they all came from one pic. (And I think being strange is OK too!)
December 16, 2010 at 1:40 am
Wendy B Burton
How cool. Thanks for sharing this Carla.
December 16, 2010 at 3:37 am
jane lafazio
fun is the operative word. and really takin’ the time to see…………
December 16, 2010 at 4:15 am
leith
I can _so_ relate to this! I have been working with other peoples scribbles. I often get 4 or five things from a single scribble. I tell them its like seeing duckies and horseys is clouds. Some folks just dont get it. Walking through my day without seeing duckies and horseys? That sounds strange to me! Oh! look! Squirrel!
December 16, 2010 at 8:49 am
spindelmaker
Carla, you´re NOT strange!!!
I deeply respect your way of noticing things, really SEEING what is there, finding the beauty in the common, everyday life & stuff. I love your whimsical art, and on top of that, you´re a great person!!!
December 16, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Carol Westover
I look at things differently too … and I’m ALWAYS finding stuff on the ground and picking it up to use in my cards and ATC’s. “Like minds love life!”
I really need to get myself a website… I had one ages ago and it “died.”
I’ve posted a small amount of my work here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26718307@N08/
Regards,
Carol Westover
December 17, 2010 at 3:34 am
Timaree (freebird)
I think your sidewalk crack pictures are great. My grandkids would have understood your answer as would my daughter. My son…well, he’d figure you were really an artist. I’m afraid he’s too left-brained in some ways.
December 17, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Karine Swenson
Hi Carla,
Catching up with you on your blog. You are a wonderfully creative woman, and that is enviable, not strange. I loved seeing the photos from your Open House with Liesel.
Loved seeing you…xo
December 19, 2010 at 8:40 pm
jasperandblue
so cool, I’m inspired to ry it y self. I do However also love finding weird things in nature. I like to find hearts . they seem to pop out at me and faces in trees. But I’ve never thought to blank out the other stuff to make it more obvious… Love that ….
December 21, 2010 at 10:11 pm
Denise
I adore them too and any other random surface or item that leaves my mind imagining some little person or face within the lines. Just yesterday I took a picture of a piece of clothing in the laundry basket in order to capture the face that I saw. I plan on drawing it.
December 31, 2010 at 2:43 pm
sue j
Sorry, my comment on the previous post was meant for this one. I’m used to comments being at the bottom of the post
January 2, 2011 at 6:57 am
Alexa
This post reminds me of when I’d go to the orthodontist and I’d be laying in the chair for, what felt like forever, while the mean old orthodontist would poke and prod at my mouth… the ceiling tile is what got me through it most of the time. I would just stare at it (as if I had much of a choice) and see how many different things I could make out (it was “speckle-y” so it was mostly a matter of connecting dots)… I loved trying to find something intricate, as if it were meant to be there…
I love that there are other people out there who think the same way as I do!
June 9, 2011 at 7:31 am
All work, and no art… « rcs creations ~ just a girl and her art
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