expanding explorations

For We’Moon 2025, we draw inspiration from Mama Moon, nearly full in her waxing gibbous phase. Oh, what journeys she has made on her trek from new-moon-dark to this ripening glow, on the cusp of completion. But not quite! She has work to do yet—as do we—before the glory of fullness.

This is a time of anticipation, of evaluation and revelation.

moon over our slice of paradise

There is not much space in that thin slice of shadow for secrets or unexpressed sentiments. No. We must come out with it, now, surrender to the light here at the home stretch. As she gathers up her radiance, we too gather up our confidence to persevere, align our compasses and synchronize our watches with allies and companions in this life.

Let’s make sure our goals are attuned to the urgent imperatives of this fragile planet. There’s barely time to course correct, refine intentions, at this critical, burgeoning moment. Light will crown soon; there is no turning back. Can you feel the quickening? The bursting at the seams? The exhilaration of acceleration?

This gain in momentum is a push that the universe offers us to get ‘er done: attend to those life-changing projects, and tie up lingering loose ends. We are almost there! Are you ready?

Show us what lies ahead, on the Growing Edge!

holiday cheer

Separated from each other by distance, distancing, natural disaster, and new alarming variants of the virus that kept us apart last year, people are still finding ways to celebrate and enjoy the holidays.

Christmas Eve 2021

Finally we're spending our first Christmas together in several years, but missing the many other bubbles of our family elsewhere. Holing up at home with honey, turkey, takeout and holiday videos - we want to spread the cheer of our favourites around as much as possible.

nurture nature

As we ease our way back outside this summer, wonder | wander | world is compelled to explore outdoors from a fresh and appreciative perspective. Even fully vaccinated, we prefer to ease our way back into what we hope is a much better world. 

We were doubly inspired by the latest works on display by famed global artist, Yayoi Kusama - now on display at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) from April 10th through October 31st, 2021. 

Yayoi Kusama, still from Flower Obsession (Sunflower), n.d. Courtesy of the artist.

Read the full article here: Yayoi Kusama’s Fascination with Nature Is Crucial to Understanding Her Art (artsy.net)

sweet salve for our achey breakey hearts

wonder | wander | world shares this sweet find - a treasure trove of stories that inspire a "great capacity for wonder" (New York Times) from the beloved author of A Wrinkle in Time, this collection transcends generational divides to highlight the power of hope and joy.

The Moment of Tenderness is a powerful collection of short stories that traces an emotional arc inspired by Madeleine L'Engle's early life and career, from her lonely childhood in New York to her life as a mother in small-town Connecticut.

In a selection of eighteen stories discovered by one of L'Engle's granddaughters, we see how L'Engle's personal experiences and abiding faith informed the creation of her many cherished works.

L’Engle shared with her readers her great capacity for wonder, and her refreshingly earnest desire to tunnel deep inside the human heart and expose its power to generate and regenerate hope and love — even in the face of eviscerating darkness. ~ Heidi Pitlor

Urasawa Naoki: manga and Manben

wonder | wander | women really love artists with a lot of output. Somehow the work ethic is just as compelling and admirable to us as the work itself. So when we heard of a manga artist who put on a solo show in London with 400 original works, how could we resist? Urasawa Naoki, here we come!

Frida Kahlo: jewellery a la mexicana

In a biography of Frida Kahlo by Hayden Herrera, fellow artist Lucienne Bloch describes jewellery shopping with Frida as going through markets and thrift stores 'like a tornado...she'd find cheap costume jewellery and she'd make it look fantastic'. This is because Frida Kahlo had a powerful vision of her self in mind.

From Frida: Making Her Self Up,
Victoria and Albert exhibition catalogue

Tom Wolfe, visionary: 1931-2018

There aren't many people about whom the word 'visionary' would mean so much. Tom Wolfe had a far-reaching insight into his subjects and characters, a highly specific look (the memorable visual branding of his white suit and tailored clothes), and a ringing voice to his writing that stood out even among the singular styles of his New Journalism peers.

our fave subversive | Dr. Seuss

Today on the birth anniversary of Dr. Seuss - Theodore "Ted" Geisel - we celebrate all way of how being YOUer than you is such a grand gift.

Portrait of "Dr. Seuss" [Ted Geisel] by Everett Raymond Kinstler

Dreamer or cynic? Grandfather or grinch? It seems that Dr. Seuss was all of these things and more. A complex, talented and passionate man who struggled to remain hopeful in spite of the "dissemination of stupidity" he saw all around him.

RIP Napoleon Abueva

Philippine National Artist and beloved teacher Napoleon Veloso Abueva has died.

Those of us blessed to have learned at the feet of this master have had our lives brightened and altered by his inspiring humanity.

Along with an intrinsic love and respect of beauty he imbibed what is true and traditionally Filipino.

Light up our skies as you were a constant beacon in our lives. RIP beloved Master & Maestro!

Inktober 2017: stretch goals

The leaves are falling, the nights are longer, and it's time for our second favourite October tradition. Inktober, Jake Parker's challenge to the community of digital illustrators and artists, asks us to do a single, finished ink drawing every day until the end of October.

We gain momentum through the cycle of working, finishing, posting, and then seeing what our fellow artists have done.

MORE art from Mahala

Perpetuating our own productivity, this week's wonder | wander | world post features more of Mahala's artistic illustrations.

A recent trip to Venice was the inspirations for these fashion illustrations revolving around the Moretta, or 'mute servant' mask - a Venetian ladies' mask held on by gripping a button between the teeth, rendering the wearer silent.

The second set features some italic practice with dip pens and Diamine inks, using forms by Gaye Godfrey-Nicholls.

Enjoy! May these spark on more inspiration, feeding more projects.

bank on creativity

For this week's pick wonder | wander | world shines the spotlight on Jake Parker.

Master illustrator of loved books - Little Bot and Sparrow, Antler Boy, Missile Mouse, and SkyHeart.

Creator of Inktober and World Art Drop Day.

Jake Parker is a fountain of inspiration and hopefully yours as well now.

our week's inspiration

Inspired Speeches

Watch President Obama's farewell speech here.

Then there was the stellar speech of greatly beloved Meryl Streep at the Golden Globes 2017.

Unbelievable shining examples of the grandeur of being human in their sheer authenticity and drive.

the art of movement

This week we are inspired by the stunning images of The Art of Movement, the new coffee table book by photographers Ken Browar and Deborah Ory aka NYC Dance Project.

Image courtesy of NYC Dance Project

Springtime Hair

Dolce and Gabbana are not usually on the wonder | wander | women's radar; we're more interested in fashion on an aesthetic level and don't keep up with the couture brands. But once in a while a past or new collection will catch our eye and spark a new project.

The Spring/Summer collection of 2014 featured some of our favourite things: Greek and Roman influence, cherry blossoms, and light floaty dresses. But what really caught our eye was the hair: braided updos twined with tiny white flowers and decorated with antique-looking coins.

Someone else was inspired...this Internet artist digitally coloured the models' hair with pastel and spring colours, and in turn gave us this idea.

Inktense coloured pencils and Winsor & Newton watercolours on heavyweight cartridge paper.

Cafe' Dreams from Messy Nessy Chic

#wonderwanderwomen love the ambiance of a cafe'.

As artists our dreams and designs are at times fueled by indulgent caffeine imbued binges.

The Grounds - Alexandria, Australia

We most definitely sway to the keen of Messy Nessy's siren call.

"Everyone needs to find their own café– it’s an identity thing."

Take your pick from these 10 Inspiring Cafés Around the World! 

public art: the city

London is generous with its culture. Many of the museums allow free entry and there are seasonal events that cost nothing to attend and enjoy. But it's London's public art which provides some of the richest sources of inspiration for me. It's the element of surprise that does it.

Christopher Le Brun, City Wing

I usually don't set out to find these monumental works. I turn a corner on foot, or come down the street on the top deck of a bus, and am arrested by the sight of a wing sprouting from the pavement or a strange sunburst of flaming tentacles made of glass.

Dale Chihuly, The Sun

inspiration file: doors

As we go on various trips we have been collecting pictures of doors. There is a symmetry and potential to doors that call to us all. 

wonder|wander|world is here

wonder | wander | women draws most inspiration from our lives and experience - our conversations and collaborations, together and separately 

Our experiences involve absorbing a lot of different things under constantly changing circumstances, cultures and situations.

We travel regularly, are avid book readers, and both of us are film majors and trained artists.

We're always thirsty for inspiration and stimulation from all sorts of sources. Here are some of our favourite resources.

This new blog - aptly named wonder | wander | world - shares our current projects with you.

Messy Nessy Chic

Brain Pickings

Bren on the Road

This Is Paper

TED Talks

This Is Colossal 

The Jealous Curator