Creative notes from Rare Bird Co. + Pauline Stanley Studio
FOUND
I’ve been collecting little bits of vintage ephemera lately - matchbooks, postcards, and other small paper treasures. I decided to frame a small collection using the same frames I use for my artwork.
They’re made with quality oak wood and glass, USA-made, and come ready to hang. I love the idea of taking something as simple as an old matchbook or postcard and giving it a new life as something to display on the wall. A little piece of the past, treated as art.
See the framed collection here
MADE
I’ve been trying to get back into having a better art practice lately. Making things simply for the sake of making them, rather than always thinking about whether something could eventually become a print or a product to sell.
One thing I always go back to is simply putting colors and shapes together. No particular plan or end result, just experimenting with paint and seeing what happens. It’s been a nice, easy way to get back into painting without putting too much pressure on it.
I’ve shared a couple of time-lapse videos of recent art journal, as well as a longer video showing the real time process.
Watch the painting time-lapses
Watch the full painting video on YouTube
THOUGHT
There’s something about the changing of seasons that always makes me think about time and memory. Autumn, in particular, brings back little pieces of other autumns — things I made, places I’ve been, music I listened to, and the feeling of a particular time in my life.
It’s funny how a season can feel familiar even when things around you have changed.
I’ve been revisiting some older autumn-inspired work lately, including a some artwork, a blog post with some fun fall patterned phone backgrounds, some autumn inspired earrings, and even a song I made a while back.
LISTENED TO
Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of female singer-songwriters. Phoebe Bridgers, Olivia Rodrigo, and some smaller independent artists I’ve come across on TikTok.
I always enjoy discovering someone new through a random video or song, the beauty of social media. It’s also been making me think more about the music I’ve made myself and the things I’d like to work on again.
A few things currently in rotation:
BUILDING
I’ve been working on a collection of drawings and artwork inspired by vintage objects. It’s been fun looking at familiar old things in a different way — studying their shapes, details, and little imperfections, and turning them into something my own interpretation of them in my style.
I’ve been sharing some of the process over on Instagram and YouTube if you’d like to follow along.
I’m also starting to get the shop ready for the holidays. There will be some vintage Christmas-themed finds alongside our usual gift-y offerings, including jewelry, art, and little things for the home.
As always, thanks for being here,
Pauline Stanley
Founder/Designer
therarebirdco.com
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