I recently wrote an entry on this blog called 'One Woman's Junk is Another Woman's Centerpiece'. In that entry I talked about how you can reuse old, non-related (otherwise junk) items to make beautiful and interesting artwork and decorations, all the while doing a little something to help the environment.

I have come across a professional artist who is truly an expert at taking these types of objects and turning them into exquisite and amazing artwork. I was immediately inspired by Jan Arthur Harrell's artwork when I saw it -- So, I'm very excited to share the artistic and creative inspiration with our readers, and even more so since YoLadies is all about celebrating talented women!

An interesting fact about Jan is that she spent the first eight years of her life in Japan, which is where the artistic influence comes from for the colorful enamel and bold textures she uses in her artwork. She takes dull and rusted found material and combines it with vivid and shiny material giving you a sense of 'opposites attract'.

Below you will see a few samples of Jan's latest work from her Vanitas collection. Check out her online portfolio to see more amazing pieces at janharrell.com.

AND, to our Houston-area ladies (and men of course), you can catch the Vanitas show until March 30th, 2010!

"Become a voyeur and peek into the private boudoir of a larger than life Muse-her brushes, bottles, creams, and vanity set implements. Grandiose objects are fashioned from rusted found material combined with sterling silver, flashes of gold and the seductive colors of enamel."

Tradition Bank Plaza
5020 Montrose -- Houston, Texas
www.traditionbank.com

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