A new month, a new Inspired by Beatrix feature! We virtually travel to Australia this time to feature Lisa Dunbar Solas, the creator behind Little Worlds of Wonder. Lisa is a freelance writer and artist based in South Australia. When creating mixed-media art and stories, she draws inspiration from nature and history, as well as archaeology, in which she has an academic background.
Lisa tells The Beatrix Potter Society that she has a particular interest in traditional narrative techniques and artforms, including paper theatres and shadow play. She creates ‘little worlds’ by making dioramas, or ‘sets’, and her characters or figures are usually made from natural fibre materials, such as wool, paper and cotton. Similarly to Beatrix Potter, she creates detailed and whimsical artworks that often feature anthropomorphised animals. Some of her creations even feature Beatrix Potter’s own characters.
A miniature Mrs. Rabbit created by Lisa Dunbar Solas
You can see the process of how Lisa created this adorable miniature Mrs. Rabbit from Beatrix Potter’s stories, by clicking on the video screenshot, or following this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beWW4SUrZac
We wanted to learn more about how Beatrix Potter has influenced Lisa’s work. Read how Beatrix Potter’s legacy and artistic style helped shape the art that Lisa creates.
How did you first discover Beatrix Potter’s work, and what aspects of her work inspire you the most?
I was first introduced to Beatrix Potter’s work as a child. The tales of Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny and Jemima Puddle-Duck were very loved additions to my family’s home library. Later, I studied her tales from socio-economic and historical perspectives while completing a children’s literature course at university. This study deepened my admiration for her work.
Beatrix Potter’s work has inspired me in a multitude of ways. In many respects, I feel she was before her time. While I adore her tales, I am also greatly inspired by her contributions to science and conservation. By bequeathing a significant part of her land holdings in the Lake District to the National Trust, she has helped preserve a significant and tangible part of British heritage – and this, I find truly special and extraordinary.
How has her storytelling or illustration style influenced your own work?
Over the years, studying Beatrix’s style has helped me develop my own creative processes. While learning to make spun cotton figures, for example, I made several of her beloved characters, including Mrs. Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Old Mr. Brown. To make these figures, I studied her words and illustrations in depth and found that her illustrations embody a vast amount of knowledge about the nature of animals, including their anatomy, habitat and behaviours. From these experiences, Beatrix taught me to use the power of observation when making characters and building worlds. More generally, she has also inspired me to read and reimagine folktales and fables as well as play with words.
Lisa Dunbar Solas’ take on Kenneth Grahame’s Mr. Badger from The Wind in the Willows
Lisa hopes to inspire others to play, create, and build their connection with nature. She even hopes to write and illustrate children’s literature one day. Perhaps we will see a wonderful, visually interactive tale inspired by Lisa’s favorite Potter character, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle.
Two cotton cats looking in a woodland cupboard, created by Lisa Dunbar Solas
We give a heartfelt thanks to Lisa for agreeing to be featured in this month’s blog. See more wonderful creations by Lisa, and learn more about her artwork, at the following links:
Website: www.lisadunbarsolas.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@littleworldsofwonder
All photos in this blog courtesy of Lisa Dunbar Solas
