Laura Carlin Animal Tiles

The older I get, the more I feel drawn to artwork that has a slightly childlike feel to it. Whether it’s beautifully illustrated storybooks or painterly versions of household pets, this style of artwork always tugs at my heartstrings a little more strongly than any other. I’ve never bothered to play armchair psychiatrist and diagnose myself, so instead I embrace this artwork with abandon and celebrate its simplicity and ability to transport me to a place and time when the world feels so fresh and new and exciting.

Laura Carlin is a UK-based illustrator and ceramicist whose work combines a wonderful sense of color and texture with a childlike whimsy and otherworldly quality that I can’t get enough of. Laura published an illustrated book with Phaidon last year, A World of Your Own, that I scooped up and instantly added to my bedside collection of nightly reads. As much as I enjoy Laura’s work on paper, I love the way it comes alive on ceramics. She recently introduced this sweet series of animal tiles at The New Craftsmen (an excellent site for handmade work) that I absolutely adore. From playful cats and dogs to roaring lions and curious bears, it’s just the sort of artwork that makes me want to stop everything and find a place for it in my home. I think it would be incredibly fun and heartwarming to encounter a single set of these tiles mixed into regular tiles on a kitchen backsplash or in the shower. For me, this is the perfect mix of grown-up and storybook imagination that I’m always looking for. Click here to check out and shop Laura’s tile collection online. xo, grace