I had to share the comment from the Judge at LaGrange Art League exhibit called, "Stories We Carry."
These horses I create from a simple shapes less detail, which I believe allows the imagination to wander.
This piece is 24 x 24 instead of the 8 x 8's Tack Down Tuesday size I make, taking many more hours. They all started off the idea of just three legs instead of four. But as I explore this series again after many years, the horse image changed. I brought in the fourth leg.
Spirit Horse at Low Tide. 8 x 8 collage on watercolor paper.
Little did I know that I was creating a horse image close to the Scandinavian horses seen in the traditional Swedish style. Called a Dala. I just want to create something that I could explore simply again and again with different backgrounds and collage papers.
This happened September 11th Friday Night, I took a placement award of 2nd place for Intuitive Trust.
Why I gave it that title is after creating for many years in the medium of collage it becomes about what I the artist personally want to create and you trust that letting go of making the art for others will not crush the creative spirit if it's not accepted....it shouldn't matter right but it does. One becomes tired of creating work that "would sell or that looks like everyone else's. The creating now is about what is wanting to come out and be present. I work well in a series and this was a series I wanted to revisit and happy that I did. I was even able to add the house theme in which is also a symbol I use in my work.
Our first day together in Concertina Sketchbook at Naperville Art League. Sample set out and supplies too. Working on large sheets of buff colored papers we use this technique.
India
Ink, with a long stick and feather on the end was used mostly but other shapes came in with stamping.
These larger mixed media papers start with a Kraft Grocery bag and sometime I use just Kraft shipping paper or a lunch bag. A bit of Gesso to start building up the layers then the fun begins....There is a point when we all don't know what we are doing but we are loosing up some and explore the surface then something happens and we really do know what we are doing and feel pretty successful.
This sheet and the solid will be used for the concertina book covers and the inside through the folded pages.
Measuring the large paper to fit the book board to begin the process of making the cover.
Here the students are working on the long folded pages and adding color over the india ink areas and allowing for inspiration and creative nudges to guide the process.
I have two Elderberry bushes growing in my own back yard, but there was enough to work with. The berries are so small and packed with such great stuff. But I made two batches one had more water involved then the other. All I know is when I felt like a cold was coming on, I took about 4 tablespoon of the elderberry syrup all day and by the next day I didn't have a cold. Not saying it's a miracle medicine but its very close. Preparing for the winter months.
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