The Laws of Chance

When life takes on the feeling of being trapped in a never ending roundabout, it’s nice to stop, step back and search for balance. I find solace in Art History.

The Dada Movement inspires me. Born of the chaos of World War I the Dadaists embraced all facets of art as an authentic means of expression. Tristan Tzara, a man with a poet’s heart and a founding member of the movement, composed his work by cutting up newspaper articles and selecting words at random. Following his lead, I cut text from a variety of sources and a photo of Tzara into strips.

The more I looked at the material on my work table, the more I wanted to free the collage to build itself. As was the choice of many Dadaists I wanted to follow the laws of chance. Using this technique and a photo of a pair of cupped hands, a design began to emerge.

To complete the work, I turned to the pages of my Strathmore Visual Journal. It is such a great resource to have at hand…everything in one place ready for use. It was from these pages that I chose the Artistcellar Marked and Blocks series.They were the perfect compliment. Not only did the colour of the neon acrylics and organic Marked shapes enhance the collage, but I was happy with the straight edged Open Work design. It was the perfect foil. Artistcellar stencils never disappoint!

Working in the method of the Dadaists did the trick. The commotion surrounding me slowed and became ordered and, almost magically, not as chaotic. 

It was then I realised something I knew in my heart all along. Making the decision to leave some things to chance is beneficial in…my work as well as in life. It is true that when we learn to let go of what we can’t change, we are open to the possibilities of what we can. We are free to follow the laws of chance, knowing that the decision is always in our hands.

MATERIALS USED

• ARTISTCELLAR MARKED & BLOCKS SERIES STENCILS
• PUNCHINELLA
• DINA WAKLEY LEMON & LIME ACRYLICS
• REEVES METALLIC ACRYLIC: GOLD, ROSE RED, BRONZE
• NATURAL SPONGE
• VINTAGE & CONTEMPORARY MAGAZINES & BROCHURES
• PHOTOCOPIES
• STRATHMORE MIXED-MEDIA VISUAL JOURNAL

Do You Need A Creative Nudge?

LOLA. Sumi-e Ink Drawing

Creativity can be elusive. Comforting when you are surrounded by it. Maddening when your Muse just refuses to guide. Sometimes we need a little nudge in the right direction. And inspiration can come from anywhere.

I am delighted to see that line work is making a comeback. From calligraphy on billboards and restaurant chalkboard menus to the renewed interest in colouring books for both children and adults melting, meandering marks of ink are everywhere. And I couldn't be happier!

I've always loved to draw. It was foundation of my work in years past as it is today. So when I saw the call from UPPERCASE magazine for contributions to their Creative Calendar I couldn't wait to submit. Their description of the Calendar inspired me: It’s not a day planner but rather a place to encourage creative thinking and dreaming.

I submitted two drawing and a piece of calligraphy for review. I am delighted to say I recently found out my work will be among the art included for publication. I am elated to have my work published with such inspiring company...by an inspiring company.

The image submitted is of my cat, Lola. I drew him (Yes, "him"...he was named after the song Lola by the Kinks) with a bamboo brush and ink. I hope Lola inspires someone using the calendar as much as he inspired me.

Available to UPPERCASE magazine readers who subscribe by November 30, 2015, the calendar is to be included with Issue 28 in January 2016.

Do you need a nudge to prompt your creative thinking and dreaming? Why not give The Creative Calendar a place on your wall in 2016?

Is Looking Through Someone Really Looking Through Yourself?

I'M LOOKING THROUGH YOU - Collage

Change is the only constant in life. How often have you pondered this quote? We welcome change when we feel we are moving in a direction that is good for us. We resist when we are uncertain of what a change hold for our future.

"Looking" is the theme of the Journal sent to me as part of a round-robin Journal exchange. When it arrived, it was like opening a jewelled treasure. The completed pages were incredible, glowing with colour, vision and creativity.

I knew this Journal was on the way to me. Prompted by the theme, The Beatles song, "I'm Looking Through You" kept playing through my mind. The lyrics tell the story of Paul McCartney's relationship with actress Jane Asher. At the time, they were growing apart, each following their own path. They didn't see eye to eye on how the relationship was to move forward.

The substrate for the page is heavy white paper. Working my way through a few fashion magazines I had at hand, ripping out photos I liked, I arbitrarily glued them down to the Journal page. My Muse was with me, and everything just seemed to "fit". I got out an alphabet rubber stamp set in a font I really like. With indigo coloured ink, I randomly stamped the lyrics to the song. Stenciling metallic acrylic paint over the glued images completed the page.

Change. When we become aware of a transformation in others, doesn't it mirror a shift we are experiencing in ourselves? For good or bad, change will always be with us. How do you recognise the winds of change?

May You Find Your Way To Your Treasures!

An Airplane Took Us - Postcard

As 2014 quickly draws to close, memories of the year...some good, some not so good...come rushing back to me. But over all, I am hopeful and looking forward to a New Year with new possibilities.

I designed this postcard for the LottoHEART exhibition hosted by Camp Rehoboth in Delaware. The exhibit displayed over two hundred cards. The theme of the card was set when in a magazine I found the Thornton Wilder quote:

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures."

How true this is at all times of the year, but especially when we are saying good-bye to the old year and anticipating the start of the new.

Have you thought about what you treasure most? For me it's not only the cherished people in my life, but the feeling being creative, and listening to my Muse, gives me.

I warmly look forward to 2015's opportunities, the newest of which is my joining the Lunagirl Moonbeams' Design Team. I am excited and honoured to be part of the Team.

The substrate for the postcard is illustration board. Gleaned from magazine pages are the Wilder quote and the title edit at the top of the card. Postage stamps, a photo of the women, a decorative leaf, art and vintage papers complete the card.

As we move through the Holiday Season may your days be filled with all that your treasure!

Finding My Way Through X, Y, and Z!

Hugo's Sound Poem - ATC

A call for art from The Carlisle Arts Learning Center in Carlisle Pennsylvania intrigued me. "XYZ" was the unconventional theme for an Artist Trading Card exhibit sponsored by the Gallery.

XYZ..XYZ... The letters rolled around my mind...What do those final three letters of the alphabet mean to me?

I admit, I have been struggling lately. Feeling uninspired,  I know my Muse hasn't abandoned me, at least not completely, but we just don't seem to be connecting. Projects started are in my studio, half completed, if they had the good fortune to even get that far.

And it saddens me. I miss the rush, the passionate excitement of new ideas, of experiments successful...and perhaps not quite so. I miss the joy of creating. But how can I get on track and open the lines of communication fully with my Muse?

Waiting for an appointment I pulled a small book on Dada from my handbag. The book fell open to a page with a photo of Hugo Ball dressed in costume and ready to recite a poem. A Sound Poem. My Muse reaching out? Synchronicity? It was perfect. I could feel the spark of excitement starting again.

Dadaism as an art movement was founded in Zürich Switzerland on February 5, 1916. Artists are poets rejected the conventional methods of Art and started something new. The Cabaret Voltaire hosted performance art and sound poetry. Hugo Ball wanted to return to "the most intimate alchemy of the word, and even to go beyond it in order to preserve for poetry its most sacred domain".

XYZ...over and over...with a rhythm going to the source not only of the poem I could hear, but the uninspired place in my soul.

The substrate for the ATC is illustration board. I photocopied the photo of Hugo in his shaman's hat and Cubist costume. Finding the letters X,Y, and Z seemed to just fall into place, gleaned from various magazines. I finished with metallic acrylic paint sponged on to the card. At the end of the exhibit the cards will be traded.

Although I'm still finding my way through, returning to Art History certainly has started opening up the lines of communication for me. How do you rekindle your relationship with your Muse?

Harmony Comes in Many Colours...

Harmony--Conventional Collage

STRATA: n., pl. stra•ta (ˈstreɪ tə, ˈstræt ə) stra•tums.
1. a layer of material, naturally or artificially formed, often formed one upon another.

How could I take this concept and turn it into a collage? Would I be able to harmonize the bits and pieces that found their way to me? I needed inspiration...

I went to our local Salvation Army to peruse their used books.  I picked up quite a few, and in the collection was a nearly new copy of "Memoirs of a Geisha". I read the book a long time ago and was enchanted by the movie. The cinematography was breathtaking. I was recently told at work my new position would take time to adjust to because it was like being asked to "learn Japanese".

Again..nudged my my Muse, I put added handmade papers, art papers, and Oriental papers into the design. I found a spot illustration of a Geisha a long time ago and filed it away in the "maybe I will use this someday..." box of art papers. She found a home at last. I also used a Chinese wood block and ink. The character is "Harmony". I stamped it on tissue paper which was sheer enough to paste over the Geisha image.

The Japanese type is from an ad I found in a magazine. I also used a story, the black and white text, from the same issue.

When I finished, I did feel that Harmony was the key to this collage. The colours seemed to blend even better than I hoped they would. 

Harmony...the word is simple...but means so much more. Harmony in Life, in Art, in Work. Isn't that what we are all striving for? I think the Muse would agree.