more pictures from the artist's studio. it's not a painting, not a sculpture...
it's quite dark in the cave and things dry quite slowly...
the remains of the day (a previous day, with a knife and fork)...
surface...
texture...
edge...things are not perfect. i won't waste time with too many focused words today, people like to look at the pictures...nature, reclaim, change, transience, decay, disintegrate, rot, renewal, trees, garden, prune, cut, lop, fell, fall, crack, axe, sort, stack, season, slumber, lumber, weather, time, rain, cold, drizzling, damp, heat, sun, haze, light, shadows, dark, layers, edges, shifting, shapes, scrapes, textures, crackling, fire, warmth, habitat, shelter, wood, bark, out of the woods, into the cave, art, no landscapes, no people…i have been working in the evenings, mostly (in the dark cave, away from images of reality). i have enjoyed working on these new pieces although perhaps enjoy is not the most appropriate word in this context. the process of making feels very focused, methodical, mindful, intimate, quiet, intense, as the work begins to take on subtleties of surface and there is some excitement in them coming to a considered conclusion.i can't recall a famous artist ever saying that they love what they do. they may speak of passion, determination, a sense of enquiry or curiosity, about scenes & situations, the issues & incidents of life. to simply love art implies unconditional acceptance that everything is perfect (or at least, it feels right), but making art is always a struggle of the will to make meaningful new things, to make them in a way that makes sense (and purpose). however, like the wabi sabi phrase, 'nothing is ever finished', making art also feels like a thoughtful, ongoing conversation, the memory of which lingers strongly in the mind long after the event, to be resumed again on another day…see also the previous post, on making art again......in other news... i have acquired a new book to read, which you might have deciphered from a previous post. i have only read the first few pages, my ears and eyes are very tired......
two more paintings, unwrapped
two very small abstract paintings on canvas, created especially for the harleston gallery's christmas art exhibition (see more small paintings created for this art show in the previous post)...
this is a very small painting measuring about 12cm square, in oxide orange-red, black, brown, grey and white textural striations. the subtly layered, mostly neutral hues (aside from the wide band of red) suggest muted elements of winter with a seasonal accent of red. at first, i wanted to call this canvas 'brickish' as i liked the sound of the word (but i am not sure it even exists), but i have decided to name it 'redland', because i was also thinking of greenland (where some believe santa claus lives)
[redland, 2011]
...more rustic minimalism, with a more neutral palette of colours... textured, weathered stripes in dark brown-black, putty, grey blue, white and light grey. this small, square canvas also measures about 12cm square and its title is 'barnwood'....
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[barnwood, 2011]...
click to see more small abstract paintings in the harleston gallery's christmas exhibition......if you live in norfolk (or suffolk), do visit out the harleston gallery, as there is an abundance of unique art & handmade crafts to browse, from small paintings and prints to ceramics, textiles and jewellery. they have a lovely café too. i thoroughly recommend the greek walnut cake with cinnamon syrup - it was delightful!harleston gallery christmas show, 1 – 24 december 2011, harleston gallery, norfolk...
unwrapped, art for christmas
a short while back i was invited to contribute some small art for a christmas exhibition.
so, i made these, especially... diminutive free-standing square abstracts on canvas, which will be in the 2011 christmas art exhibition at the harleston gallery.last year's bumper christmas show was a great success, despite the hard times, perhaps because it was a welcoming, dynamic & eclectic mix of mostly small art without the usual detached sparseness of most art exhibitions (much as i like minimalism). there is also a communal spirit among local artists and it feels like a collaborative celebration of our efforts - and to exhibit work with artists who have become friends is always nice.below are a few more pictures of the very small square abstracts. i enjoyed creating these small abstracts, a return to a minimalist-style interaction of colours, stripes and textures - even though i am now pursuing more naturalistic elements in my current work.i have painted the sides & edges of the canvas white which gives the illusion of a frame, in contrast to the 'wrap-a-round-the-sides' method i previously utilised in the icons series of small abstracts. so, i'm affectionately calling these small abstracts unwrapped art for christmas. the paintings measure about 11cm x 11cm, (they are now at the gallery, ready for the opening of the exhibition later in the week)...
i would describe these striated colours as parchment, copper, darkest blue-black, light bark brown & mustard yellow ochre, which are framed by the matte white edges of the block canvas...
this could be an abstract landscape, it could be something else, it's the relationship of colours that i like (which do arise out of the landscape) but i often change my mind which way they should stand - but i think that's ok...
and yes, this small canvas does have a title.......
on this second canvas, there are textured striations of a dark walnut brown-black, pale sand-stone, dark red & orange. below are the two small canvases pictured side by side, once again. i wish i had more time to make more mini-art......i think artists can be forgiven for partaking in the seasonal spirit of showing & selling at christmas art exhibitions. art will always make a unique & lasting gift, it obviously supports artists in what they do but it also benefits independent, local businesses in the process. so, art is for always really, not just for christmas.i also have some work in the christmas exhibition at the reunion gallery (details below). it seems that mixed or group exhibitions ebb and flow with the seasons, with christmas often the busiest time...christmas show, 1 - 24 december 2011, harleston gallery, norfolka touch of frost, to 24 december 2011, reunion gallery, felixstowe, suffolk
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