Art blogs are my way of registering my existence in this world….
After searching for the answer to “where do I fit in this world?” I realised the question I should have been asking was “where does the world fit into my life?”
Life Through A Lens…. This piece was about composition, I choose a luminous background to compliment the different types and sizes of butterfly collage elements, so to draw your eye right into the camera lens…
“When you can see yourself in your Art!! Nothing else matters”
I’ve recently just finished another Art Course… The Power Of Art, which is run by Artshape, they are an amazing organisation who I’ve found through the pain clinic, they offer short art courses over zoom and online.. I’m unable to leave the house anymore, I’ve been out twice in the last 6 weeks, I spend many many hours alone and if it weren’t for these art courses I would probably have lost my sanity by now…
The aim of this course was to make some really great illustrations for the Art Shape ‘Power of Art’ booklet, promoting the positive benefits of art making for mental health and well being. Art Shape plan to share this booklet publicly including with arts organisations across Gloucestershire. There’s lots of evidence to show that being involved is creative activities, from making art to visiting cultural events is good for people and can improve their health and well being.
Over the 8 sessions we were challenged to think about art and well being and what that meant to us, taking a look at ourselves and exploring how creativity fits in to our lives exploring how to use colour, composition and words to create dynamic images. We looked at the work of other artist and designers, taking inspiration from illustrations, investigating different aspects of making illustrations from colour, composition and words..
We were asked to create a mind map, along with our thoughts and feelings towards art and what style of art we liked.
I feel quite lost, lost in pain, lost in medication, lost in uncertainties and completely lost in not knowing what the future will bring. So I continue to lose myself in my art, discovering new techniques and trying new materials..
The Shroom Boom… “Shroom Boom” this was a lot of fun and who knew mushrooms could be used in so many ways….I saw this mushroom in a magazine the other day and started plotting ideas, I love making my own collage fodder. Last week I made some rice paper using coffee, which I used for the background… I bought together all the different elements from the magazine page and rearranged in this mixed media collage…How I made “Shroom Boom”
My 11 year daughter has started the comprehensive now and is becoming more independent by the hour, we have a great bond and my house is full of a lot of laughter and happiness, but the undercurrent of me living with a chronic illness has definitely taken its toll on my whole family.
Retro Vintage Pop Art Mixed Media CollageI used various handmade papers I’ve made, including rice paper and velum’s to make this collage. Other materials were gesso, acrylics, marker pens, napkins and stencils… I’ve been wanting to make some “pop art” for a while.. Absolutely love the retro vintage vibe of the 50’s…This was the first piece where I had to dig deeper than before to try to find a way to convey the message of “the power of art” in an image which was personal to me. The idea unfolded over 2 weeks, I started with “why” I use art for my mental health and physical well-being…. I’ve realised that I have never actively seeked out the concept of making art, rather that the art finds me… I fill my mind with colourful images from the Pinterest, you tube etc… and before I know it, ideas are forming from little sparks of my imagination..
We looked at these artists YAYOI KUSAMA, DAVID SHRIGLEY, GRAYSON PERRY, HENRY MATISSE, EILEEN AGAR, NJIDEKA AKUNYILI CROSBY, KATIE ABEY, BANKSY, JULIE LIGER-BELAIR, SARA FANELLI, GEMMA CORRELL, PABLO PICASSO and many more…
I have two more courses starting the end of September.. Abstracts and Mixed Media Metallics…
This is my final piece… this one took quite a bit of digging deep too.
I’m glad we were challenged to use words to convey messages through our art, but I’m not embarrassed to admit that it hasn’t and doesn’t come easy to me. I’m not happy with the quality of this piece, it could have been a lot tidier… but I have been having a tough time lately, I found out my major spine surgery had been delayed again, so was finding it hard to get my imagination ignited again.
I don’t even know if the operation will make things better or worse, there are no guarantees either way, my spine needs stabilising with fusion. So once again I’m going into the next chapter of my life, with just blind faith alone… and I shall be wearing my big girl pants of course….
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