PART 4 studio work post 7
The written word in the form of poetry is integral to my painting practice. As can be seen from previous posts I’m continually examining this element of my painting but in the is body of work and in previous work, words play an important role in the creative process. As they don’t appear as text in the painting, I’m experimenting with ways to include them in the exhibition.
Artist’s Book
My present collaboration with Janina Maher, who makes books, is providing inspiration for recording my poetry. The following images show some experiments in this with words and images about winter in the garden. Sometimes the image leads and sometimes the words. The book is primarily to record the words and so the colour and lines reflect this. I’m not entirely sure where I’m going with this yet but the concept is good and is providing the means for including this important area.
Book sculpture
Also using Janina’s book creations, I’m experimenting with creating a sculpture of words and wire within the book design. The inspiration for this came in August when we made the final cut of the wild flower meadow. I’d painted the meadow in early summer when the buttercups were in full bloom and I wanted to capture the last of the grasses.
The afternoon before the last cut, I sat in the meadow and let the words come…
Before the mowing
Long thin lines
Bending
Still resilient
Still reaching
White against green
The grasses dance
To the sighing of the wind.
Murmuring softness
A last outburst of line and rhythm
Bowing to the end of summer’s freedom.
In the silence, such peace!
Life continuing…
Tomorrow they will be gone
But always there is a returning!
Silence
Stillness
Immense knowing…
The gentleness of Spirit!
The following image show a diagram of the sculpture and the second is a prototype….work in progress!
