musings....

in discussions today:
the work is resolving itself
i am starting some works on paper
which hopefully will signal a conjunction of:
- mark making
- paint/dye
- leaf images/prints

am inspired today by textile artist India Flint 
her works on paper appear here..

These are works on paper, titled water paper & hill.
Am astounded that paper can be dyed, boiled and printed without losing its form.
Other works by India can be found on her blog... check it, here. 

allowing oneself to play is paramount
i forgot to remember this
that it is a process of unlearning and experimentation

i realise that my work can be
patchwork
layers
simple
complex
abstract
realistic
that's ok.

dicotomy

the essential problem of my research is how to find the link between
painting practice and the dyed/textile works.
i struggle to find the way ahead...
to really see where and what i want to make

though i think:
this is the interface where innovation will lead me on
the fusion between the two is becoming more clear...
paper seems like a nice way to go...
i am excited to see my works on walls...
will put it into perspective

plants and beuys

as i posted at the end of last week, Joseph Beuys (German born artist from 50's - 60's),
i browsed his books of drawings....
above are images which resonate with my own practice....
grim aesthetic
abstracted simplification
space
arrangement of elements
some written material
some natural material
impression
mystery

my favourite is the last drawing...
titled...birch...
when i was in canada i felt compelled by the trunks of the birch....
did some drawings also...this is the only time i have ever found a drawing practice similar to my own....

thinking today

was talking in the hallway today with some other students;
we discussed many things...contemporary art in Darwin, studio spaces, propelling of independent art movements, writing skills, motivation, heart, love, study skills all over lunch and tea....

the things which stick true to me are:

• to begin to write everyday...as important as breathing or chi kung....so i've decided to instead of being useless and aimless, i will blog here my thoughts...at least 45 minutes everyday
• to communicate with my peer group and build a sense of community within these walls
• to make, do and begin
• to be childlike, play and explore
• that it is ok to be lost
• that everything has its place in my masters project and to be in a place uncertainty is ok, because it is not like professional painting practice or pure art-based practice
• what i am is primarily a researcher....interestingly i am an artist also.....to strike a balance between the two...never thought of myself as my own personal archivist/theorist/critic however, this is important 
• i am an artist...it is my job to explore, discover, unearth and learn

i feel better poised to begin life anew in this studio reality....

just found some books of drawings by joseph beuys...am inspired again....
joseph kinda scares me...he's creepy but i like his drawings....
he did these nice oak, maple prints....show them later...
melancholy, blood stained, nature referenced with metaphor...melikes. 

bluet

collecting  thoughts feelings and reflections upon my adventures
i spent the first part in the land of blue
blue endless skies of transit
falling into blue jays
blue berries bluet
i made some little paintings in st-hiliare
and they were blue

pictured above

i did some other ones too....
i gave them crazy names:
avec le poulet (with chicken)
le poulet solitaire (solo chicken)
le nuage fromage (cheese cloud)
can one tell i struggled somewhat with francais

but towards the end, it became clear
that blue is only one part of something incredible
it is endless, a world within worlds
but i discovered not only it melts into white
but i also discovered the possibility of light
warmth, light, even shock...yellow.
and as it all began to seep further into my bones
i entered the realm of deep green
deep, beautiful amazing green
so now i am not so blue anymore....
et voila....

lumiere vert

images of light
green
night
lines of green