These last few days I've been quite industrious especially since I completed 3 commissions even though I swore I would never do another. The pressure usually gets to me but for some reason I forgot to feel pressurized and thoroughly enjoyed doing them. One piece is a carving for someone who left South Africa in search of job opportunities in Britain since there were no posts for him here. I carved Letters from Home, trying to incorporate memories of life in South Africa. Originally I was going to call it Memories of South Africa but after reading Elizabeth Seaver's post about her Love Letter to Fredericksburg, here, I decided Letters from Home was a much better title.
One of the other pieces I loved doing because the person who ordered it was so enthusiastic about a blog post I wrote a few months ago when I was battling to focus. It was about carving "just one cow" ( read here). When M emailed me to ask if I would do a "small commission", I didn't really want to do it but she said this particular post had made an impression on her and she would love just one cow.
I've been keeping up with my daily, 10 minute collages and in fact am now doing the 2nd Deepening Creativity course through Shelley Klammer (see here) and am still finding it very easy to make time to create a 10 minute collage every day.
A visit to the scrap yard on Friday was one of the highlights of my week (who would have thought) and my mind is ticking over how I'm going to use these finds in my work.
The brass foil was a fantastic find! I had been enquiring at all the art and craft supply stores about it and nobody knew what on earth I was talking about....and then a few minutes after arriving at the scrapyard, hubby in toe, we pounced on the two little parcels of brass foil sticking out from an old sack of crushed brass. Hubby hates going to the scrapyard but he says the amazement on my face was enough to make the trip worthwhile.
Last but not least, whilst visiting my friendly art dealer, I spied this Punu mask hiding behind a pile of kuba cloths. The photo doesn't do it justice at all. It has a wonderful patina and the features are so delicate and beautifully carved that I keep running my fingers over it and thanking my lucky stars that I found it before anyone else realized what a bargain it was.
Last but not least, whilst visiting my friendly art dealer, I spied this Punu mask hiding behind a pile of kuba cloths. The photo doesn't do it justice at all. It has a wonderful patina and the features are so delicate and beautifully carved that I keep running my fingers over it and thanking my lucky stars that I found it before anyone else realized what a bargain it was.
These masks from Gabon are worn during ceremonies by performers on stilts.
34 comments:
I see at least one flower lying in your pile of new findings. teee hee...
I really like the bird in the top photo. It appears to be a wren to me. I just love your carvings. They are amazing to me. So many thoughts neatly compartmentalized.
what a joy to see a post about you again! ... I like that you decided on "Letters from Home" - the title alone produces warm fuzzies & I think it's really sweet that you "carved just one" for someone moved by your cow(s). I'm sure that you've made her really, really happy.
It looks like not only are you easily finding time for the 10 minute collages, but creating beautiful pieces in the process. I am especially drawn to "I Am As I Am".
I imagine that you are like a little kid with a brand new box of 120 crayons (with the crayon sharpener in the box) when you get to the scrapyard ... good thing hubby is smart enough to appreciate the joy. :)
and that mask ... WOW!
Oh your goodies are SO much more interesting than my bits of bling but thank you for making me feel better about giving in to the impulse to buy them. That mask is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. I can see why you could not resist! And how lovely to have completed three commissions, two so very meaningful to their recipients... Letters from Home is absolutely gorgeous!
everything here is pure eye candy, robyn. pure *inspirational* eye candy... i love the title 'letters from home'. lately i've been thinking about each piece of art that i do as a love letter. a love letter to myself and the rest of the world...
the mask... i would run my fingers over it A LOT.
xo
a smorgasbord of a post Robyn! full of variety and inspirational flavor. I just love when the unexpected 'meant to be''s happen, like your wonderful brass foil find!! all the treasures from your scrap yard trip are fabulous, and the beautiful mask truly is a treasure...
What rusted treasures you have found.
What a wonderful update on the goings on in your world...love the brass finds and the most beautiful carved mask. Your work for the commisions...again beautiful and the collages full of images, words and meaning. I feel like we had a short conversation...just you and me and everyone else too! Great post!!!
So many wonderful things to soak in here Robyn, your "letters from home" piece and the link... your collages that are evolving so spectacularly, ( what I love the most is their quiet strength... I think) and your new junk yard finds and the beautiful mask...
I hope you have a great week. Roxanne
You have been busy Robyn, such beautiful work, there must be a real sense of achievement after you complete each of your commissions. I wish we had a scrap yard like yours over here. What treasures.
congratulations on your commissions! - love the collage work Robyn - I am doing a 10 minute collage almost everyday, albeit, I probably haven't followed the rules that you set out, but I'm finding it really fun! - yumo junk finds! wow! :)
Wonderful glimpse into your creative process. I wonder... can you tell any difference in the pieces that you enjoy working on, and the ones you don't?
Such a full post as always! That pile of scraps looks like a pile of treasure to me. Letters from Home is wonderful and I am sure will be loved by the person who commissioned it. And I like your journal pages. They may have taken only 10 minutes but they look so complete to me!
It sounds like you are filled with good art energy Robyn. I love the Letters From Home as a touching stone to a place remembered and loved. Also the junk, the mask, your collage and your carvings!
You certainly have been industrious Robyn! Great to get the comissions and even better to have enjoyed them so! I love your collages and look forward to seeing what you create with your junk yard treasures!
Love this post, Robyn. Bravo regarding the commissions. Particularly like the mask with it's third eye jewel.
I cant say enough about 'letters from home' if it was mine I would hang it in the hallway, so it was on view as you came into the house, telling its story for all visitors, like a letter on the doormat with an airmail sticker on it. I would end up being late to work every day through spending time as i passed it running my fingers over the carvings. Love to see the 'one cow'. Yet again you are an inspiration to those who carve in wood. Regards Dave
I forgot to say, the mask is wonderful. what a great find. would any of your pieces be influenced by it at all?
Dave
Your "letters from home" piece is to die for. All of the detail that you have added make this one a knock-out!
It's absolutely amazing and makes me want to run my fingers over this!
LOVE the rusted treasures you have found and the mask is truly gorgeous!
Gaby xo
I love your posts Robyn. So much to see and drool over. Your commissioned piece for the man who has come to Britain is wonderful and cannot help but remind him of his homeland. I also love your 10 minute collage I Am As I Am. Beautifully simple but very striking and powerful.
Like you I love nature, wood, trees and leaves. Those creations made of wood are delightful; particularly the horse and birds. Thanks for the links to the websites too. Off to have a browse with a cup of coffee now.
That mask is amazing. You found it in a junk yard? Wow. I need to go to your junk yards then. And letters from home reminds me of something familiar. I have a "letter" from South Africa myself and I enjoy it every day.
Hi Robyn,
Read "Ditto" for what everyone has said! Letters is great, the collages look very "together" (do you know what an impact you've made by publicising this idea?) and the mask is beautiful, which is most unusual for me because I don't normally like them! (Just being honest).
I love your work and I love the mask in the last picture. And this is so funny
"but for some reason I forgot to feel pressurized and thoroughly enjoyed doing them"
- I will try to adopt this at work if I can :)
The new pieces are great-yes, that's an excellent title. It has a beautifully, nostalgic tone- not at all trite. I love the little frog in the second piece, and the three figures... all of it. It's great.
Glad you got such a find at the scrap heap, and that mask you found is incredible. It's true the patina doesn't show up so well but those lines! I'd love to trace my fingers over it.
Your pieces are so wonderful Robyn! I'm in awe!
Love the stuff you found.... it's great!
Fantastic, as always. I love your work and could look at them forever.
Gosh, you have been busy, you make me feel guilty for my lack of creativity of late.
I am intrigued by your pile of treasures from your scrapyard visit, and the brass foil... what a find!
I m sure that you will create a stunning piece of art with that mask which you got at a bargain...Thomas
you have been so busy!!!!
I am not going to tell you i love "letters" because i would feel like an echo of everyone else.
am droolish over the scrap pile (its much better than worm poop! :) to "fertilize" the imagination...
i have some of that brass ... got mine at a small science store (a whole roll of it) think it is called tooling brass or something (maybe)...
thanda!
your two commissions are wonderful!! i struggle with commission work, mostly because i would rather just be creating what makes me happy. and, yes, there is extra pressure when you're trying to make someone else happy. the scrapyard looks like a treasure hunter's heaven! hmmm . . . i wonder if we have one here?
thanks for always making my visits here so delightful. i really do enjoy your blog!
The new carving is just pure beauty and the title is perfect. Can we see the one little cow. I have seen your other cows but I would love to see the one little one that you made.
What a gorgeous find in the mask...
teehee...love your trips dragging hubby to the scrap yard! Can't wait to see what you come up with! :)
I will commission you one day madam..I will require "one old cow"
JUST LOVE YOUR WORK! X;)
Wow! Now I have serious scrap envy.
Hi Robyn,
I have enjoyed catching up on some posts I have missed...such wonderful carvings. Love the commission pieces you made and also revisiting some of your older works. Just LOVE your broken angels, so beautiful.
And what treasures you found, the Punu mask if amazing.
I have been doing my 10 minute collages too and really enjoying it (thank you for the link). Its amazing to see what you choose each day and what it says in your subconsious.
Jacky xox
What can I say that hasn't already been said? Letters from Home is quite beautiful, you are SO talented. I'm sure he'll be stunned. Your 10 minute collage is lovely too. I must go and find your original post about these, I know The Weaver of Grass does them now. All your fault.
I am looking forward to seeing what you do with the wonderful junk yard finds. My husband would love poking around in one! So glad you found what you wanted. That mask is so beautiful too. Lovely work, lovely post, I'm all 'loved up'.
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