Stephanie Dalton's new painting inspired me today. It reminds me of riverine krantzes, pebble beaches, driftwood and rock pools.
I enjoyed Stephanie's artist statement ..... and wish I had written it myself.
"It is the quieter side of the world that inspires my abstract works, the feelings that arise through a connection with the natural world. Colorful patterns in stone, aged patinas on walls, and fragmented light on the horizon are some natural touchstones for me." - Stephanie Dalton
My own work is often inspired by my connection with nature. Long walks and foraging on beaches set the mood for beginning new carvings. Once I was inspired by clumps of sea reeds that were washed up on the beach after heavy storms and decided there and then to sit down and create my first wild basket for the few small treasures I had found. It is a very rudimentary basket but for the time I spent creating it I was totally absorbed.
Beach walks have inspired many of my carvings.
I'm intrigued with how artists interpret what they have seen and how they bring meaningful moments into their artwork.
Hannah Lamb's " creative practice focuses on walking and making as methods of reconnecting with the world immediately around us. Personal, emotional responses to environment and surface are recorded through stitch, print, photography and construction, piecing together fragments of place and time."
Hannah's River to Wood series explores the landscape of the River Aire.
"Short journeys, walking from home to Hirst Wood, collecting marks, prints and found materials." - Hannah Lamb
Talking about wild baskets and inspiration, I found some delightful images on mrandmrscharlie's Instagram blog.
"The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web." - Pablo Picasso
i so enjoy the collections of natural things. A basket made in and of nature is the perfect way to display them.
ReplyDeleteLisa, I have searched for the sea reeds on every holiday since but haven't found more. Hopefully after the next storm I will find more.
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful post Robyn. Serene and inspiring! Your 'beach walk' piece is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWonderful images... love the baskets in the last photos - those driftwood colors.
ReplyDeleteI get palpitations when I visit mrandmrscharlie on Instagram. Their baskets are particularly beautiful, as simple as they are.
DeleteI just visited there... wow. I don't "do" the Instagram thing, but I do recognize a bunch of the images from pinterest and I surely have pinned a bunch! Love the driftwood color-mood everywhere. In another life, that would be my color palette - less moss green and more driftwood and washed out indigo linen blue. The baskets remind me a bit of Ruth Osawa's work a bit, too.
DeleteI like EVERYTHING in your post!
ReplyDeleteMe too! All the gatherings inspire me.
Deletejust what I needed this morning...thank you
ReplyDeleteKathleen when I woke up this morning I felt the need to connect with nature. Besides a walk in the garden, preparing this post helped. Glad you enjoyed the post.
DeleteEnjoyable post, Robyn. It took me back to fossiking with my daughter (HHnB) on the local seashore, when she was over from Oz with her husband recently
ReplyDeleteI love that word fossiking! I remember your dear daughter mentioning it way back in a post. I'm sure you all had a wonderful time together during her recent visit.
DeleteWonderful post and images, love your Beach Walk. I often admire other artist's statements, I find it very hard to put my feelings about my work into words.
ReplyDeleteStephanie and Hannah's words are so expressive.
Yes, I love inspiring artist statements! And as you say they are rather daunting to write one's own. I've had the same statement for years and I just cant bring myself to update it.
DeleteI just can't tell you how delighted I am Robyn to switch on and be able to see your exquisite work again.
ReplyDeleteAh thanks Pat, I appreciate that!It's great to see all the familiar names and faces.
Deleteso good to linger awhile here in this peaceful space of thoughtful words and pictures
ReplyDeleteIt feels good to be appreciated in this little sanctuary of mine.
DeleteThat's a beautiful post - fed my soul this morning.
ReplyDeleteThat make's me happy, Anne. Thank you!
DeleteRobyn - I have just told my son, who is a musician, to look at your work. He has sent me an e mail to say he has added you to his blogroll as he loves what he sees. So watch out for him (dominic rivron).
ReplyDeleteThanks Pat. I remember you writing about him on your blog.
DeleteGreat post, Robyn! Love the art you have selected. The earthy colors are just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI'm so drawn to the natural, earthy palette. Thanks Gaby.
DeleteLove all these baskets -- your included. Once again, glad to see you back :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Seth. My basket is not in that league but it was fun to make it.
DeleteWhat a wonderful blog post... on nature and wabi sabi... and all the images and especially your works are beautiful. I love the idea of 'forage'...
ReplyDeleteThanks Donna. Yes forage is an exciting word. It create's so many pictures of happy times in my head.
Deletehow grand to see you after all this time! your new site looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHow grand to see you too Lyle!
DeleteWhat a wonderful wander this has been with you Robyn - and the palette just makes my heart sing. Thank you for your nests and baskets - so precious.
ReplyDeleteOhhh this nature ramble suited me too. Thank you Fiona.
Deletegorgeous post, and so nice to see you back here...
ReplyDeleteMany people helped to persuade me to try blogging again and you are one of them...so thanks, Cat!
DeleteThis whole post is stunningly beautiful. xoxo
ReplyDeleteAnnie, thank you!!
Deletehiking through this post is a good thing to be doing on a rainy sunday in the north country. thank you, i am glad to see some action over here, still.
ReplyDeleteSlowly getting back into the swing of blogging. I'm happy to see so many familiar faces.
DeleteVery inspiring post Robyn. Reminds me of my beach fossicking days many moons ago - special times when reconnecting to self <3
ReplyDeleteIt is such a wonderful way to unwind. Wandering, gathering and pondering.
DeleteAaaaahhhhh,so wonderful to have you back. I don't do Facebook, and have missed you. Beautiful and oh so inspiring,,,,as all your posts are.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I've come 'home'. Thank you for being here.
Babs
What a lovely thing to say Babs. Thanks so much!
Deletebelle nature ..une caverne d'ali baba!:))
ReplyDeleteI love that idea! Ali Baba's Cave. Thanks Elfi!
DeleteApricity . . . Mo is a mine of wonder. I looked it up here (http://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/winter-words/apricity) and loved everything I read. It reminded me of a 7 year-old's inventive spelling 'beaututiful' . . . we adopted it as meaning too beautiful.
ReplyDeleteShe is indeed. I should have mentioned to click on Apricity to read up about the word. I look forward to reading the merriam-webster meaning. Beaututiful....just perfect :-) Thanks Wendy.
DeleteI could look at these images all day. I especially love the wild baskets; they remind me of basket-like art that I used to make and now I feel a keen desire to make them again. I would LOVE to have all those shells, bones and sticks! Well, my husband would probably say I have enough already...lol. "Beach Walk" is beautiful beyond words. I would so love to sit down and have a chat with you - we have so much in common...
ReplyDeleteOhhhh that would be wonderful Sharmon! I know we have a lot in common. I'm thinking your studio would be a good place to have a chat :-)
ReplyDelete