Saturday, March 20, 2010

CARNIVAL OF WHITE

Noire et blanc . Mixed media on canvas by Amadea Bailey

Yes, I'm still on my white hobbyhorse. I can't help myself! These glorious pieces just keep drawing me in.


Carnival IV by Amadea Bailey

Amadea Bailey's work is exciting! Shades of white ..... layers of torn paper..... movement .... magic! A bonus for me is that she once lived in my neck of the woods and she speaks of a life I am so familiar with.


"I grew up in Africa riding horses in the bush, eating sugarcane by the side of the road, and playing dress-up with banana leaves. I experienced a sense of freedom and abandon, and an immediate connection to the tactile, physical and non-rational worlds. Now, as an adult, my paintings reconnect me to that awakened child of Africa," - Amadea Bailey



Primitive by Amadea Bailey

I'm not quite sure what the whole physiological effect of white is on me but basically it calms and inspires me. It's considered a spiritual colour amongst the Zulus and I notice that it is a sacred colour in many other areas of the world too. It also stands for purity of life, peace and simplicity.

Rain Symphony. Layered textile by Nada Mousawi


Info Contact by Jeesoo Lee
Jeesoo Lee creates abstract wallscapes and installations by sewing and weaving ..... tying, knotting and hanging ......... piercing, ripping, scrunching and scratching...... attaching and constructing.
Have a look here to see her larger works. They really are amazing!
Buttle by Jeesoo Lee


White Shadows. Sewn and constructed paper and cloth by Elisa D'Arrigo


Woodstock Nights by Lawrence Carroll


Petition by Kathryn Frund


Childhood Dreams by Lisa Mei Ling Fong



Mixed media by dagi3 on Flickr

47 comments:

  1. I am looking over and over again at this selection. To think that White, a colour associated with peace and calm could be fraught with so much emotion that comes through in these pictures... Riveting!

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  2. I also find white such a calming palette, a real spiritual colour. I love the pale and whitewashed wood also. Have you seen the Australian Ghost Gums?

    Beautiful work...I'm going to check out some of the links now.

    Jacky xox

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  3. Oh i'm so jealous u r so original !!! i love the piano with chess work it' totally awesome ! u r a truly artist

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  4. love them all. white is definitely calming but to me when you combine with black it has an electric feel! and that "I want to see more" sensation! have you tried white gesso instead of white paint. thick gesso that is. love the very textured look you get! thanks for leading us to these wonderful artists. I am sure you are earning stars in heaven for your research and for sharing. lyle p.s. no mail yet!

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  5. These are all interesting pieces of art. I am always amazed at how people sew their art especially with non traditional materials.

    I love the washboard that you carved the women totems into. That really speaks to me as women have done the laundy I guess since there was laundry to do.

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  6. fascinating to read your thoughts on white. and to see these wonderful raggedy artworks. I love things that have texture and also do not conform to a rectangular or square shape. You just want to touch them. As always, you seem to find a lot of artists new to me. thanks.

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  7. I'm heavy on the white lately too, there's something about making a collage of different papers and painting the whole lot white, it almost feels like I'm repairing something. There are so many inspiring artists on this post, it's amazing how you can find so much awesome! You have a skill my dear. :)

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  8. ..lots and lots of inspirational piccies again!....

    ..love the ones with the scripts on....mmmmmmmmmmmm

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  9. I always love your themed reflections on the work of other artists. They give you an opportunity to see work that is similar in some ways but also very diverse. These works are stunning in the simplicity and complication. That's difficult to achieve.

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  10. Love the way the minimal colour story brings forward textures and other aspects of composition.
    Like viewing these very much!
    S

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  11. another fabulous post Robyn! I can't wait to check out all the links, the rich textures all show up so well with this tone on tone palette. each piece is stunning and I am particularly fond of Frund's piece and the bark behind the piano keys is inspired! xx's cat

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  12. Priya, wonderful aren't they!

    Jacky, we had an avenue of Ghost Gums on our old farm. Beautiful trees!

    JRonson, I wish I had created all these masterpieces!

    Thanks so much Lyle, I havn't tried white gesso since I was told ordinary white PVA would do the trick but now I will go and buy some.

    Lisa at Greenbow, love the stitching too! I havn't actually carved the washboard. I used the washboard as a backdrop for taking photos of my little goddess figures.

    Sukipoet, I'm also loving the texture!

    Thanks Penny, I keep on finding beautiful white pieces and could probably go on for a few more posts.

    Chris, I thought of you when I found Rain Symphony.

    Margaret, I enjoy collecting them all together to see on one page.

    Sophie, yes the minimal colour makes one more aware of the other qualities.

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  13. Another wonderful collection, Robyn. I find those pieces of Jeesoo Lee to be particularly appealing. Wow.

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  14. These pieces are inspirational! Love especially the sewn art work by Elisa D'Arrigo. Now I'm going to check out all the links.

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  15. Where to start? Love these pieces. And - yes, calming for the eyes, and then large amounts of discovery as one looks closer. And of course - LOVE the piano keys. I can just image the excitement by the artist of having PIANO KEYS in a stash from which to create!.

    Thank you for putting these all together - I dub you "best blog curator, ever."

    grin......

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  16. I love these white pieces and can totally understand your attraction to them. I think it's the subtleties of the shades and values within that one color (for lack of a better word, since white is not considered a color) that is so mesmerizing. I also love the free, unrestrained, emotive marks many of these artists make- something I can only dream of being able to do! What a lovely show you've curated here, Robyn!

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  17. I am with you-- love these 'white' art works-- delicious and exciting and striking-- and so freeing.
    I am on my way out the door to teach a workshop for a week but when I get back I am going to go to all these links.

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  18. white, yet not white, cream, tan, gray.. ah yes what is white.. what do we see????
    I love this collection and then the poster's suggestion on white gesso. I love white gesso and a palette knife. I am off to paint. Sigh. Joan T

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  19. Me inspire you!?? Well rigth back atcha girlfren'...your work, blog and life...I have been in constant awe or your awesomeness since I first came across you blog madam! x;0)

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  20. Beautiful whites. Tree bark, sea shell, mist, old bones, feathers, rocks, apple blossoms.

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  21. So many new links to explore. Thank you for that. And I am always fascinated by the variety of colors that are labeled white. There is an endless array out there.

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  22. I admire each of these 'white' beauties. I have recently been working with black and white and find the whites challenging! Thank you!

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  23. Thanks for another great set of links to browse. Can't wait until I finish work tomorrow and can sit back to take a proper look.

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  24. as Sondheim had Seurat sing in Sunday in the Park With George "So many possibilities"

    and check this out.
    http://dianesavonaart.com/newestwork.html
    if you don't land directly there, click galleries, then fossil garments.

    all best,
    Melanie

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  25. wonderful work and words...I too adore the limited quality of a 'white world' and these are marvelous examples of what can happen when we play with texture and form in conjunction with the restrained palette...
    always so beautiful to come over to visit your view of the world...
    looking forward to to clicking on all the links.

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  26. And on a totally shallow note... I cannot wait to wear white linen again!! Spring!

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  27. white on white is an absolute favorite of mine..love the mixtures of textures and dimension. though lately I've been working in blacks and charcoals...
    off to check out all the wonderful links...you do have a marvelous talent for finding the best of the best to share.

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  28. Love the pale palette! White on white or cream on cream and all those other shades in between. And, it appears I'm a bit of a poet too, lol!
    Love it all Robyn - your taste in all things excellent and gorgeous prevails again!

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  29. As someone who always wants to throw color at a surface I feel I'm a little afraid of white, but when all those other subtle tones creep in it really draws me in, too. Looking forward to exploring all your generous links, bit by bit.

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  30. I know I love colour, but this is all so wonderful. I love the piano piece. It's probably giving Jo(above) ideas after we disassembled her piano.

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  31. Wow! I'm amazed every time I visit your blog at the FEAST I find for my eyes. Sometimes so beautiful I feel emotional and at a loss for words!

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  32. love your work , beutiful , and exiting !

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  33. You make white so very interesting Robyn! I love the work "primitave' and the work "rain symphony' the most but they're all wonderful and moving in their own way. Great post!

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  34. So restful and yet all that delicious texture makes them so interesting! I'm loving your white hobbyhorse! :)

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  35. i'm digging 'white shadow's the most..went to see her website and once again have that OH GOD WHO CAN COMPETE WITH THIS feeling. I gotta stop that and instead i should just accept that this is beautiful, she is talented and hope to,aspire to blah blah balh....its amazing work and you always find such stunning pieces/artists. good job once again and thank you!

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  36. Wonderful compositions. The limited palette certainly draws the observer into the heart of the image.

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  37. I love white. It's simplicity allows shapes and textures to jump off the canvas. Now I want to do studies in white.

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  38. I agree with your thoughts on white Robyn. It is a very special colour and I think we often move it aside in favour of brighter colours.

    I particularly love Petition by Kathryn Frund. Very simple imagery but a very moving message.

    Amanda Bailey's work is amazing. I will have to check up on her.

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  39. Your post was already a knock out. Then I started checking out the links. It sure pays to take it slow and to savour your blog and its links. I'm thrilled with what was on Jessoo Lee's site.

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  40. Wonderful presentation of pieces, each with their own power. I often paint with white, although it's frowned upon in some quarters. To me, it's a beautiful color (or non-color). Because it isn't overpowering in its own right, it allows the artist's mind to be expansive and creative. At least that's how I think of it.

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  41. I never realized how much color and variation of color there is in white. It's really striking when all the shades are played against one another. I particularly like the last piece...something about it speaks to me.

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  42. I've only just this winter begun to enjoy and appreciate the whiteness of the sky in winter. There are so many shades of white and moods of the weather - I can see why the color white would have a reflective and serious meaning to ancient (and tribal) cultures.

    p.s. I have a blog award for you on my Art In Red Wagons blog - I don't know if you do awards - but I wanted to share it anyway :)

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  43. I'm completely mesmerized by these 'white' works, and have followed the artists's links. Thank you!
    it would be very difficult, but if I had to choose a favorite it would be Woodstock Nights, by Lawrence Carrol.Fabulous, but then they all are.
    great post!

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  44. Nice. I think I'd like to explore using whites and creams.

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