Many of us are drawn to objects marked by the passage of time and this fascination is often transferred to our art. Looking at the images in this post one can see that some artists use old, sometimes decaying and often patinaed found materials while others achieve the time worn effects through art techniques.
Walter Rast uses materials such as concrete, sand and pigments applied in successive layers. He scrapes back and scratches into the surface and also uses gold leaf and symbols.
"There is warmth and strength, gentleness, tenderness even, and respect for worn and used old things." -- Fiona Dempster
"I really love the look and feel of rust. I love it's discarded beauty; the way it proudly wears its history and I love the sense of rediscovery that happens when I begin to work with rusted materials.
It feels as if the old, the worn, the forgotten, the discarded and the weary have found; their beauty recognized and valued, and new life given to them." -- Fiona Dempster
"Robert Nickle's collages evoke the passage of time and the present's ambiguity; they forshadow future disintegration. By locking paper detritus-soiled, crumpled, cracked, folded, marked, printed, stained and decaying tags, wrappers, cardboard, foils, etc. - in a poetic time capsule, Nickle shows us where we've been, are, and by progression what the future holds." - Devonna Pieszak
Wundervoll !!!
ReplyDeleteDanke
Saarel
Thanks Saarel
DeleteOne thing is for sure ... there is going to be some serious "passage of time" around here while I peruse all these wonderful & interesting links!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
DeleteWhat an amazing collection!
ReplyDeleteIt was difficult to choose out of so many amazing images.
DeleteThe trouble with your posts is that I look at the first example and think that it is the one i like best - then I travel down them and think I like them all equally - there is some stunning work here - and as usual I am in the position of wanting them all in my house.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have them all in my home too. The next best thing is to decorate my blog with them :-)
DeleteI really enjoy your posts, today just had to let you know, they are inspiring, motivating and many times I say to myself yes, yes, yes when I read them.
ReplyDeleteYes yes yes ..... exactly how I feel. There are so many wonderful artists doing amazing work. Thank you Hillary!
DeleteLove this post...the beauty of detritus!
ReplyDeleteIndeed! I'm constantly amazed at what artists create.
DeleteHi R - love this post - such beauty in the ageing-decaying process. I enjoy seeing what Tim Rowan had done with clay - looked like rusted metal to me. And of course loved the juxtaposition between the ageing wood and pristine paper in Fiona's piece. Thanks for gathering folk and sharing. B
ReplyDeleteBarry, from the very first moment I saw Fiona's Old Post piece I fell in love with it. The contrast between the textured wood and the smooth pristine paper is striking!
ReplyDeletethis gathering of work moves me, i really have enjoyed seeing new work, robyn, you have a gift for finding amazing stuff!
ReplyDeleteThanks Velma.
DeleteThere's no doubt that the patina of age is artistically appealing. I'm having a lovely time following the links...thanks.
ReplyDeleteah the patina of age the old the worn.. we (as in the collective consciousness of artistic whimsy) are making a more sensitive job of making things look old & integrating the found treasures than in the more naive 70's when everything was getting "antiqued" with that streaky faux copper green paint (here in the Land Down Under anyway!) we can paint with real copper and rust now!
ReplyDeleteWas that the 70's? .... Oh I do remember the faux green!
DeleteI am forever fascinated by the passage of time -- in my life and in my art. There is just something about aging and history which I find so compelling. Thanks so much for bringing this wonderful examples to us.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely the feeling of history that does it for me.
DeleteEvery time you post I learn so much about art and its many expressions. My world expands! Thank you Robyn.
ReplyDeleteThank you Leslie. It is a learning experience for me too.
Deletegobsmacked by the goodies here! for me I love the peacefulness of neutrals, and old things have colour, texture and pattern that resonate so deeply. Here it is about how the artists pull those together. Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI always love when the boat here, pulls in and out of the ferry dock, the patterns of rust on the metal berth. I always think "a perfect abstract painting"
thanks for the findings and links.
Glad you enjoyed the post Carole. I'm picturing the boat... the patterns of rust and the light dancing on the water....
DeleteRobyn. I love the art in this post. Beautiful. I too love old and rusted things. xoxo
ReplyDeleteI suppose it's a fashion or phase. Next year we will probably wonder what it was all about.
Deletelove this collection.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post...I love this Robert Nickle piece...a true master. As so many others, I'm drawn to the old, fragments time has almost forgotten. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary Ann
DeleteThese artworks, and your title, The Passage of Time, all have me thinking.... they are each so intriguing and call to me to stretch my own art. Robyn, I just love the way you put things together. When I first "met" you I thought you might be a college professor of the arts.
ReplyDeleteI just read your comment over at Seth's about Encaustics in the Garden. i wish you could spend time here painting too... and I could take you to that Antique Warehouse!!! Have you been to the US before?
Roxanne
Lol.... a college professor? I had no idea! Roxanne if I am ever in your neck of the woods, the Antique warehouse is the first port of call.... or the second, after meeting you.
DeleteThe first sentence of my artist statement is: "I am interested in the passage of time and what remains." and I have had this artist statement for 6-7 years or so. I love your blog post because I too am in love with weathered, worn, torn, rusty, rustic, and old... and am always trying to find ways to use the old in a new way. You have some wonderful examples here.
ReplyDeleteYou have hit the nail on the head. Using the old in a new way helps to keep things fresh otherwise we are seeing the same thing over and over again.
DeleteGreat collection of Passage of Time art. I was especially drawn to Fiona Dempster's "Old Posts Hold Stories"
ReplyDeleteYes, Fiona's piece is a new way of seeing the old. The contrast between the wood and paper makes it fresh. Love it!
Delete"The passage of time" That is well said.
ReplyDeleteWhen I come back from the beach my wife sometimes says "More rubbish! But I know you make beautiful things with it"
We are lucky that our spouses see the beauty in our gatherings of "rubbish" ..... and help to collect it.
DeleteThe tones and mellow muted shades... oouuu , I can live with that.
ReplyDeleteYes! :-)
DeleteFiona's old fence with the pockets for small books... wonderful Robyn! So delicate and emphemeral against the strong wooden posts! Tags always seem to bring memories to the fore!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your comments @ Eclectica ... thank you! Keeping works back till you are ready for them to go I can imagine is very important!
Sophie, I have 3 pieces in my studio for the first time in years. It feels right!
DeleteI love Fiona's metal book, and the ceramics here.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what I trust in art, re passage of time anymore... something shuts down when I encounter "rust" now, it may be beautiful but unless I can open encounter with it, in its abandoned setting it seems just like any other material. Maybe rust exists and time itself does Not?
Blessings
M, I feel the same way when the internet is flooded with the same-old same-old but as Donna commented it's trying to make the old look fresh that keeps it interesting. I'm teetering on the edge of finding rust tiresome but I still feel the tug.
DeleteI love each one of these for different reason. Thanks for taking the time to post them.
ReplyDeleteJulie, I'm so glad you enjoyed the post!
Deleteoooooh, I hate missing any of your posts- such a wealth of awesome inspiration!
ReplyDeletep.s. I'm not a robot, but I still can't read those wonky words- these were tough ones today! :) Or maybe I am a robot, but my parents didn't tell me... hmmmmmmmmm....
ReplyDeleteYour art is full of feeling....so definitely not a robot!
Deletethank you Robin! I have a passion for the old and rusted. I've quite a collection
ReplyDeleteYes another weathered wood and rust fan over here!
Delete