SHADES OF RUST

Quintessence by Bill Gingles

I recently discovered Bill Gingles work. Many of his latest pieces are painted with a rich rusty palette. See more here.

Crescendo by Bill Gingles


"In the studio each painting is a starting over, a tacit recognition that after thirty plus years of painting I still don’t know how to make a painting (which is different from knowing how to paint). I just know that I can. Each time the task is to find a way to give myself to the painting so the magic can happen and the painting can stir to life.

Each new painting reveals its own tendencies and surprises as it comes to life. Rather like children from the same parents, they are each at once individuals and siblings. It is because the life they share with each other is the life they drew from me." -- Bill Gingles


Symphony in Red by Bill Gingles



Seventh Autumn by Bill Gingles

Has it always been this way or is it only in the last year or two that people have been going nuts over rusted metal in their art?



Rusty sculpture. Photo taken by Michael Pinto. See blog here.

I'm just as enamoured with paintings using a rusty palette as I am with rusted sculpture.

Absence of Black by David Maple . See more here
A painting I have loved ever since Mary Ann posted about it on her blog is Ancient Dashboard ..... though I get the feeling she doesn't love it as much as I do.

Ancient Dashboard by Mary Ann

Collage Painting by Fran Skiles

"I call these collage paintings, “skins”. They are rigid, yet flexible layered constructions of paper, cloth, paint, gesso, paint, ink and pencil held together with stitching, embroidery, and medium. My personal photography plays a part in the content and design of the work. I use photography to jump- start the collage, and many times the initial photography is destroyed in this layering process; only to reemerge later". -- Fran Skiles

See website here.

Trilogy by Seth Apter. Find more of Seth's work at The Altered Page, here.
Frontier V by Rosalie Gascoigne

Enduring Power by Linda Stilley. Website here.

THE ART OF ELFI CELLA

Elfi Cella is a wonderful artist from Switzerland. I don't know who found who's blog first but from the first day of discovery I have been enchanted with her work. She incorporates buckles and zippers, buttons and lace and all sorts of other bits and pieces into her exquisite paintings. These mundane objects take on a new life, surprising all who view them.

Love the shirtscape! 

.... and this piece below, using old lace and paintbrushes? It is one of my favourites!

Take a wander over to her blog, here . I guarantee you will come away smiling.

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

SPIRIT OF PLACE

Prayer, monotype with mixed media on paper by Sharmon Davidson

There are some places I feel such a deep connection to that on first arriving I become slightly breathless and have to take a few minutes to adjust to the power of the place..... if that makes sense. Some are places I've never been to before but from the first moment I am drawn to it.

Photo taken at Kosi Bay last October

I experienced this during my first trip to Kosi Bay last year. From the time my feet touched the sand and I began to walk along the broad expanse of beach for mile upon mile, I was overwhelmed by a sense of belonging... of connecting.

Bosley Cloud by Dean Entwistle

I felt similar emotions in some parts of Britain.

Yorkshire Dales, mixed media on canvas by Wendy Asprey

There are other places that I have known all my life that feel almost sacred and yet they also feel like home.

Guardians of Sacred Places by Bridgette Guerzon Mills

The Drakensberg is the place where I feel most at home, most happy and most alive. All my senses seem sharpened when I'm there and I am overawed by the beauty of mountains, forests and streams.

Photo taken on our last trip to Champagne Castle, Drakensberg. (KwaZulu Natal)

Sharmon Davidson's work creates in me the feeling of connection to a place.... sensing the history ..... of people gone before .... of stories ....of lives lived.

Waiting for the storm, mixed media/watercolour on paper by Sharmon Davidson

"The images are formed from the vocabulary of symbols that I've developed as I sought to express the theme that lies at the foundation of it all: a deep belief in the unity and connectedness of everything in the universe". - Sharmon Davidson

The Speed of Darkness, mixed media/watercolor on paper by Sharmon Davidson

"Ancient peoples believed that places had souls. The soul of a place could be found in the genius loci, the guardian spirit whose personality summed up the special characteristics of the location. A proper relationship to the genius loci was necessary in order for a person to dwell there responsibly. In return, the genius loci would nurture and protect the people of the place.

Even in the modern world the basic truth of this ancient relationship still holds: Places that are accorded the respect we have traditionally given to souls are better places as a result. And the people who live there have a better life, too, because places that long have been loved and taken care of can take care of those who dwell in them". - Elizabeth Vander Scaaf

Song of Solitude by Monique Janssen-Belitz

"Since I moved to New Mexico in the summer of 2007, I have been captivated by the enormous depth of the land and its vistas, the seemingly never-ending horizon, as well as by traces of ancient history still visible on the surface patina. The land of New Mexico speaks of enormous spiritual power, palpable in the steep rise of the bare mountains, the wide valley of the Rio Grande and the patterns scribbled over the desert by shrubs, grasses and human incursions. Ancient beliefs and rituals mingle in connection with the land and weather, affecting even the most transient of visitors." - Monique Janssen-Belitz

Lost Connections, mixed media on paper on stretched canvas by Monique Jansse-Belitz

A PEACEFUL SATURDAY

Up at 6.00 am and off to the farmers market ....

....... which also happens to be doggy heaven.



Doggy treats

Doggy cliques


A little browsing at my favourite shop before going home to do some work.



A productive afternoon.....

TERRITORIES

The mother of all monkey battles broke out today.

There were monkeys standing on tip toes upon every rooftop for miles around ....

They dipped, bobbed and barked at a strange troop that dared to overstep the invisible line between two territories.

As I carved in the courtyard I was aware of monkey missiles flying over my head. From house top to garage to tree top and back again, howling with rage. Mothers held their babies close as the aliens approached.

All in my household were armed with water pistols in case the enemy troop tried to harm "our" troop.

I had to smile ..... we all have our territories.

CREATIVITY RENEWAL

Creative Relationships by Leslie Miller.

Its not too late to sign up for Leslie Millers one hour, FREE Creativity Renewal Teleclass for creative people who want more.

I have just completed the Re-fresh Your Creative Practice Program with Leslie and I have to tell you, it was such an awesome experience. Every year around christmas time I go into a bit of a slump. I know this and I have to keep reminding myself that it happens but this year it seemed to drag on for longer than usual so when Leslie posted about the refresh group I leaped at the chance. It has definitely done the trick! Not only am I feeling refreshed but Leslie has guided me through several issues regarding the business side of my work.

Even if you don't sign up for the telegroup program I'm sure you will benefit from the free teleclass. Leslie is an angel who has helped me through many a hiccup in my creative life. If you feel the need to be appreciated, guided, inspired or to get your overwhelment under control ..... do yourself a favour and join today's teleclass .