Paper pulp painting

I am back  home after a wonderful weekend attending the Society of Layerists in Multi media 30th. conference.  This art society consists of a few hundred artists who are interested in the interconnectedness of all life, things of the Spirit, Consciousness, the sacred mystery of this human dimension.  See www.slmm.org

                                                                             "Out of rock"
                                                                          paper pulp painting
We met in Taos, New Mexico, the weather was glorious,  and there was a light and joyful sense of belonging throughout the members present.  I presented a handmade paper-making workshop which was fun to prepare  and was well received by attendees who played with paper-making and explored this fantastic medium.  I have no doubt new ideas are already being nourished in the minds of these gifted artists of the spirit.

"An Ancient Song" 

Here is another mixed media artwork with a poem I wrote during a time I was really aware of the Oneness  of all life.  During my morning meditation there was a brief second when the veil hiding the mystery of life was lifted, and this poem was the result......  The art work came a few years later.  There was deep joy in completing this artwork.

The Circle Unbroken

From time to time I add my own poems to collages.  The Circle Unbroken expresses my belief that all that is real remains changeless regardless of appearances.  I enjoy the warmth of the collage and the feeling of connectedness.  This artwork was a joy to create.

Extraordinary Ordinary Women

"Mum's Story"

mixed media

Extraordinary Ordinary women is a series of mixed media artworks honoring ordinary women.  I started with photos of the woman  at various ages, photocopied these on acid free paper and adhered them to a gessoed board.  Next I added appropriate words which highlighted the essence of the woman.  I completed the work by balancing values, colors, textures.  After exhibiting the series all works except "Mum's Story" were given to the woman honored or family members.  "Mum's Story" was to honor my mother and will be treasured by our family.  It was a joy to complete this series, and I learned more about composition and design in the process.

Paracelsus

I often add phrases,my poetry, or fragments of a poem to my collages.  "Paracelsus" is a long poem by the British poet Robert Browning, and I am using just a fragment.  It is about finding truth within and allowing this wisdom to be revealed.  We are always looking outside for answers, yet we have all the answers we need, if we are willing and able to just be still and quiet.

Art and Tea

Probably because of my British upbringing I have a fondness for tea.  I also make handmade paper, and learned that tea bags are made of abaca, which is from a type of banana tree found in the Philippines and south America, and  is strong and can withstand wet handling.  Just for fun I saved used tea bags, put the tea on the garden, and painted the dried tea bags with acrylic paint.  I then collaged them into a collage.  "Teabag Tapestry" was the result.  Lots of fun!

Western art

We had thousands of people in town for Cheyenne Frontier Days, together with bulls, steers, horses, and cowboys.  After our move to Cheyenne I did an enamel assemblage expressing the western way.  It took many hours of work to design, enamel, and mount the separate pieces.