BRIGHT OCTOBER
12 ins x 12 ins digital collage
12 ins x 12 ins digital collage
There was not a single post from me during August and so a few of you may have imagined that I'd disappeared into the greenhouse and somehow got lost forever amongst the cucumber and tomato plants. The truth is that despite returning from France feeling rested and refreshed and with a stash of wonderful photographs and ephemera (see my other blog) I found it very difficult to complete anything and over the last couple of weeks, felt a desperate need for a creative re-boot. The remarkable Anahata Katkin has written the most inspirational essay about the creative process, one that I return to whenever I am feeling "stuck". In A Grain Of Sand she writes about the five stages of any creative process. Anahata believes that a stage she has named Resistance occurs naturally in the first third of EVERY project and that artists should embrace it as an essential element of the creative process. Her advice is is move even more quickly at this stage but to change something: for instance, perspective, technique or materials, therefore tricking your brain into a new place. Anahata suggests doing this on the piece you're working on but in this instance, I began to totally new image and just enjoyed making marks and blending colours.
To make this collage I have blended and mashed together a couple of photographs, a few textures, lots of digital scrapbook papers and elements and a scanned page from the 1902 edition of Larousse's Nouveau Dictinaire Illustre, which I purchased at Le Mans market for a Euro. It has to be said that the photographs are almost completely unrecognisable but I often use a photograph as the bottom later of a collage to get away from the blank page and inform the composition. The one that I used in this instance is by GEORGE BROWN, a lovely man whose soul shines through his beautiful photography. Do go and take a look at his Flickr gallery, it's my current favourite and I guarantee that you will be inspired. Whilst on the subject of Flickr, I'd also like to acknowledge the generosity of those who regularly post and share their beautiful textures, such as Ninian, JoesSisah and SkeletalMess who are among my favourites.
Now, I must make a cup of tea and take time to visit all of you and catch up on comments. I'll try not to stay away so long next time.
To make this collage I have blended and mashed together a couple of photographs, a few textures, lots of digital scrapbook papers and elements and a scanned page from the 1902 edition of Larousse's Nouveau Dictinaire Illustre, which I purchased at Le Mans market for a Euro. It has to be said that the photographs are almost completely unrecognisable but I often use a photograph as the bottom later of a collage to get away from the blank page and inform the composition. The one that I used in this instance is by GEORGE BROWN, a lovely man whose soul shines through his beautiful photography. Do go and take a look at his Flickr gallery, it's my current favourite and I guarantee that you will be inspired. Whilst on the subject of Flickr, I'd also like to acknowledge the generosity of those who regularly post and share their beautiful textures, such as Ninian, JoesSisah and SkeletalMess who are among my favourites.
Now, I must make a cup of tea and take time to visit all of you and catch up on comments. I'll try not to stay away so long next time.
24 comments:
So glad you are back and creating beautiful things. I read that piece of Anahata's and I agree, it is a sense of resistance. I overcome it thru play...
I missed you so much in your absence, Lumi, but I knew you would return! I love Anahat's essay in resistance and have found it to be quite true. Actually, last year, one of my students, a talented artist, as well as a football player, a real Renaissance man, taught me to embrace resistance as a valuable part of the creative process. I took last week off myself and am back renewed an inspired.
"Bright October" perfectly captures the beauty of autumn. The depth and textures of the background, brilliance of the cardinal's plumage, and dark silhouettes in the foreground combine stunningly. I'm so glad you're back!
Love,
Alberta
The richness and depth of this piece are fantastic. Love your eye for composition.
Gaby xo
wow wow wow !!!
It's so beautiful lumi !!!!!
what a fantastic compo here !!!!
hugs sweetie.
Céline.
Beautiful composition to behold - deep and mesmerizing! Also enjoyed your shared insights on working through that "stuck" point that occurs in the creation process. Half of the time I drill through on a project and half of the time I leave it for a while- both methods have their effect. Lovely to enjoy your new work!
Welcome back! I missed seeing what you are up to creatively. Lovely piece.
This has such a beautiful and transparent quality to it. The chicken wire patter in the circle gives the illusion of a honeycomb and the golden color is like honey. This is very beautiful.
I, too, have been in a "stuck" place .... and have attributed it to the tired and slugged out feeling hormones plague me with. I'd like to trick those suckers. I like your idea.
Absolutely beautiful! Awesome colors :)
Another stunner Lumi, the colours are wonderful and the textures make me want to touch. Kudos my friend.
Wow, this is simply stunning! Diane
I love the composition and colors!
Oh well done, your colourful creation is beautiful.
Have not been participating in the challenges during the recent move and job change but looking forward to getting back into the routine soon.
So wonderful..Glad you decided to come back and thanks for all the info on this post.
Good to see my favourite slug slayer has returned unharmed from abroad. Great collage! I quite agree about that resistance thingy. I often seem to find that strain in the initial stages of a project and push through to really find I'm flowing and loving it soon after.Now I'm off to browse flickr galleries.
As thoughtful as ever, your trademark
hi lumi,
i think this is the perfect piece for the first day of september. as a bonafide virgo, i feel quite qualified to make this statement. ; ) seriously, it's such a gorgeous and colorful piece... just the perfect colors for fall. as usual i love everything about it - *everything*. those red x's are extra nice, though.
i love these words by anahata... i remind myself of what she says often. especially in the 'resistance' and 'ping pong' stages...
xo
oooo the colors in this are just fabulous!!! great digital work!
you're back with a bang! Your art piece is just stunning, such vivid and saturated colors with awesome blending.
those Flickr links are incredible, thanks for linking me up. my bookmark list is just getting longer and longer.
and yes, i do experience the resistance phase, too often too long lately. i have never thought about the creating process in stages, now it has me thinking....
xx
Wow stunning, I just love it. wish I was that clever.
Stunning piece!
Happy to see you back and revived. The color in this piece is stunning. And I love the touch of the red Xs.
Beautiful!
I want this in my livingroom, sooo lovely xx Prill
I want this in my livingroom, sooo lovely xx Prill
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