There Was a Time

The third and last in a very limited series of shadowbox story books. There Was a Time

is more fantasy than logic. The story is left to the observer who can imagine a scenario where flies have feathers and flowers burst out of seeds already in bloom.

The cover art for this particular book is designed using an etching and photo transfer I did while doing my visual arts degree. I often use bits and pieces of my student art projects in some of my work, a different interpretation for recycled art. If you'd like to view the 2nd book in the series, follow the link to my Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22235679@N08/

True Art

'Nough said!

Incarcerated

A few years ago I did a series of three pastel and charcoal images representing incarceration, i.e. bars, chains and barbwire. I was really focused on the visual aspect and didn't put more thought into it until two years ago when I was preparing for a solo exhibit which I labelled Cognition. Reflecting on the images I realized that I too was incarcerated by bars and chains and barbwire, and yet I thought I was free. I recreated the three images exactly only this time I applied a little reality check.


When I look around me at all the ' stuff ' I've accumulated, at all the unnecessary waste and at all the ' Gotta haves ' I still want, I know it will take a mighty saw to cut through the bars I've created over the years. I don't even know if I want to break free because, truth be known, I like my ' stuff '!


And of course those bars, they come with a pretty impressive chain made up of an impressive number of links. Link by link, the banks, the credit cards, the loans, and even all the different point programs various corporations like to hook us with, are ensuring that chain grows longer and stronger. I could really use a heavy duty chain cutter!


That being said, when it comes right down to it, even if I had the right saw and the ideal chain cutter, as long as my thoughts keep me imprisoned I will never truly be free. I really believe that our thoughts are the most powerful tool we have with which we can change our lives. They can either keep us enclosed like barbwire or set us free. I'm sad to say that to date I haven't managed to remove all the barbs that prevent me from reaching my higher self. Still, I guess the most important thing is to remove them one at a time and eventually my mind will be a peaceful place where only creativity exists.

New Year, New Determination.

Last year I started my blog, this year I am determined to add to it on a weekly basis (I'd like to say daily, but I know myself well enough!). The art work and projects I will be posting will be from various periods in my creative development, which of course in a never-ending process. Because I fundamentaly believe that art is in every aspect of our lives, my post will seem rather eclectic, but in fact that is the very essence of who I am.

My latest creative endeavour wove it's way into the land of storytelling. I thoroughly enjoyed the creating a series of StoryBook Boxes with various bits of bric-a-brac that I found lying about.

Tarnish is the story of a queen who was so enamoured with the character in a book that she summoned him to appear before her. You can see additional photos and read more about it on my flickr page at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22235679@N08/