2014 - My Year of Birds

2014 was my year of birds

In January I drew birds

 . . . . . . . . lots of them.

I transferred my drawings to tea bags

and made some books.

In February myself and a friend had a small exhibition entitled

'Winged Tales'

and I thought I would be tired of these birds

but I am not, 

and these birds have traveled through many art projects throughout the whole year. 

I recently created this collection of bird stones, 

which have now flown to new homes. 

What fun I have had with them all through the year.

I wouldn't be surprised if these birds continued to show up in 2015. 

Season of Hope

Another piece I made for the 

'I Too Will Something Make'  exhibition. 

It is called 

'Season of Hope'

and is a combination of collage, ink, paint. pastels and wax medium.

It changed so many times during its making

and buried into one layer is an image of an old cabin.

It landed here - and I said done.

I Too Will Something Make

11 members of our local art guild are presently showing a collection of our creations

in a gallery in Whitehorse (100 miles away).

All of our creations are influenced by the beautiful natural world 

that is all around us.

 Unfortunately the lighting the day I took these images was not good

But I needed to pack up my pieces and get them to the gallery,

and I didn't want this piece to leave without having a few pictures of it. 

 

The title of the exhibition

"I Too Will Something Make" 

(from a poem by Robert Bridges)

 was about the joy that creating brings to all of us. 

Close to Home

Lately I seem to struggle with words,

and giving this creation a title was difficult.

And I almost didn't title it.

But it is heading to an exhibition, 

and therefore it was said a title was needed. 

So I sat quietly with my creation. 

It's story buried within.

I knew it was about being rooted

I knew it was about the depth and strength of self 

But then I learned that self was also home - 

my body being home for the me within.

The story continued and told the tale of taking opportunities that are all around us.

Of  reaching to places that are not so comfortable -  be they near or far,

while still staying true to self,

or as the title says -  'Close to Home'.

I Spy - More Winged Tales

Winged Tales was a series of books I created for an exhibition. 

And today I thought I would share my artist statement that goes with the exhibition. 

***************************************

It started with birds.

Each with their own story.

Birds of my daily wanderings.

Birds in books portrayed by early explorers.

Northern Birds…. Extinct Birds….. Tropical Birds….. Fictional Birds.

A variety of winged beauties, wanting their tales to continue.

And so I drew them.

These drawings collided with dictionary pages and tea bags,

Which in turn collided with my handmade books.

Books to tuck these birds inside - A way perhaps to keep them safe.

Safe from the wind turbines, airplane propellers,

skyscrapers, habitat loss, and even my windows in the woods.

Birds and their stories tucked away to keep them safe.

Oh how I wish it was so easy.

****************************************

This is one of the smaller books I made.

It is called 'I Spy'

And each page has a circle with a bird inside the circle. 

On every other page I punched a circle hole in the paper 

and inserted the bird so that it is a transparency - and can be viewed from either side.

It is just a little glimpse 

into their stories.

Bird Eggs - Overflow Project #2

Another overflow project from my Winged Tales work

were these 'Bird Eggs'

I thought about making these when

I was busy making the books

but they had to wait until all the books were made

and until I had some time.

I am so glad they waited,

as sometimes these ideas just slip away 

before there is time to play with them. 

Once the eggs were made,

I had such fun playing with them

and taking some photos.

Overflow #1

As I was working on the books for my Winged Tales exhibition, 

(see posts from Feb 6 to Feb 21 for more images)

I had many ideas for other items I wanted to make with my little bird collection of drawings. 

Many card designs came to mind.

This set is made with tiny birds on pieces of painted dictionary pages, 

cut into a small circle

and placed on watercolour paper. 

While this set is birds on 

small circles of tea bag paper.

Other overflow makings are also in the making.

Winged Surprises

Books bring me such a delight when they open to reveal the unexpected.

.

This little book 

 is wrapped with a sheer piece of fabric as if it is a gift waiting to be discovered. 

And when opened has a little surprise on each page.

While this book

adorned with birds on front and back

is full of pockets 

which are also full of winged surprises.