Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Recycling / Reworking

1. Lately I have been reworking old paintings. Recycling has a dual purpose - it saves me money and also gives me an interesting background to work on instead of the dreaded white canvas. A couple are worth blogging about, several are still 'works in progress'.
Today I came up with something I like.
detail of 'Drift Away'
This is part of a triptych which started out as the 3 individual paintings below:
.
I really liked the contrasts of tones, textures and lines, but there was no interest re sales, and being a triptych, it was a hassle to hang.
Yesterday I did myself proud by drilling into the timber stretchers and bolting the 3 of them together to form one painting (anything to do with nails, bolts and and big drills frightens me for some reason, but give me a 'dremel' drill and I am in 7th heaven).
I reworked the paintings and added some gold as I am also going through a bit of a 'gold phase'. This is the result. I love it even more now and I am tempted to keep it on my wall.
'Drift Away' 
300 x 900mm

2. Now to a totally different work....
I have been playing with painted/textured/dyed tissue papers and decided to do a simple work on a discarded canvas. This is what I ended up with. Gold features again.
'Gold Stripe #1'
500 x 400mm

I had the canvas on the deck with rocks weighing down the tissue covered mattboard and I love what the rocks add to the work - argh - now I want to make some rocks to glue to the work!!!!

3. Last month I submitted my entry into The SCAP art award - our Councils's major Art Event. They accept only 40 entries from all over Australia - I won't know it I have been accepted until the end of May. This was also painted over a previous painting.
'Journey'
900 x 1200mm



4. I was honoured to have one of my 'A Letter A Week' books featured on the front page of the February edition of the American books/calligraphy magazine - 'Bound and Lettered' - thanks to Fiona Dempster for curating this international project, exhibition and fabulous promotion.
My ALAW accordion fold book was based on photos I took on my travels to Europe and Morocco in 2011.


5. I am also honoured to be chosen to exhibit one of my small 'bojagi' fabric pieces in the upcoming Wangaratta Miniature Textiles Award.
'Walkabout'
300x 230mm

6. Another honour for me recently was having one of my artist's books chosen as a gift for our local councillor to take to the Tatebayashi Council in Japan for their 60 year celebrations. This book was exhibited in the local library last year on International Peace Day.
'On the Mountains'
25x10mm

Seeing my recent achievements listed like this gives me a bit more confidence - there are many times that I feel like I haven't been doing much.
Thanks for taking the time to read this blog.





15 comments:

  1. Hi N - good to see you posting and giving an insight into what you have been up to art wise. The reworking of old canvasses look like it is working well; and I see what you mean by adding a hint of gold - as as I asked before why gold? Go well. B

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    1. Thanks Barry - maybe the gold thing is inspired by the royal visit X

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  2. Hello Noela, I think both Drift Away and Journey are stunning pieces. Love the re working and think that is a very valid way to bring forth exciting new pieces. Glad bits and pieces of accolade are coming your way. I know that feeling about never think you are getting any where. Take heart x

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  3. Thank you so much for this gorgeous post. I love the whole recycle/rework idea. The gold is fabulous and the perfect amount. You don't post very often but when you do it's a real treat.
    Love the bojagi and the last book was a finale that made me gasp and go Wow!

    Claudia Fisk

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    1. Hi Claudia, thanks for the comments - sorry I have been so tardy with posts.

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  4. Lots of good things happening N - looking good!

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    1. As you often say, Fiona, it's good to stand back and reflect sometimes X

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  5. LOVE your work. I also find that l need to list my "success's" sometimes, to remind myself l am a REAL artist!!! :)

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    1. Thanks Lynda, being a real artists is a real challenge at times!!!

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  6. Love how you took something that wasn't quite working and turned it into a piece that is just gorgeous - and flows so naturally. Also love the rocks on the painting. Could you not just paint rocks there? I just discovered your blog from a visit to another new blogger I found (so much beautiful artwork to see, so little time!)

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    1. Thanks RH, welcome to my blog - hope to post a bit more regularly from now on, and yes, I'm still thinking about painting rocks onto that painting!!

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  8. I am a new follower! Love your blog and ART!

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