musings
2024 has been a year of big perspective shifts for me. I'm always a pretty contemplative type, but the first six months of 2024 I could barely walk across a room. There was a load on human being time for me. I drew a load in sketch books which kept me sane, improved my skill and provided me with the opportunity to explore ideas. I made "monster" drawings, but also some landscapes. I wanted to go outside so badly, but my body wasn't ready until summer. I started to make some abstract drwings. I got interested in how I would translate my ideas about formal abstract principles into the collage I was making. I am now strong and moble enough to make some 24" x 24" abstract collages. Some of the finished pieces will be in a show starting in February of 2025.
I broke my leg and shattered my left ( non-drawing) wrist in December of 2023. Today is August 19th 2024 and I am not fully recovered yet. I am recovered enough to spend some time considering the past 8 months. I spent the first few months unable to walk. I hopped from spot to spot. I lived in a recliner and drew in spirol sketch pads. Every day. I think my artwork got better through practice and focus. I graduated to 11" x 15" pieces of Reeves BFK and started collaging again a couple months ago and I really like the pieces. 4 of them were acepted to shows and 2 of them have gotten me a more exclusive place in a group show at the Arts Center Gallery in Newport NH in 2025. I'm making some landscape studies in collage.
Landscape in relationship to the Creature based collages I make may seem pretty dissimalar. I have been looking at a lot of Chinese landscapes. They are awesome. I feel the mythical, spiritual and magical comingle so beautifully with the natural world in those landscapes.
