Angel Face

Happy New Year friends!  I hope you’ve all had a wonderful festive season and break. We’ve had lots of fun both home and away, spending time with family & friends and enjoying the snow! I just wanted to share with you Angel Face. I know this is my first blog post in a while but she was actually created for Christmas, but with the general hustle and bustle it has taken me until now to publish her here!  I’ve used a combination of media starting on a heavy water-colour paper which is fixed to board. On the paper I used heavy clear gesso which I stamped into whilst wet, and layered up acrylic paint and pencil. I’ve also colour washed and wiped back to reveal background detail and mute some of the tones.

This other photo shows the edging detail; a pretty contrast in sparkley pink glitter!

Angel Face (Side Detail)

Green Goddess

Going gently but deeply within is the only space to create a truly authentic piece from, and this is exactly what happened when I made this one.  I took the time to make my workspace feel special with subdued lighting and the tunes I like to listen to, scented candles burning away in the background and as few distractions as possible. When I can achieve this environment I enter into an indulgent but uplifting time-warp where I really get into a piece with my whole self.  The process here was cathartic and the Goddess within flowed out through a series of strokes and tweaks with minimum fuss. I felt really ‘present’ with this girl and had the feeling that she just IS! And isn’t she rather lovely? If I may say so myself.

I started out on a nice weight of water colour paper with graphite then built up my layers with gesso, acrylic paint, pencil crayon and more graphite before embellishing. It struck me whilst creating this beauty the symbolic nature of using layers for the face, and how when we first glance at people, we take little time to ponder on the layers of experiences which have made that face unique. Our mannerisms, our energy, our expressions are all the result of our experiences and our reactions to them. And how complexly meshed together are those layers of experience!

Girl with Golden Hair

I’m really getting in to painting girls again – I just love painting girls, and I love experimenting with mixed media. Here I started out with some left-over pink acrylic paint which I had previously spread about as a background on to paper. Then I applied some antique decorative paper from the inner leaves of an old book as the border around the face. Then I layered up using stamps, acrylic paint, modelling paste in the hair and pencil crayons. I ‘m pleased with this portrait. Autumnal shades yet a glowing warmth are right for this time in the year!

Daffodils in Vase. Tissue, acrylic and gutta. 30cm x 40cm on MDF board.

Oh My!  Nearly 2 months since my last post.  So much has happened.  I have purposely been trying to take life a little more slowly so made a conscious decision not to worry about my blog but to adjust gently to the move with a ‘come what may’ attitude.  And so……. we came, and so did life and lots has occured.  We got here in Derbyshire at the end of May, and it is a pretty place.  I do love it here.  The children are settling well into the Steiner school (with a few bumps along the way, but I think that is expected), and we too are adjusting as parents to the changes.  I don’t for a minute have any doubts that we have done the right thing.  Our kids seem to have become ‘fuller’ and so much more of themselves already.  They’re growing well with their new challenges.

Jamie's Space

Sue's Space

I have some studio space set up in the house this time, sharing a work-room with my partner. (Mine’s the messy end!)  It is nice having it back home again and I am getting used to doing ‘a bit here and there’ when I can, fitting in it with my role of motherhood.  I saw a link in Jane DesRosier’s blog to this documentary film concerning motherhood as well as being a creative.  I resonate with it all: www.whodoesshethinksheis.net

I only started to paint again last week as I have been so busy with home-making and putting down new roots for myself and the family.  So, here we have my first piece from my new space.  I must admit that the initial outburst of creativity came out of frustration.  A little bit of anger and resentment which I was feeling was due to the fact that I had worked like a dog since I got here and hadn’t actually taken the time to do anything ‘creative’, sparked this piece.  And then it just seemed to flow.  It just fell out of me.  I like this piece – I translated that enegy in to something joyous.  But the harsh lines!!!  Why do I always end up creating such rigid paintings.  I guess that is just my style – authentically me.  But what does that say about me?  Uptight?  Contained?  Orderly?  Contol Freak??  Who knows?  I keep trying to blur edges and then forget again and get back into the habit of definite out-lines.  Old habits die hard or what!  I took up mixed media painting about a year ago to try to get me out of the habit of being so ‘perfectionist’ about my art.  In my previous incarnation as artist I was mentally torturing myself with finecky details and actually not being that creative at all.  You can see my old work here: www.susan-rhodes.co.uk.  In Steiner schools they have a very interesting method of painting without lines, especially in the earlier years.  They just use paint (natural pigments), wet on wet, and everything blurs and blends.  I think they are trying to teach children to create without boundaries, which is a wonderful means of expression.  These paintings have an ethereal quality and a sense of free spirit.  They are really lovely, – I think I need lessons!  Here’s one my daughter made:

Steiner painting without boundaries

Well, it’s been nice to have touched base with you all.  Will hopefully keep my blog updated now.  Although……….my children do break up today for the summer holidays so I am likely (like all mothers) to have my hands full at this time of year.  Never a dull moment!!

Tulips with Blue Glass.

Okay, just finished up on my most recent piece!  I’ve experimented with crinkled tissue paper, glue, translucent and opaque layers, dimantes and even toilet paper (for the frame!!).  I drew the lines on first with the black gutta and tissued over and started by blacking the whole thing (see below).  Then it has been a series of acrylic layers, trials and adjustments to bring the whole piece together.  I’ve learned a lot about technique through this painting – a lot about layers,  about adding then taking away and just leaving a residue.  I love how well the stencil turned out on the table cloth.

I’m striving to be original.  Granted, I have taken techniques which have been used before, some for decades – others are more recent, but others I would like to think are my own and are just what I happened to uncover through play and a curious mind.  But it is often hard to be original.  To just sit still and let it flow through you, without having to refer to source material by others time and time again.  I have my inspirations but it is tough to stand apart – to be authentic.  I do try and I am starting to succeed.  I think this has come about through zoning in, listening to the silence.  Taking time out to be alone and going into the quiet gaps in between, and if I don’t find those gaps – I make them.  It’s amazing what comes forth because of them.  Then I roll with it!

On a different but not entirely unrelated note (if we are still to have a planet to grow and enjoy tulips on!), I have come across Earth Hour which we have signed up to.  It is a campaign run by the WWF to make world governments take action against climate change. All you have to do is sign up and then bob your lights out for an hour on March 28th. Their goal is One Billion signatures  and actioners by 28/03/09 – go on!!!!  Do it – it’s easy!  Even whole Cities are pledging to do it with lights out at some of the world’s greatest sites such as Sydney Harbour and The Golden Gate Bridge.

My Dear Friend Peggy. Mixed Media. 30 x 40cm.

There are so many Social Networking sites about these days, it’s really hard to know which ones to join.  It’s hard to guess which ones will be of value without frittering hours away gassing (not that I don’t like a good natter!!).  Like life isn’t hectic enough already juggling work and family life.  So of course, I joined another group today on Ning.com (thanks to Lou!) with Gary Reef, another mixed media artist!  I’m still familiarising myself with it but it does look inspiring and he teaches techniques too which I am always eager to learn as I am still finding my feet.  But I really must stop joining any more!!  Stop it Sue – Now!!  But I do intend to join Facebook, and maybe e-cademy!!  Noooo – Stop!!In between gossiping though, I have managed to create another painting.  I’m really pleased how this has turned out as it was a bit experimental.  The original idea was just a scribble I put down on paper one night when I was doodling with my daughter.  I wanted to capture the mood between two special friends.  I have never had a horse (let alone a Pegasus – how ace would that be!) and I am in awe (if not a little afraid) of them for their magnificent power.  But I know plenty of girls who love their horses and have this special relationship which I have tried to create the feel for.

Sunshine Girl by my 10 Year Old Daughter.

It’s been so cold for too long now (brr rr rr rr!), and although the snow has been lovely I’m starting to look forward to the warmer weather and brighter evenings.  To help set us on our merry way I have added this very optimistic looking painting made by my 10 year old daughter.  It’s been a really enjoyable experience to watch her create this.  I have given her some guidance (and a little help with the stencils) but it is otherwise all her own ideas and work. I’ve seen her go through a creative process which I know she has gained value from.  She’s used layers and collage, and new materials/techniques she’s never employed before and it’s been a journey of discovery for her.   She said to me “It’s really interesting, because if I do this……….then I’ll get ….(that).  And if I do……(blargh) ……then I’ll get (the other)!”  I could see the proverbial cogs whirring round.  She’s another creative soul and it has been a treat to really see her get engaged in a project.  She has even managed to get a buyer for it within a few hours of completing it!!  Her Dad wants to buy it for his new flat.  (We are separate.)  It helps that we have this office space for my studio, and it is somewhere to come with a specific purpose.  She loves coming here and said the other day that she wishes we could live here!!  I don’t know how long we will have it for though, as it was only meant to be temporary while we sell and move house.  I think having a separate studio/office from home has many benefits but it certainly has drawbacks too, which I am still adjusting to.  I want it both ways, ha ha!!!!!

Happy to have been able to share this with her and you!  She loves Manga/Anime art work and I believe you can see its influence here.  For more of her work see her Kid Manga website.