Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Rusty rememberings

I have so enjoyed preparing work for this exhibition. It has allowed me many wanderings and explorations and many opportunities to take an idea and either pursue it or let it be, until it says to me 'that's it'!

With these pieces I was turning text upside down, and writing through it so that it became more about marks and symbols than the written word. There were hints of language but no real sense could be made of it.

I then enjoyed applying the rusted and encausticed (I like to use 'the verb to encaustic' now) transparent paper over the top and drawing into them further. You may recall that these pages then sat with me for a while because I thought they were going to become the pages of a book.

And all of a sudden I imagined them placed in this pattern and becoming wall pieces! I have no idea why or how that happened but that is definitely what they needed to become. I played with them in this pattern and realised that there was a lovely space left in the middle that needed to be filled so off I went to Barry's rust pile of bibs and bobs and made off with these two items which fitted perfectly.

I'm sad I can't show the framed pieces properly - the reflection off the glass is way too wild; but I have used a double black mat board and a beautiful black frame that is high on the outside and angles down towards the work and the lovely lines lead the eye into the centre.

©Fiona Dempster 2011
©Fiona Dempster 2011
©Fiona Dempster 2011
©Fiona Dempster 2011
©Fiona Dempster 2011
©Fiona Dempster 2011

19 comments:

  1. Simply e-x-s-q-u-i-s-i-t-e!!!

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  2. Lovely - it somehow conjures up anticipated images of Morocco for me xoxoxo

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  3. Louise is right, this is (yet another) stunning piece. WOW!

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  4. These are so very intriguing. They have the quality of Cornell boxes; they drew me in instantly from another site and set me to dreaming. Your work is quite a find. Thank you.

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  5. I ADORE these...I love the rich, layered surfaces and most of all, not surprisingly, the text that is there but not there...indecipherable, but clearly points to the idea of writing. I also love the way you made off with a few bits from Barry's studio...sly fox! Wonderful!

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  6. wow Fiona! amazing pieces!! sometimes things just come together in the most unexpected ways... and they turn out more fabulous than anyone could imagine!

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  7. now these were totally worth waiting for, letting them become what they needed to. strong, rich.

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  8. yes, beautifully crafted... I am so looking forward in the exhibition!!!

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  9. You've wandered in a beautiful direction with your solution for these lovely pages. The rusty pieces are perfect - what an eye you have for just the right touch, Fiona.

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  10. Love them!!!! Does the metal say anchored with just the wax?

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  11. All - thank you so much; it feels very special to hear the kindness of you all and to have you respond so positively to my work. Humble, I think, almost gets it.

    I apologise for my tardiness; but we have been on the road,on planes and in far away places and today has been one long catch up!

    Louise - thanks for your lovely words so eloquently expressed! It's nice when a piece works so well that it gets called exquisite (without the fab hyphens)

    Robyn - thank you - your skill and talent are enormous and its lovely to have you say the word wonderful about them!

    Noela - ooh very cool, wouldn't it be something if you came across something there that resembled them????

    Jane - thanks so much, and I'm glad they felt special when you viewed them.

    mkt - thank you for visiting AND leaving a comment! I'm glad you enjoyed the pieces and the other bibs and bobs. Go well.

    Patti - I love that you love them! Yes the temptation of the text and the layering is what appeals to me as well. I was quite discrete as I snaffled these rusty bits - but how could I not?!?!

    Luthien - I figured you'd enjoy the rusty bits! Its so lovely when the pieces do more than we imagine - very gratifying.

    Velma - They WERE worth waiting for and they are strong and rich and right. The wall idea is better than the book idea for these I think.

    Kim - thank you! Look forward to seeing you at the opening as well!

    Carol - many thanks as ever for your kindness and thoughts. I enjoyed the wander and have learned so much by letting them take me where they need to go...

    Jann - thank you for visiting my blog and loving them! Sadly I had to glue the rust down (I sanded away the back so there was something to grip; then araldite did the trick).

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  12. Fascinating work. I looked at your paper experiments link and enjoyed hearing about your process. Good luck with the exhibition.

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  13. Sorry so late in commenting! Busy, busy here and playing blog catchup. These pieces are wonderful, Fiona, the colors and textures, the offset of the fine detail of the writing with the bold geometry of the different pieces fitting together. Brava!

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  14. Exquisite. Just exquisite. Love the use of rust.

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  15. Jackie - thank you for popping over and I'm glad you enjoyed the process bits as well - I'm always intrigued to see how other folk approach their art.

    G/TT - so glad you could make it in amongst your busy and exciting world as well! A lovely insight re the fine detail and the bold geometry - perhaps that's why they work?

    Thanks Suzi - 'nuff said!

    Jennifer - thank you for visiting and for your kind words. They are simple and elegant in their own rusty way. Go well.

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  16. This is beautiful Fiona; I love it! It's so warm and natural - earthy. The lettering gives it such a wonderful texture. Congrats!

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  17. Thanks Jane - they do feel warm and earthy and I love the text that's there and not there...

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I appreciate your thoughts and comments; thanks for taking the time.