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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

2011 favourites

I try to stop and reflect on the year as it passes and am often amazed if I stop and sit and look at what I/we have been able to do in a year. This has been a year of great opportunity and travel for work-work but in amongst it all we found some time to make things; some of them things that I love and care about; some of them things I am proud of; some of them things that just make me smile...

I do love a list. They get me thru each day, each week, each month and guide me though the year. They are in recycled notepads, on A4 sheets of paper; in books and on pin-boards.  They give a sense of order to my chaos and remind me if its on a list it'll get done!

I also like to organise my thoughts into lists, so I have pulled together a list of my top ten favourites of the pieces I made this year.  It's a nice reminder when you feel wrecked and exhausted to look back and see the beauty in things you created.

I can't put them in an actual order of priority or preference as that's like choosing your favourite child kind of thing, so they are in alphabetical order instead.

1. Absences - a book that speaks of my great-grandfather's death in Flanders Fields...the poppies, the bloodlines, the huge hole he left behind.

©2011 Fiona Dempster - Absences
2. Cartogrpahy I - a piece about journeys, maps, hidden texts and stories. I just love the warmth, the hidden stories, and the way the pages said turn me around and put me like this - I don't want to be a book! I also love that it now lives at my best friend's house so I still get to see it!

©2011 Fiona Dempster - Cartography I
3. Commission for the nuns - 5 large pieces with beautiful words and shadow-play. The simplicity and elegance of these works appeals to me.

©2011 Fiona Dempster - Compassion commission
4. Folded Heart Book - I was thrilled to discover how to fold these books and have started to work on an alphabet...

©2011 Fiona Dempster - Folded Heart Book
5. Fragments of a journey - lots of little pieces, embossed with marks of journey-making. No one else seemed to get them; I just loved them!

©2011 Fiona Dempster - Fragments of a journey
6. Learning my Lines - old worn books, leather and metal strapping, so warm and friendly. I was overjoyed when this piece was finished and it worked.

©2011 Fiona Dempster - Learning my Lines
7. No Return - another book about Flanders Fields and journeys there with no return. It was a real case of this book led me and I just showed up and followed what it said to do next...

©2011 Fiona Dempster - No Return
8. Paper Wrestling - my first ever Edition!

©2011 Fiona Dempster - Paper Wrestling (BookArtObject Edition 2)
9. Pebble Scrabble - my studio has exploded with 'pebble scrabble' and there are pebbles everywhere. I even created and wrote a proper scrabble set of pebbles. What fun to play with it!

©2011 Fiona Dempster - Pebble Scrabble
10. Possibilities - I loved the words, I loved the book this came from and I loved playing with encaustic and watching a piece emerge.

©2011 Fiona Dempster - Possibilities
Thanks for putting up with my personal review and reflection on the year of art. I really enjoyed stopping and reflecting and smiling and remembering...

16 comments:

  1. All very beautiful works, thanks for sharing

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  2. Thanks so much. Every piece a treat. What a great review of the year!! Some of these I'd forgotten, so it's lovely to be reminded and to take another look. Nothing better than an exhibition for breakfast.

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  3. Hi Gail - thanks for stopping by - I'm looking forward to seeing what we all create in 2012...

    Thanks Annie - I love that final sentence! I imagined you sitting there with a cuppa and glancing thru the overnight-posted blogs! Have a happy day.

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  4. Wow! I'm very impressed by how much you've achieved, what with all your travel. I hope 2012 is equally productive! Best wishes, Sara x

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  5. fiona, this is wonderful, walking through your "studio" and hearing your thoughts on the year's work. bringing all these pieces together feels a bit like seeing old friends.

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  6. Wow! This is such a treasure and inspiration. Thank you so much for taking the time to post and share. Your work is outstanding, I look forward to what this next year brings you. Happy New Year and YAY! for your success in creating these beautiful pieces.

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  7. This is such a great idea - kudos to you for having the grace to give yourself a well-deserved year-end pat on the back for all the beautiful works you've created in 2011! It seems most artists are either too proud or not proud enough - in any case, utterly lacking in objectivity about their own creations. You have found exactly the right balance in celebrating yourself! Here's to 2012.

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  8. Fiona,
    What a nice idea to review your favorites, they are all so rich and varied!

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  9. Such a gorgeous collection of gems Fiona! You've had a very satisfying year indeed. Hope 2012 brings much creativity, success, and joy.... and no injured fingers!

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  10. Thanks Sara - in the end I surprised myself; which is probably why I think its worth stopping and reflecting every now and again...

    Thanks Velma - I enjoyed the moments of re-discovery as well

    hollis - thank you so very much. It has been such a crazy work-work year that it was wonderful to stop for a bit and see what had happened.

    G/TT - I am pleased that it was pitched right. This blog is a funny combo of sharing and journalling..

    Hi Jane - thank you. It was like stopping by with old friends - "oh yes I remember you"!

    Jo - thank you - fingers crossed for straight fingers too!

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  11. These are absolutely wonderful! Thank you for sharing them - I can fully appreciate why they are your favourites. Can't even say which would be my favourite - there are several that speak to me. Looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful work in the new year.

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  12. Fiona, I remember all of these joys from 2011. They are all very special but I'd like to pick a favourite if I may? For me, the works you produced for the nuns was just so right, so crisp yet so calming to look at. I wonder what's on your 'to do' list for 2012? Can't wait!

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  13. Stregata - thank you kindly, and I'm pleased that some of them speak to you also...I think they might whisper...

    Thanks Lesley! I must admit they felt like a pretty good note to kind of 'finish' on for 2012. I heard they were warmly received as well and I like that they were beautiful gifts for people who are so giving...

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  14. Fiona I'm so glad you decided to share your Top 10 Favourites. Amazing to think how much you have accomplished in between your day job which also happens to involve a lot of travelling and time spent away from home. Learning My Lines is still my favourite!

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  15. What a wonderful mini-restrospective -- each piece beautiful! Thank you for sharing these images. Best wishes for a year of good health and much happiness.

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  16. Thank you so much Robyn - I think this year I really did need to stop and reflect; as you say it's been a mad year on the road for us...Learning my Lines is very close to the top of my list too if I'm being totally honest.

    Thanks Gloria - what a great way of thinking of it - a mini-retrospective! I enjoyed my pondering time - glad you enjoyed the results. Best wishes for a happy and creative New Year.

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