Sunday, January 4, 2015

Favourites from 2014...

I like this time of year for the opportunity it offers to stop and reflect, and to look ahead as well.

One part that always surprises me is the look back over the artworks that I made this year, the ones that I really enjoyed, that made me smile or made me proud. It is quite amazing to realise what I managed to get done, even tho I never feel as if I have accomplished that much.

There is a lovely feeling of meeting old friends again as I wander through, as some have been sold or shipped overseas and aren't in the studio anymore. There were some good ones, some so-so ones and a few that didn't make my heart sing; but here are my favourites from 2014 - as ever, in alphabetical order because I honestly can't choose between them!

1.  Conversations one of my collaborative books with Susan. This one is just so special, containing both of our prints and conversations with friends, I still love holding it and turning the pages...


2. Fragile Gains is a book I am really proud of. Again pursuing a feminist theme, it speaks of how fragile the gains women have made are; and all three copies are now in collections in the USA.


3. Home is a gorgeous simple print on exquisite goyu paper, that spoke to so many people - it sold really well at exhibition and I think I am up to about 32 in an open edition.


4. Library of Lost Words came out of a moment or two of whimsy and just happened. It worked so well and I love it.


5. New York was my place-based alphabet for A Letter a Week, and I love its soft whiteness and all the memories of our last visit.


6. The Nurses is special; it honours the young Australian nurses who went to World War 1 - such an enormous voyage to serve and care for 'our boys'. We were fortunate to travel to Ieper in Belgium and see it on show...


7. Queensland Literary Awards  another collaboration with Barry, it is such an honour to make  these awards and we love them!


8. Urban Grit graced the front cover of Colophon (the journal of the Australian Society of Calligraphers) and was a piece that pushed me out of my comfort zone after  a fabulous workshop with Laurent Pflughaupt.


9. White Ribbon Day is another book in my collaboration with Susan. It reminds us that more than one woman dies each week in Australia at the hands of an intimate partner. A tough, but important book for me.


10. Words of Hope are not so much a piece but a sharing for those who were thought of and cared about in amongst the darkness and despair that sometimes surrounds us. It felt good to send them out into the world on behalf of people who cared.


Thanks again for joining in the wander down memory lane...here's to a year to remember!

31 comments:

  1. Between your post and Barry's, I'm in total awe of the work you created last year and will continue to create this year and next and... I've tried to pick a favorite from each, but it's just impossible - although Home does have a special place in my heart and in our home. Thank you so much!

    Here's to a creative and successful 2015!

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    1. Thanks J - I honestly find it such a worthwhile thing to do because I had forgotten so many bibs and bobs! I can't pick favourites either - each of them makes me smile or feel good, so that is a fine thing. I'll raise a glass to us all having creative and successful 2015s!

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  2. Gelukkig hoef ik niet te kiezen tussen al dat mooie creatieve werk !!!!
    Ik wens je een mooi én creatief 2015 .

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    1. Fortunately I do not have to choose between all that good creative work !!!!
      I wish you a nice and creative 2015.

      Thanks Marleen - it can be too hard to choose, so I think it's just lovely to be able to enjoy them all. Go well, and wishing you happiness, creativity and success in 2015.

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  3. Brilliant pieces! I so agree that it is good to look back not only to learn, but to enjoy work which still delights, and encourages us forwards on our way.

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    1. Thank you Olga - it is so good to look back and reflect and as you say learn - I looked at the pieces that weren't favourites and tried to work out why not? And then these pieces just made me feel like I was on the right path, my path, and I would keep on going...go well in 2015, happy creating!

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  4. What a wonderful collection of work, Fiona, lovely to see your personal favorites. Such an amazingly productive year. Looking forward to this year's inspiration, thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks for your thoughts Valerianna - it is interesting isn't it to see what a person chooses for themselves, of themselves. Wishing you many beautiful moments in the forest, happy creating and making.

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  5. What a beautiful collection of works Fiona. Congratulations on having such a creatively successful year. May 2015 bring you more of the same.

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    1. Thanks for your wishes Amanda - I hope 2015 offers opportunities for more creating and more beauty in all of our art. Hoping your year lets you do and create more too, go well.

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  6. Great to see your selection all together.... so much fabulousness! Very best wishes for 2015 xo

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    1. Too kind Suzi! A Year of Fabulousness - who wouldn't aspire to that?!? Glad you enjoyed and hoping your year ahead is filled to overflowing with calligraphy, and paper, and books, and fun, and creating and...!!!

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  7. goodness me you have achieved a heck of a lot in one little year! I've loved watched as each project unfolded.... 'fragile gains' particularly resonated on many levels

    here's to a wildly successful 2015

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    1. Thanks so much Ronnie - I admit to being surprised at how much I had actually managed! Each one is different, and each speaks to me differently - I think in my heart of hearts FG is almost my favourite too. Currently raising a glass to a wildly successful 2015 for us all!

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  8. It's beautiful, every bit of it ... it's always such a pleasure and a privilege to visit your lovely blog and see your work as it develops.

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    1. Dear Charlton (Margaret) thank you for being so supportive and for letting me know how much you enjoy your visits here - I am so glad that my little exits of art from ay down here can reach you way up and over there...isn't it amazing? Hoping your 2015 is really satisfying in a creative way and that you enjoy your making, creating, and exploring...go well.

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  9. I just read through Barry's year and now your year... what a wonderful idea and way to look back and appreciate all your accomplishments. I love them all but especially your Library of Lost Words... I love the wabi sari tins and ancient looking papers.

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    1. Thanks Donna - it feel like a real gift to myself to stop and reflect and ponder the pieces I have grown to love over the past year. It is so nice to then share ether with folk who also enjoy them. The Library of Lost Words was such a serendipitous event - sometimes art appears in front of you; other times you really have to dig it out. This one simply emerged...go well.

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  10. ~f...this jaunt down memory lane is a beautiful summary of where you in spirit and muse...so much i have missed so to be able to see a glimpse here is wonderful...fragile gains...home...and library of lost words have me breath taken...thanks you for sharing these moments with us...be well and much love light and blessings~

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    1. Ahh thank you so much Brandi. Its so nice to think you have time again to wander down my path with me! I hope you really get to enjoy 2015, and that it offers you moments for creating and playing and dreaming...go well.

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  11. What a lovely tour through your artistic year. You have much to be proud of there--great stuff! Thanks for sharing this end-of-the-year review.

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    1. Thanks so much Ellen, it really helps me remind myself that I haven't achieved nothing, I have done some stuff! It also feels good to put them all together in an album of sorts - a great way to keep track of progress in a way. Glad you enjoyed the meander, and hoping that 2015 is kind, and has moments of play and creating waiting for you.

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  12. These were ALL my favourites in 2014, another year when your commitment to your ideals and your art inspired me Fiona. I count myself lucky to see it all unfurl through these pages. Looking forward to seeing what will drive you forwards in 2015 and shall hope some of the inspiration rubs off on me! Happy New Year to you both.

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    1. Oh Lesley you are so kind! I'm glad they all made their way into your heart a little bit too - I have such happy memories of so many of these pieces. I am forever grateful that I have been able to record my thoughts, their making and their finishedness (hmmm ? word) here on my blog with so many good people to share them with safely. Who knows what will happen this year, but I know that we will inspire each other across the miles...go well and have a fabulous year of creating, discovering and enjoying this creative life.

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  13. Thanks Mo - I'm sure you probably have a similar amount of work built up through the year! I do like stopping and looking back...go well.

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  14. I remember most of these works. And they are as inspiring to me now as when I first saw them. Wishing you all the best in 2015!

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    1. Thanks Seth - It's nice to remember and nice to be reminded. Hope you have a stellar year! Go well.

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  15. Lovely to see a synopsis of your beautiful work. Have a wonderfully creative 2015!

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    1. Thanks Anna - as much as I love moving forward, I do appreciate the looking back as we'll...go well and much happy creating to you too!

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  16. Wow, What a stunning body of varied and original work, All truly beautiful.

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    1. Thanks so much Eithna - It's kind of fun to look back and then put it all together - quite a collection of sorts. Go well.

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