From Rhonda at Horton House Press, Alaska
Inside Looking Inside
I am taking a walk inside the studio, back in time through the files of my computer to look out for some photos I took during a favorite summer hike. Continuing with monoprinting, I may take a turn to include other media-elements into these prints, starting with the rose flower (my favorite — beside fireweed), and later the rose hip.
Photos from a summer walk – A Rose Gift (left) and Dancing Roses (right)
Sometimes
I print out my photos through an inkjet printer to have them directly in front while drawing, so that I may closely observe what is going on. The nuances of light and color blending and/or separating through the color management of the inkjet printer can be very interesting. And when the printer isn’t working well (I need a new inkjet printer), I get surprises! At first, I’m like, “Oh, darn – ugh!. 🙁 Then I’m like, “Oh, well – it’ll do.” And finally, I’m like “Ohh…okay…I see…! 🙂 I treasure these surprises and keep them close by for possible later use.
Inkjet printed photos lack of magenta allow the blues to come through (left), while a dark linear star shape appears from the center and the stamens in circle seem more squarish than I thought (right).
It has have been said that color is deceiving — strip back the color and you get to the bare essentials. Black, white, and neutrals get to the core of what is really going on. Used for under painting and proofing, but especially you see its grandeur in fine art photography. A value study can help clarify what to do and decide what not to do.
I begin to see clearly the beautiful star appearing from the center of the flower (right). As well, I see within the photo of Dancing Roses (left) the ground areas of one value somewhat lacking.
Next — to my sketchbook, looking down into the pages, I make thumbnail sketches of the roses. I find myself on an inward trek looking even further into little box frames that supposedly help to make a pleasing composition. I never really liked making thumbnails, but nevertheless they kind of help. I just can’t seem to stay within the little boxes — my drawings always extend past the edges, and then I find I must make bigger boxes. I find it a bit contriving and have to tear away as soon as possible — onward to the real thing!
Into the computer or inside my notebooks, through pages and within little box frames, each help to observe many things to consider. It always surprises and teaches me something new. Careful observation slows the mind down enabling the right-brain place of workflow I greatly delight.
Inside Looking Outside
Outside as an integral part of nature, my senses awakened by all that surrounds me. I’m thinking along the lines of plein-air painting. My eyes take but a brief note of darting birds, the movement of light and wind, along with any sounds. Painting from life outside, catching things as they happen, and making use of short doses of time become an exciting way to enjoy the journey of making art, emotionally and expressively. Becoming an integral part of nature through art-making outside, reminds me of the way of the Japanese attitude Mono no aware o shiru, but with this, you can take indoors to work in the studio.
The Japanese attitude Mono no aware o shiru “to understand and indulge in the emotional appeal of objects to the human heart” describes sentiments discovered in the harmony between the human heart and the form of objects.1 I experience this attitude while papermaking — a quiet time where only the sound of the the water is heard along with the movement of the water felt by my hands forming soft pulp into sheets of paper and carefully tending until they dry. Also, this is experienced while laying down color and line-work from an arms length away — as a sumi painter would lay down their brushstrokes and wait for the drying to see the results. Mono no aware o shiru is an attitude for artistic work flow, where right-brain is activated — time slows down, and hours pass-by.
So I took an adventure aside from what I was currently working on and into the world of plein-air painting with PleinAir Live. Outside on the beach, a wonderful demo on pastel painting of ocean waves was given via computer monitor. The next best thing I could do to simulate being outside on the ocean beach during a cold gray March day in Alaska, was to seek out a couple of You-Tube videos of real ocean waves crashing on the beach — a rocky coastline and a sunset shoreline. Both were wonderful for listening and extra long for uninterrupted time to work on a pastel drawing after the demo. Slowing down, I enjoyed drawing Ocean Waves – Birds On Rocks with pastels based on the PleinAir Live demo and the sound and continual motion of crashing waves from the You-Tube videos. It was new, exciting, and I would say, a very uplifting experience 😊.
T – Shirts – Into Alaska
Once again I am offering my pastel drawing Coming into Alaska, July 4, 2018, 12:22 am on three varieties of T-shirts.
There’s a real-life story behind this drawing:
We had just past the Alaska-Canada boarder and made our way down the Tok Highway. Bound for home, and literally busting at the seams, we had secured the backend of our travel trailer from top to bottom with duct tape.
I began to take pictures through the window of the midnight sun setting over the land, catching just a glimpse of Mt. Denali as it disappeared behind the rushing landscape.
There before us – awestruck – clouds appeared as our Old Glory Flag lain across the land! It was a welcoming sight to say we made it safely home — and then we noticed, it was just after midnight on the 4th of July!
I am offering these limited edition “T” shirts signed and numbered. With several responses for the sleeve art, I decided to make this variation. I invite you to take a look, offer opinions in the comments below or email, and consider purchasing one for yourself or a loved one.
The image Into Alaska is from the original diptych (consisting of two drawings framed together to make a whole). To get a better look and/or purchase, click any link below and you will be directed to the store.
Events – Past
Rhonda standing in front of her two prints Dreaming Red Currants and Wild Iris Bloom on First Friday opening reception for State Proof at the IGCA, Anchorage, Alaska
"Awe influences our perception of time by strengthening our focus on the present moment." Jennifer Aaker Did you know Leonardo DaVinci was known to buy caged birds just to set them free?
In awe, as time stands still – until next time 😊
Please feel free to contact me with any questions at my email: [email protected]
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- Lee, Sherman. Japanese Decorative Style. 1972, reprint, 1961. NY, Harper & Row. (p 27) ↩︎