Papercut in parchment and tracing papers (detail) 1991
In '91 I loved neutrals (still do), but the California part of me still enjoyed a good shot of colour. If I'd done a colour version of the cell drawing that those papercuts were based on, it would probably have looked like this...
drawing from the 4 day sketchbook 1991
colour added 2007
Marjojo, I'm not making work just now due to lack of my own home/health but I have talked to Mr P about the possibilty of having space in his heated house* to try finishing some half finished work that I've been unearthing. The theory being that the creative, messy, energetic stage has been done already and all that remains is the final touches, trimming, covers for books, taping seams, filling the gaps on drawings that were abandoned when new idea distracted me in another direction.
Given that I am bound to finish things differently now than I would have then, it will be like doing a collaboration, only I'll be doing it with myself so no scary 'I'm not worthy' feelings to wrestle with. That said, there are quite a few of you out there who I am REALLY keen to work collaboratively with in the future, when I am feeling more able, and more confident.
*I couldn't light a fire yesterday because even the old newspaper in my house was to damp. That's bad isn't it. Will have to use electric heaters to get my place drier so the pellets on my stove will light.
6 comments:
the time will come when it will all pour out of you ...
wishing you WARMTH (please!) and a sweet weekend.
Cally, I am so touched by the comment you left for me a couple of days ago. I felt so vulnerable about that post and it’s been quite wonderful to have such positive reactions, thank you! You mentioned feeling embarrassed by your writing – don’t ever! I understand the impulse, because when I come to look at your blog or at others I often feel that what I post/my work can’t stand up. But I feel that we shouldn’t compare, and posting the poem was part of my personal ‘try to overcome embarrassment-programme’ and while my finger hovered over the delete-button several times it was NOT pressed down. Every time I look at our light-paper-work I wish I had done it, it’s gorgeous and touching and evocative. And now you’ve added colour, amazing how that changes things – beautiful, makes it look more linked to the body, to biology somehow.
Hope Mr. P will give you warm and light space in his house soon! The idea of you cooperating with a former artist-self is wonderful and I’m sure it will lead to new and entirely present-time work when you’re ready.
Re: embarrassment – how did we learn such a futile emotion? I would like to eliminate it from my being, but can feel myself break out into real and virtual blushes all the time and feel it has kept me from doing things. Think I might do a blog about just this soonish.
I love this idea of collaborating with yourself!
I am sending you color and warmth!!
Hope you get the heating sorted soon, it's getting cold! Hey, you shouldn't worry about the quality of your artwork, they are stunning!
wow. are we all kind of linked or what? i just saw Marjojo's comment and she basically says all that i wanted to come here to say (except that she says it so much better, and pinpointing more what i am only subconsciously aware of. :).)
well, i guess i will still say what i was going to say. Cally, the last comment left me feeling so uplifted. it's been happily tucked in my mind to remind me to just write as i would. like what Marjojo said about embarrassment, i would also like to be rid of that. i was so nervous when i first started my blog and even now, i still have to resist the urge to go back and delete things.
i'll be very curious of the progress of your self-collaboration projects! it'll be interesting to see if you will come back to the same forms and how differently your lines/touch will be from before. i wonder if you'll feel more compelled to hold onto what you had started out with or will the present you want to take over...?
hope you've been keeping warm and cozy...
I'm so pleased you left a comment on my blog, cos now I've managed to find yours again. I love this papercut work of yours. It's really beautiful.
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