What do you see?

I have been walking in the forest at Courtown Woods, Wexford on and off  for the last two weeks partly for exercise and partly to be in nature. Holly and ivy abound. But this tree above is in a most interesting clearing. On the day it was taken the sea was howling. What can you see?

Snow labyrinth

As promised here are some more photos of the snow labyrinth I created on the winter solstice during the phenomenal snow in December 2010. 

I'm on the look out for opportunities to make a permanent land based piece in Ireland. In a private garden, OPW site, with plants, gravel, flags, etc. Also quite like the idea of some temporary ones made with very alternative art materials.

Snow Labyrinth, Wexford 2010

Snow Labyrinth, December 2010

Snow Labyrinth at dusk

Original blog on my winter solstice snow labyrinth land art, mediative practice, the large sand labyrinth on Old Bawn Beach Cahore Co. Wexford, simplicity in a beach sand walking labyrinth, finger labyrinth 2D, idea for making a finger labyrinth.

Labyrinths and other forms of mazes

Thinking about my blog post yesterday and Rose Hughes comment about

"I also find it intriguing how a motif may capture us in our youth and continue to move and grow within ourselves throughout our lives"

I thought about all the other avenues and interests that I know now link into this area of interest: landscape mazes, potagers, parterres, garden design and the places I had to visit like Chateau de Villandry in the Loire Valley, the beech maze at Russborough House, the labyrinth below the fountain in the centre of Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo. The corn maze that I loved just outside Dublin in the 90's.
I feel like I have finally given myself permission to full engage with this motif. What was it Dorothea Lange said

Pick a theme and work it to exhaustion... the subject must be something you truly love or truly hate.

Here are some pictures of the completed labyrinth made during the workshop this morning. It now awaits interaction in the exhibition space at 96 South Main Street in Wexford. Come and explore.

Labyrinth in situ 'of earth and soul' expo 2010

 I also started working on easy make finger labyrinth that I will blog about tomorrow. I'll take more shots of the detail of the Labyrinth at the weekend. Be interesting to see how people respond to it.

Labyrinths and your creative or mediative process

Tomorrow I am looking forward to sharing some of my work on labyrinths at the workshop.
The shape has been dominating my work and its presence can be seen in my current exhibition online preview here.
At the opening of the exhibition a friend commented on the fact that as a teenager I was always drawing mazes and this is indeed true. I love that our connection and her knowledge of my creative work can see the link to the labyrinth and how far back it goes in my creative consciousness.

maze doodle circa 1985
Roisin Markham

As a teenager I was fascinated with Celtic knot work in both manuscripts and metal relief work reflected in such Irish treasures like the Book of Kells and Ardagh Chalice. Perhaps this is where my love of typography came from too.
After learning how to do celtic knot work I developed my own take on it for my portfolio for art college. It too evolved and became my doodle that I did idly everyday everywhere. A maze doodle that is linked to this labyrinth work even now.
Amazingly I did come across some examples of the doodle after being handed a crusty biscuit tin of old letters and photos. I love that I can share this with you so that you can see how old my link is to this topic.
For the workshop tomorrow I plan on teaching people how to draw labyrinths, and explore the idea of what it holds. I'll speak a little on what this work has brought me to insights into process, discovery and reflection on my journey living creatively every day.
Have you got an image or motif that you use, collect or it catches your curiosity?

Tactile art for 'earth and soul'

You know at exhibitions there are often signs saying "Don't touch" I've long haboured a passion to make work that has a sign that says TOUCH, PLAY, Discover... an exhibition about full on engagement and tactile discovery for the sense of touch. I think that is why I originally learnt how to make felt I envisage large wall hangings of interactive art.
My exhibtion 'of earth and soul' is exactly where I am right now. But work has been evolving I'm exploring 3D. It has started with paper, photography and has moved as far as film but not quiet into 3D...
Although I have been saving a sheeps fleece to work on at the exhibition and make a felt tactile labyrinth to explore with hands.

Labyrinth path freehand drawing

For this exhibition I asked a local crafter John Kenny (you'll find him at the Coolgreaney farmers market the first Saturday of every month) who works in wood to explore and collaborate on making my designs.
I gave john the drawing and some photograph's along with a glass marble. The idea was that the blue line was to allow a third depth of a finger into the smoothness of the wood. A small glass marble to be able to roll around.
I am delighted with what John created, a carved shallow groove into sycamore wood. The piece is 31.5 x 28.5 x 2.5 cm and will be offered for play at my exhibition but will it be offered for sale? there is a question.

Finger Labyrinth 

    

Trusting that you do know

I paint. I journal on the paper or canvas first. Then I paint. I seldom start with an idea of the outcome in my head. This takes courage. This takes detachment. As the painting evolves sometimes quickly I follow an inner sense of knowing and go with what seems to be right. Visually I know when something is right or not. Colour is critical in my abstract paintings, forms present themselves and are typically flowing.
Yesterday morning I finished a painting that I started years ago I'm trying to remember how long ago it was four or five years. I know this because it links to a series of paintings I made titled 'Inland' and one sold at a show I curated for Microsoft Ireland in July 2005. The painting reached a point I liked but was incomplete, it has lived on and off an easel in my studio. I always knew it had potential there was something about the simplicity of the washed background and the depth of the dark green shape. The blue used to go straight and directly to the center it was never right. A few years ago I was determined to finish it, it watch over my studio from my easel for months surveying what I did there. Gently mocking me for not being able to finish it. Until yesterday I never knew how to complete this painting.

inland ii, 2005 - 2010
78 x 55 cm on 360gm watercolour paper.

I had two paintings to finish last week for my up and coming exhibition 'of earth and soul'. I worked on other things for fear that in the process of painting them I would ruin them. Of course that's happened before. I knew I had to quieten myself so I could follow my authentic voice that brings me into my creative flow. Not always easy to get into or stay when so many things require your attention like running a business or being a Mum you run on others time tables. I'm not complaining its just something I constantly work with as part of my reality when making creative work.
I hardly ever paint with white, its just not something that comes up this is buttery creamy white complimenting an almost light green gray.
I'm looking forward to taking this work to the framers Monday morning. Some of today has been spent compiling all the information documenting, measuring, naming and getting ready to push this work out in to the world. Presenting it for sale, for viewing my piece is almost done.
The second painting is green and proving impossible to photograph! it's perplexing.

Pulling work together

At the weekend I finalised three textiles that had been awaiting stitching and beading. I'm pleased with how they turned out. I dropped them to the framer yesterday.

what a relief

Failed freeing the labyrinth from the paper

I'm loving the comments from my twitter tribe on last Sundays blog post Labyrinths and my creative process it contains my video about 'when painting is too flat'. On Thursday I queried its increasing popularity and wondered was it down to the fact it was a video. What do you think?
What I love about finding and rediscovering ways to express, document and explore my creativity is that I'm finally moving my work on, talking, communicating and engaging myself and you in the process. So thanks for reading, listening, watching and responding - lets have more of that.

On Monday as I still could not fill my paint brushes with paint. It was hard to stay with the not knowing. Normally dedicated studio time is over brimming it is unusually for me not to know what is next. A sign of growth perhaps. Standing in that not knowing was challenging - deadline looming etc. But I knew a shift was occurring.
I started my weeks work by folding a painting to make it stand by itself. This developed into montage and collage work. Taking a failed attempt of altering a book (above) to develop the labyrinth relief and freeing it from one sheet of paper.
The raised image in the bottom left corner printed onto tissue paper very nicely so I thought making a stamp seemed like the next step. I sat cutting out the labyrinth... The two shapes the same but different half way through I thought am I cutting out the wall or the path? and I stopped and started taking photos again.

Then the relief moved from a mobile to a sculptural device that I wanted to make stand it took me a while before I found something I was happy. I wanted the semi cut labyrinth to stand tall. I tried various things and settled on a piece of blue tack and or 'glue tack' as my youngest calls it. Deciding it was not important if the a clay modeling tool was seen. With that the object became a whirly gig. I was reminded of fair grounds and twirling skirts of my youth.

The background for the whirly gig and the images of the folded painting at the beginning of this post became a finished piece of work Thursday evening but not before a transfer of this was added. A photograph of an Allium I had given a graphic treatment to. It is one of my favourite Cristophii.
Yes this morning I had a Eureka moment and the painting flowed after more on soon

Art & Soul

Of art and soul. I'm trying to remain focused on finishing work to take to the framers later in the week. i'm also trying not to hold on to tight to the outcomes of the work and allow them to flow.
But it is proving a challenge and I'm being rather too good at finding distractions. I think it stems from the fact I have two paintings I am worried I shall ruin but they are unfinished to my eye. Therefore brush and paint and water shall apply.
Details of my up and coming exhibition 
'of earth and soul' 
2010 Fringe Wexford Festival Opera
16 October - 31st October 2010.
’of earth and soul’ an exhibition of textiles and paintings by Wexford based artist Roisin Markham (me) with participative workshops and social interludes.

Venue:    Bride Street Gallery
(Colman Doyles Shop is converting to a gallery space during the Fringe)Dates & Opening Times:
Monday – Saturday 9.30am – 6.00pm;
Sunday & Bank holiday 2 – 5.30pm

Thursday 14 October 9.30 – 11.30am: Innovation for success. Women in Business Network Event Co-hosted with Wexford County Enterprise Board.  Booking with Wexford County Enterprise Board, more information to follow and booking will be here shortly.

Tuesday 19 October 3 – 5pm: Social media mashup for businesses @Wexford Fringe; Blog, twitter, facebook, linkedin and any other social media platform realtime meet up. This is a Free event but you need to book your placehere or on CreativeDynamix Facebook page in the event section. 

Thursday 21 October 10.00am – 12.30pm Labyrinth Workshop. Creativity with a purposeful pathway: draw, trace, make and share labyrinth making in a collaborative workshop. €35 all materials included.

Brown bag lunch workshops start at 1.10 and are 40 minutes of active learning, participation and fun during your lunchtime. €10 a session. Bring your lunch and come along to any of the sessions or all three.

Tuesday 26 October Solution generation, creative problem solving for your lunchtime’

Wednesday 27 October Mind mapping learn and road test a creative thinking technique.

Friday 29 October Introduction to creative visualisationrelaxation and guided visualisation plus access to art materials

Event booking with CreativeDynamix call Roisin on 086.1546163 or find us on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/CreativeDynamix.