My artwork navigates the idea of global citizenship by being actively aware of my environment. Studying it, documenting it and trying to learn my place in the world. The importance of my environment near and far. Using art as a platform to highlight and encourage much needed changes. I think it is important to combine science with the visual aid of art as art has a voice. Sometimes more powerful than words.
I guess to begin, I need to look internally and evaluate my position. My capacities and attributes. My morals, reasoning, ownership, legal responsibilities.
Personhood and personal identity and what makes a person count and how this differs amongst cultures and contexts.
It is during the pandemic that I had a lot of time to think about this. What do I want my art to say. What is the message that I want to convey? How can I make it clear but yet make the art something of an individual in itself? Hidden but wanting to be seen, unknown and unique.
A slice of time shared with the subject.
I have really started to play with the relationship of my materials to the subject matter of my pieces. How do they relate. Directly or indirectly? I am currently researching for organic materials I can use as paint. One in particular. Eggshell. Making paint from ground eggshell and other natural ingredients. What is important to me though. Is where did the eggshells come from. Ideally, organic, free-range or even better, a local farm. The less it is handled and the more natural the environment. The better!
It will be interesting to workout, the ideal and appropriate surface to begin with. Do I want it flat or textured? Glossy or matte. Constantly trying to balance the relationship between both the subject and the foundation it lays upon.
Up until now, I have used canvas or paper as my foundation but have always had a lurking thought, my conscience, telling me, that I should be using something else. Something less, manufactured, but more environmentally friendly.
I have decided on three materials, that I will begin to experiment with. Leather (another research journey) homemade paper and wood. Using the eggshell paint on all (number of coats?) believe this will involve a lot of meticulous alterations to get a result, I am content with.
This is also my approach with the ink. It would be ideal to be making my own. I will focus on certain elements of the ink. Like consistency and how opaque it is.
I do work with a graphic styled approach, so density will be important but to be fluid enough to achieve the excessive detail.
Again, I sense a lot of trial and error in the near future. The end result, needs to be honest and truthful, compassionate, handled with care and made with love, with the planet in mind. I hope this journey not only presents true of the artist’s intention and that not only will it send a message beyond the moment of viewing the art but also organically alter my life in otherways how can I do more outside of my work.
A continuacion......just as the Earth orbits the sun. Hoping that it’s inhabitants can continue to be a part of that continuation for centuries to come