“A world Of My Own”
How did I find myself here, with this sculptural collection currently being exhibited as part of the Sculptures on the Scarp for the Darlington Arts festival.
Since moving to the hills around 21 years ago now, my intention was to gently exist inside natural places, my home is made of wood, high amongst the trees , over looking the valley where the moon rises and the rainbows spread wide across the sky. We call our home Rainbow Hollow for this reason.
I envisioned a life where our doors were always open to the outdoors and my children grew amongst the wild here, raised by the river.
Over the years of raising my three wild children, I have explored this region intricately and formed a bond with the landscapes, the animals, the plants, the clay, water and rocks. I know this place like the lines on my hands.
This hillside has taught me so much about connection, community, beauty, art, science and reciprocity. I spent everyday in all seasons, observing, noticing, collecting samples, documenting and creating journals full of field notes, microscopic images and paintings of mushrooms, algae, lichen, moss, rocks, pigments and textures.
Collection of previous nature art studies.
Artist’s who inspired me during these times were Beatrix Potters Fungi illustrations, the Wind in the Willows, Ernst Haeckels, Art Forms in Nature prints, Julia Rothman and her Nature anatomy, Hal Borlands Twelve moons of the year,Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmer and Colin Salters Botanical work.
These artists and writers were my companions over the years and I discovered how to turn my love of the natural world into a creative expression of my own. I discovered a world where Science meets art. Through micro photography, printing, preserving, sculpting, painting and writing.
Through this journey, Clay found my hands and become yet another connection I found with this place. As I look from a distance at my current work, all set up in the bush land to be exhibited I remember the journey I have been on and how I came to create what lies in front of me today.
The journey of an inquisitive mind. A constant reminder to see the world as if I was newly born.
You can read more about the sculptures in my previous blog “A world of my own”
