UNDERSTANDING ABSTRACT ART #57 (New Year)

“Phoenix”

Rose wood (antique) and Feathers 

102x77cm 

ABOUT THIS ART OBJECT:

The phoenix is a mythical bird who after wandering the desert for 500 years, was believed to have consumed itself by fire, only to rise again from its own ashes with renewed strength.

I feel that the phoenix is appropriate to New Year because a new year arises from the old year.  It is a time of renewal when resolutions are made for the coming year.

Artistic techniques used in the art object:

This art object was born from my coming by two incidentals.  The first occurred on my return from camping at Carnarvon National Park which is located in Queensland's central highlands.   While driving along the road I happened upon a large freshly killed bird whose magnificent feathers I salvaged.  The second was a part of an antique Chinese rosewood lamp that was kicking around the house but was too good to throw away.
When I salvaged the feathers, somehow I knew how I would set them to good effect and honour their beauty.  I drilled holes into the rosewood lamp base and set thin wooden skewers in the direction I wanted the feathers to stand.  I then glued them in place and inserted the shaft of each feather onto the skewers.  Little had to be done after that other than polishing the rosewood.   Thus a phoenix was born.

I think that this symbolizes the New Year and I would like to thank those who follow my blog for their support and wish them all the very best for 2013.

I also want to say that a 2013 calendar features one of my paintings which is a great honour.  The National Rural Health Alliance that produced the calendar is Australia’s peak non-government body for rural and remote health and the Alliance’s vision is good health and wellbeing in rural and remote Australia.  The calendar is available to you FREE of charge from nrha@ruralhealth.org.au  -  if you would like one sent to you – just email them.  If you would like to read about my painting that is featured in the calendar, go to Understanding Abstract Art #4 on this blog.  It’s title is “Up”.

 http://www.buderimartstudio.com

UNDERSTANDING ABSTRACT ART #56 (Christmas)

“The Black Madonna” – #1 and #2 -Two Sculptures

#1  Cement – plaster cast from clay

#2  Clay, Das and Paint  

35cm high approx.  (both) 

The Story of the two Madonnas: 

Like all good stories it starts with “Once upon a time...” and being Christmas time, it is about the Madonna.

This was a time just before I went to study art therapy at the University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA.  Although I had a strong academic understanding in psychology and art I was required to complete a small sculpture course to fulfil the art requirements.  This is where “The Black Madonn #1” was born.  She was fashioned in clay and then covered in plaster of paris and finally cast in cement.

Before I left Australia, I took photos of her and in the first year of being in Louisville, I started another “Madonna” in clay, however because of the way she was built it was not possible to fire her in a kiln because I did not have the equipment or the space to do so.

Upon my return to Australia a few years later, I discovered that my “Madonna #2” had not travelled very well.  The sculpture was smashed in over 70 pieces.  I reconstructed her using Das which is a self drying synthetic clay which served to stick the whole head together.   I then painted her with black matt acrylic to cover the obvious damage.  She thus became “The Black Madonna”.  Her fragile state remains today as she is impossible to fire. 

Both Madonnas are similar but have character differences.

Artistic techniques used in these sculptures:

I am not a sculptor so I can’t talk about techniques in depth.  Nevertheless I am artistic and I really enjoy doing these two pieces for my own self expression.

Thus ends the Christmas story of the two Madonnas. 

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2013 and thank you for your support over the last year.

http://www.buderimartstudio.com