Exploring new Concepts leads to a new Series

Sometimes art is hard and you have to squeeze with all your might to find your voice. And sometimes it's a matter of wanting to just play...a sort of hmmmm, what if I did this moment. That's how I accidently fell into this new concept series called Negative Spaces - Meanings in Random Patterns. 

The photo above is called Raven Dance Pendant. I describe the process as follows: 

The method used is a reverse stamping process, in other words it's using the negative spaces formed in an already stamped or carved piece to create a new pattern. By only using a certain area of a stamped piece I create a random pattern to fit the shape of the pendant. But yet, not so random, as I find that each piece seems to call up something that has recent meaning for me. 

The carved piece I used for this and the other three pieces done so far are from a four sided dragon carving. I'm showing this one first, as it's actually the head of the dragon. It's not really identifiable here, and wasn't meant to be. I used Pearlex powders to darken the recesses and highlight the raised areas. 

As an artist I rarely see shapes as just shapes...they always bring something to mind...either because it looks like something or reminds me of something, at least in my own mind. And that is part of what being an artist is...you see something in your mind and set out to re-create it so that you can share it with others.

Usually that is done with a preconceived idea but in this case it was entirely random, sort of like a dream that is telling you something you already know but maybe weren't aware of. This concept is fascinating to me. Like reading tea leaves...messages in randomness, with meaning.

I'll reveal the other pieces in the next few days, meanwhile I'm taking this idea and running with it...creating patterns of my own to see if they also 'come out of the other side' when I put them into play. Heady stuff for an artist!

Sue
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