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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

"Layered Fragments"




This is the perfectionist procrastinator writing after more than a year. I guess because there's so much shallow discussion of trifles on the internet these days, I don't want to add to it so only write when I think I may have something to say. This is it.

In my last blog post, I talked about new work revolving around "the journey", or "the road of life" and working with less narrative representation. That was actually just a jumping off point and since then, my work has continued to become more improvisational and abstract. I know that many of you do not relate to it as well as to the narrative work, and I understand that. I have not discontinued the organic pieces altogether, but have incorporated the organic inspiration into some pieces that reflect both the narrative and abstract.

Frankly, the abstract pieces are far more difficult than narrative pieces for me to do. Improvisation -- making decisions about color, composition, symbols, shape, line, and texture all while I am working on a piece makes the process both difficult and invigorating at the same time. I really have no idea what the final result will be. I have developed a vocabulary of symbols that I seem to always include, but other than that I start at zero and have to make lots of decisions quickly.

It seems to me that truly abstract work probably most reflects our humanness because it is based on spirit and what we do NOT see or know. Narrative or representational work is based on what we see and know. It has been a true challenge for me to make work not based on what I see or know.

This new work also makes use of a translucent layering technique I developed a number of years ago. I work on the bottom layer using heat set polymer paints and then bake it. Then I press thin pieces of translucent polymer on the surface with inclusions like powders and gold leaf, and then bake it again. Then I sand it, then carve the surface with lines and backfill them with colored polymer. Then I bake it again, sand it through 7 grits, then polish the surface with a buffing wheel. The result is a shallow depth that resembles fired enamel or fired glaze or glass.

Now, I have to update my website to reflect this new direction - new background color? New theme? New Home Page? Any ideas?

18 comments:

Oops! Desperate Blogger~ said...

Just when I think you can't possibly come up with anything more impressive than the last piece, you always do. Breathtaking!
Cindy Celusta

Honolulu Aunty said...

WOW!!!

petozi Design said...

Hello Kathleen,
congrats, I love Your new abstract style very much. It inspires me, to craft again with pclay :)
Lovely greetings from Germany
Petra

BluMoon said...

Hello Katerine.
I always loved your more organic bags etc and find your new style very interesting, you are a great inspiration!
Jackie

Tejae: Heart Shaped Art said...

It's fun to see the new direction you're going in. You make it look very easy.

Mags Bonham said...

I saw these beautiful pieces in person and they are stunning. They are fresh and innovative, yet still classic Dustin. I especially love the pieces that have the wire extending the backfill design from the polymer.
I am also really loving the color combination of the yellow and blue. Maybe that's how you can introduce these new pieces to your website.
Thank you Kathleen for always inspiring us!
Mags

Mary Anne Loveless said...

I love it all, old, new, future projects...I'll keep watching and being amazed. I tip my hat to a great teacher and a great artist.

Mary Anne Loveless

Marian Hertzog said...

Beautiful work. Design your web page in the spiritual path you are following in your work...it will flow together. I agree with you about the abstract spiritual connnection. It comes from within and is a bit unnerving... but that is what draws us to the beauty of it.

Roberta Warshaw said...

I love whatever you do. And abstract is never really abstract. It is our view of what really is, only abstracted. If that makes any sense. Anyway, I am chomping at the bit to take your class in June at Metalwerx. I can't wait to meet you and see and hold some of these pieces for real.

Unknown said...

Layered Fragments is a lovely glimpse of you. Marilyn Davenport

Judy said...

Kathleen - it's wonderful to see how your work has evolved which is the mark of a true artist.
Never content with standing still and reproducing the same thing over and over.
As usual, you are taking this amazing medium to new levels.
So in awe of your talent.

Aquariart said...

Kathleen, I just love your new work, I agree that abstact work is more difficult because we do have to make all the decisions and cannot rely on what we see around us to create. Your work is just amazing and I think the background on your blog should be something really neutral, grey or black and white so that it makes your colors and designs pop.

Petersburg Carmi said...

Kathleen, good for you for stepping out of your safe boundaries!

kkm said...

love how graphic and "of the artist's hand" these are!
:0)

vokade said...

I just can`t stop watching thе works!Thank you for sharing yours experience of working with layers!This is very useful!

Ice Dragon said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

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Thuong Nguyen said...

Thông tin cụ thể hơn, ông Đào Anh Tuấn, Tổng giám đốc công ty vận tải hàng hoá cho biết, vận tải hàng hóa của đơn vị thue xe tai nho vẫn chưa đạt hậu quả tốt nhưng hành khách thời gian qua tăng khá ấn tượng với mức hơn 10% so với năm 2016. khác biệt, doanh thu tăng rất cao, nhất là trong tháng 6 vừa qua tăng hơn 50%. Chúng tôi phải áp dụng nhiều giải pháp thue xe tai Ha Noi linh hoạt, trong đó ưu tiên tăng nhanh tàu chạy các chặng ngắn như: Sài Gòn - Phan Thiết, Sài Gòn - Nha Trang. Tháng 5 vừa qua, đưa vào khai thác tuyến mới Nha Trang - Huế và đã đạt 70% hệ số khai thác”, ông Tuấn nói và cho biết, khác biệt, lần đầu tiên đường sắt xây dưng chính sách giá vé linh hoạt, khuyến mãi, giảm rét vé số đông, công ty du lịch, câu kết nâng chất lượng vệ sinh toa xe, tương tác với khách hàng thue xe tai tai Binh Duong nhiều hơn. “Chính điều này đã hút lượng khách lớn quay quay về với đường sắt, ông Tuấn lý giải.