Posts Tagged ‘peace’
Peace and The Little Prince
The night before last, I was told to “go and make some art” by James, my husband. It is great to have such encouragement to do the things I really want to do but often don’t do on my own. I have been thinking about the land art project we are doing along the walking routes in the Burren and North Clare, so I went over to the turf basket and started playing around with bits of turf! (one of the walks is on a bog road) First I created this peace sign inspired by James. I have been reading the children “The Little Prince”. I really love the book, it influenced the little stars which I cut out of banana skins.
Banana skin stars on turf in the Secret Gallery between Doolin and The Cliffs of Moher.
Some of the reasons that I put little yellow stars on turf may be because:
I have been reading “The Little Prince”.
The following day we had a conversation with our friend, she was talking about it being the time of stars, as they have more effect on us, maybe because we see the stars more as it gets dark earlier. It is also the time of year that there are more shooting stars.
Stars are very big compared to pieces of turf yet they are similar; the turf is a tiny nugget of the earth which is a planet too.
I remember night time bog walks as a child looking up at the stars.
Apparently there may be some moon dust on the earth after they crash into the moon. I hope it does not upset things too much on the moon or for us as a consequence of us interfering with the mighty Moon.
Maybe because it was playful, and I liked the contrast of the smooth banana skins and the rough turf. Who knows!
Peace to all
Moonbeams, shooting stars and an enchanted frozen Lake!
“Traveller” Marianne Potterton 2008-2009
Oil and Indigo pigment on canvas
“Here now Peace” Marianne Potterton 2008-2009
Oil and Indigo pigment on canvas (Detail)
Moonbeams squeezed under the door the night we had driven back from the enchanted frozen lake, making a wish on on shooting star on our way home. That was yesterday. Somehow all of these experiences filter into my paintings. So as James often tells me it is so important to expose ourselves to lots of powerful and interesting experiences so our art is fed by them and becomes richer. Yesterday I went to Lough Ger in County Limrick, it was beautiful and well worth a visit.
These are two painting that I reworked the other day. Sometimes it is hard to know if you are making the biggest mistake painting over a painting that once you thought was finished. I was never really happy with these paintings so the other day when I had no canvas to work on I thought that I would see what I could do with them. I do like them much better now and feel more confident showing them. Though sometimes I think a painting needs time to be and one day will be it’s time, possibly these could be the best works or it could be that they never really arrived at an interesting place.
The top painting has gone through many different phases, now you can barely make out the astronaut/diver, just their rose coloured visor. The lower painting is staying with the space theme in a way, with planets and stars and down to the activity of atoms and invisible changes. This connects to the 7 Veils of Illusion series from earlier. Saying Here, now Peace.
Peaceful Studio breakfast of James’ Biscotti and Coffee
James’ Biscotti
Our Children have been given breakfast in bed. I have decided to at least eat breakfast in my studio even if I have not done much art there for a while! Well that is not exactly true as I have been painting clothes with fabric paint to create my new winter wardrobe! Last night I renovated a chair that was very stained and with broken back, I did a painting of tree on the seat and the word Peace on the back. Downstairs James was baking a symphony of almond and vanilla biscotti with the tangiest lemon drizzle icing. This morning I wonder what will I art-around with while I have my breakfast. They were definitely the yummiest biscotti I ever had! Sometimes the possibilities are so infinite that I get lost! Will I Paint, draw, print, make, stitch,and that is just the start1
Peace
Peace Chair at The Secret Gallery
Ten things to get you to create!
1) Create a space for yourself to create in, it has really helped me to have a constant space for me to leave everything out so I can just start again whenever I feel like it. Setting up and tidying up just gets in the way!
2) If you have children, paint with them, I don’t do this all of the time that would be too exhausting! but sometimes it is great fun, the other day I gave our two children their first lesson in printmaking we did some mono prints, using the plastic lids from takeaway containers, using water soluble oil paint.
3) Carry a small sketch book with you everywhere you go, I don’t but wish I did!
4) Get your partner to force you to create a set amount of time every day, penalties for not creating should be severe! James did this for me by himself and it was the only thing that got me to do art again in a real way! It worked I made art every day even when it really was the last thing I felt like! Now I don’t do it everyday but I did for several months and made enough work to open our secret gallery, thank you James! It also got me back into thinking about art and thinking more creatively everyday. Sometimes it is too hard to do it on your own.
5) Make a piece of art for someone you care about.
6) Collaborate with someone, it can be a relief to take the focus off you!
7) Try to make bad art!
8) Be childish and play and make yourself laugh while you create, you might not even notice you have made art!
9) Recycle something into art. The other day James suggested I turn my classic leather motorbike one piece suit into art, I had put it on for a joke and really hurt my back just picking up something like a sock! He thought I should not wear it anymore, as it had some negative energy. So I started painting words on it to hopefully transform it into something positive and healing, like Peace and strong Woman.
10) Think, have you ever regretted making art?! I can think of many things that are a waste of time but, being creative is always worth while!
Is it a long way from Doolin to Dharamsala?
We are not really sure yet but we think it is quite far! Little did we know when James got his first motor bike a 125cc Yamaha Dragstar, that it was going to be his chariot for raising awareness about issues of peace and freedom for Tibet, all the way from Doolin to Dharamsala! James is my muse and is constantly inspiring me, certainly now is no exception! You will see some peaceful influence coming into my work, right about now!! I am asking myself what is peace, how do you make it, is it possible, would I like it! Yes! I can safely say I would like it, but enough to do anything about making it happen? It is close, if I am helped, supported and reminded constantly I think I would like to do lots! That is where the new peacerider.com web site by James Slevin will help us who are interested in Peace, to get inspired and maybe helped along on a smoother ride, to help create a peaceful world. I would highly recommend all to have a peak.
Peace for you, Peace for them, Peace for parents, Peace for children, Peace for individuals, Peace for animals, Peace for all sentient beings, Peace on our planet, Peace on the moon and Peace in our minds!
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