Sunset in 2011

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Sunset

Whilst out walking my pup early one evening, I marvelled at the beautiful scene as the sun slipped between the trees to mark the end of a lovely day.  The sky in close proximity to it appeared bright and warming, enveloping the huge natural ball of light in the sky perfectly.

The trees framed the image and added depth and contrast to the overall imagery.

 

Japan 2011

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Springtime

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The onset of Spring hopefully brings happiness and contentment as the first flowers push their way out of the soil, stretching towards the sun they need to enable them to flourish and live healthy lives.  The same could be said for us humans who also need and benefit from the warmth of the sun, to lighten our mood and make the world we live in seem a much brighter and nicer place.

With these thoughts in mind I added text to the images:

• A time to laugh
• A time to cry

as I wanted to add a hint of poignancy to the picture.

I wanted to give these pictures an oriental feel, hence the black penned swirls and the the overall colour scheme of both images.  I felt they added a sense of mystique together with dramatic contrast between the flowers and the dark, almost blurred, foreground.

It would have been too easy to have created a typically pretty picture with the flowers being so prominent, and the general composition of the picture, but I chose instead to give it a more interesting perspective by going towards a more atmospheric feel to the painting.  Using a dark vignette effect that shades off into the surrounding color at the edges, I hoped to achieve this.  I use this art effect regularly in my work as I appreciate the way the technique softens the edges of a picture in vignette style.

Beach

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It`s February, a month of cold miserable weather bringing with it dark days and nasty illnesses.  So I hope these serene beach pictures help to lighten your mood with a reminder of how beautiful, calm and peaceful our world can be.  In just a few months time the skies will once again become blue, grass return to  luscious grass and thoughts of hopefullness and inspiration once again enter our minds.

The beach scene was produced by using chalks on white paper.   The subsequent mixed media images have actually reversed the original piece in that the people where originally standing in the water looking towards the boat on the left of the picture.  The background was the beach.  In the process of using paint effects the picture was transformed and took on a completely different perspective.  On recognising this I added the semi-circular hoops as I thought they gave the impression of depicting an oyster shell and loved the new dimension the resulting image acquired.  

After stripping the original picture of colour, I later injected the colour red/yellow in the place where I thought it would add drama the most.  The resulting image takes on a more sinister feel in a darkened world but could also be interpreted as a picture of hope with the splash of colour depicting safety or refuge.  The boat could also be largely instrumental in the story of the picture.  Are the two figures stranded?  Could the boat be used to rescue them?  Maybe the colour indicates an explosion from which the figures have escaped?  Did they row away from the danger area and are now looking out across the water knowing they will never be able to return home as their homeland has been destroyed by some form of devastating attack?  Only we as viewers, have the answers.

This final image is closest to the original.  A beautiful blue rippling sea bouncing an empty rowing boat on its stillness.  Two figures look out across the magnificent expanse of water as they paddle nonchalantly in the warm clear water.  The sandy beaches in the background have been somewhat compromised by rounding off the picture but hopefully the feeling and atmosphere of the overall picture has not been spoilt in any way.

The message on this image is self-explanatory.  I sent it to a friend for her birthday and also to wish her a wonderful trip abroad.

January 2011

I love the depths of this design.  I also love the vitality of the red.  One can`t help but be drawn deeply into the image by the pattern and arrangement of the egg-like shapes.   

I never seem to be able to dedicate much time for my blogs. My fingers, most definitely are in way too many pies!

So...it`s a new-look art blog and hopefully more inspired artwork to fill it and make it interesting and inspiring to others who happen to click on to it.  You may have heard of the saying "Jack of all trades, master of none" - sometimes I feel this relates to me as I do so much artistically.  That`s fine up to a point, but I would dearly like to be a master of something too!

I love the colour contrasts in "Cakes".  On closer scrutiny, the reason for the title becomes more obvious, as there are indeed cupcakes in abundance. 

This photograph is one of my favourites of my youngest son.  I love his apparent moodiness and his dark, expressive olive-shaped eyes.  His long dark hair framing his face enhance his smoulderingly gorgeous look perfectly.

This abstract image is one of my latest to-date.  I like to think it depicts colour breaking through and transforming a world of darkness.  Maybe that says a lot about my philosophy on life and how I view it.  A life without colour would not be a life at all.  Colour energizes, transforms and motivates; something we all need in our lives to make us feel fulfilled, balanced and complete. 

Flickr Update

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsgcreations/show/

The flickr website was one of the first art websites to which I subscribed.  I adore it and still get inspired and motivated by the thousands of pieces of art therein.

I have been invited to exhibit across the globe, but sadly have not been able to accept any invitations as yet, due to financial constraints.  One day I hope to be able to take up exciting chances to have my art displayed in an even bigger arena, although to be fair, the internet is a massive source of opportunity and motivation.  I truly hope it continues to be so as I flourish and revel in the knowledge that so many people across the world enjoy looking at my artwork. 

Producing art in itself is a creative performance and what is a performance without an audience?  We all need to feel that what we achieve is acknowledged and worthwhile, otherwise what would be the point?  To be content and satisfied with the results of one`s creative labours is one thing but to be recognised and appreciated is another thing entirely.  Creating or performing for oneself would never be enough for the any type of artist.  Michaelangelo did not  paint his masterpieces for himself alone, Miro and Kandinsky likewise. 

 Applause, applause, applause!! The artist`s bread and water; the blood running through their veins!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jsgcreations/galleries/in/

Abstract and colourful

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                                                         World on Fire

Sometimes putting a title to a piece of art, especially abstract art, can pose a few problems. Should I leave the viewer to decide how they perceive the image?  Will I spoil the picture by writing over it? etc.  I personally hate it if a title does not come to me immediately when the work is complete.  I suppose it`s because we, as artists, hope that our work speaks to us and if we cannot hear it immediately, maybe it has no obvious soul or personality of it`s own and therefore is not a sustainable piece of art?  Who knows?  All I know is that it grieves me not to have the artwork speak it`s name to me on completion. 

The red and the green colours used in "World on Fire" signified the earth to me.  This  perhaps was also due to the nature of the source photograph.  Obviously, I as the artist, decide on the colours used, and I simply love green/red combinations.  The red swirls within the core of the image, especially in the centre of the picture, could denote anger, fire or explosion.  I chose passion as I wanted to soften the overall image.  By adding text using an artistic font, I felt that I had achieved my objective.

 Cold Heart/Cruel Heart

I often use text in my work.  I feel it adds another dimension.  Some may say that adding text to a piece of art may persuade and lead the viewer along a visual path that they otherwise may not have chosen, without hinting that they should look at it from the artists` perspective, therefore viewing it with a open mind.  I suppose that is the risk one takes when choosing to add text.  I like to think that well-chosen and relevent text enhances and personalises the image in a positive way, and possibly details and describes the artists` depiction more clearly for the viewer. 

On completion of "Cold Heart, Cruel Heart", the bright turquoise represented coolness and icy temperatures against the grey of the main defining structure. There is no warmth in this piece.  The structure itself reminded me of heart valves and cavities in the body.  The imagery at the forefront demonstrated cracks or creases in dried leaves, symbolising hurt and pain.

 If used correctly, text and imagery can marry beautifully in art, indeed, typography is one of my favourite artistic styles.