TUESDAY, 23 JULY 2012
IDEAS
I KEEP MENTIONING THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IDEAS, BUT SOMETHING OR OTHER KEEPS GETTING IN THE WAY AND IT GETS POSTPONED. MY INTENT IS TO HAVE IDEAS AS A REGULAR COLUMN. A LARGE AMOUNT OF SURFACE DECORATION IN MY OWN WORK NORMALLY COMES DIRECTLY FROM NATURE OR OUR LARGE GARDEN THAT I DESIGNED TO GIVE ME A CONSTANT SOURCE OF IDEAS.
IT ALWAYS AMAZES ME HOW MANY PEOPLE TREK THROUGH OUR EXTENSIVE GARDEN, THEN COME INTO OUR GALLERY AND ASK "WHERE DO I GET MY IDEAS FROM". I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS OBVIOUS! SOME OF THE PLANTS GROW SO TALL THAT I WOULDN'T THINK YOU COULD POSSIBLY MISS THEM. SIMPLIFIED OR ABSTRACTED BRUSH DRAWINGS DIRECT FROM THE GARDEN PAINTED ON NEWLY AVAILABLE PORCELAIN CANVAS SUBSTRATES ARE MY FAVORITE. I THEN DECIDE WHAT AND HOW TO INTERPRET AND WHAT PROCESS, GLAZE, KILN TYPE AND FIRING TEMPERATURE IS GOING TO GIVE ME THE MOST SATISFACTION. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO A RECENT LOSING BATTLE WITH A TROPICAL BACTERIA AND SUBSEQUENT TREMORS, I HAVE LOST MUCH HAND CONTROL FOR DOING FINE BRUSHWORK. I AM HOPEFUL THAT THIS CAN BE RECTIFIED.
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HERACLEUM mantegazzianum
IDEAS
I KEEP MENTIONING THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT IDEAS, BUT SOMETHING OR OTHER KEEPS GETTING IN THE WAY AND IT GETS POSTPONED. MY INTENT IS TO HAVE IDEAS AS A REGULAR COLUMN. A LARGE AMOUNT OF SURFACE DECORATION IN MY OWN WORK NORMALLY COMES DIRECTLY FROM NATURE OR OUR LARGE GARDEN THAT I DESIGNED TO GIVE ME A CONSTANT SOURCE OF IDEAS.
IT ALWAYS AMAZES ME HOW MANY PEOPLE TREK THROUGH OUR EXTENSIVE GARDEN, THEN COME INTO OUR GALLERY AND ASK "WHERE DO I GET MY IDEAS FROM". I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT WAS OBVIOUS! SOME OF THE PLANTS GROW SO TALL THAT I WOULDN'T THINK YOU COULD POSSIBLY MISS THEM. SIMPLIFIED OR ABSTRACTED BRUSH DRAWINGS DIRECT FROM THE GARDEN PAINTED ON NEWLY AVAILABLE PORCELAIN CANVAS SUBSTRATES ARE MY FAVORITE. I THEN DECIDE WHAT AND HOW TO INTERPRET AND WHAT PROCESS, GLAZE, KILN TYPE AND FIRING TEMPERATURE IS GOING TO GIVE ME THE MOST SATISFACTION. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO A RECENT LOSING BATTLE WITH A TROPICAL BACTERIA AND SUBSEQUENT TREMORS, I HAVE LOST MUCH HAND CONTROL FOR DOING FINE BRUSHWORK. I AM HOPEFUL THAT THIS CAN BE RECTIFIED.
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HERACLEUM mantegazzianum
INTERESTING HOW TIMES CHANGE IN THE WORLD OF HORTICULTURE. FIFTY YEARS AGO, THIS MAGNIFICENT PLANT WAS BEING TOUTED AS ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE STATUESQUE PLANTS FOR LARGER GARDENS THAT NEEDED SOME "OOMPH" IN THE LANDSCAPE. THIS ONE TOPS OUT AT BETWEEN TWELVE AND FOURTEEN FEET IN HEIGHT. BEAUTIFUL THOUGH IT IS, IT IS NOW REGARDED AS A PARIAH, AND IS BEING RIPPED OUT AND BURNED WHEREVER IT SHOWS ITS GORGEOUS FACE. ITS PRIMARY SIN IS HAVING A TOXIC SAP THAT CAN BURN SENSITIVE SKIN LEAVING RASHES AND BLISTERS. ITS SECONDARY SIN IS THAT IT PRODUCES THOUSANDS OF FERTILE SEEDS, ENOUGH TO COVER THE PLANET EARTH IN A FAIRLY SHORT TIME. ITS COMMON NAMES ARE GIANT HOGWEED, GIANT QUEEN ANNE'S LACE, WILD PARSNIP, CARTWHEEL FLOWER, WILD RHUBARB OR GIANT COW PARSLEY. WE ALWAYS CUT IT BACK TO GROUND LEVEL AND BURN IT BEFORE IT CAN GO TO SEED.
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SOME PLANTS ARE JUST MADE WITH DESIGNERS IN MIND |
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| Brush Drawing |
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| Simple Brush Drawing abstracted from photographic image |
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| Giant Hogweed Leaf |
TEAZLE
ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL THUG IS THE THISTLE TYPE PLANT CALLED THE TEAZLE.
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| TEAZLE |
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| SIMPLIFIED BRUSH DRAWING OF TEAZLE |
TEAZLES, AND MANY OTHER PLANTS OF THE THISTLE FAMILY, OFFER BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR BRUSHWORK DESIGNS. THE MORE YOU LOOK INTO NATURE, THE MORE LIKELY YOU ARE TO FINDA WEALTH OF GREAT IDEAS FOR POTTERY DECORATION.
THE RACCOON OUTSIDE MY OFFICE WINDOW DIDN'T STAY AROUND LONG ENOUGH FOR A DRAWN PORTRAIT BUT I DID MANAGE A SLIGHTLY BLURRED PHOTO.
CUTE LITTLE THUG, EH!
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| ANOTHER THUG IN THE GARDEN CHECKING ME OUT THROUGH MY OFFICE WINDOW! |
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IN MY OPINION, DEVELOPING DRAWING SKILLS IS THE VERY BEST FOUNDATION TO ENCOURAGE IDEA DEVELOPMENT. ALWAYS CARRY A SKETCHBOOK TO JOT DOWN DRAWINGS AND FORMATIVE IDEAS FOR FUTURE EXPLORATION. IF YOU ARE PRONE TO INSOMNIA, KEEP A SKETCHBOOK ON YOUR BEDSIDE TABLE. IDEAS OFTEN PRESENT THEMSELVES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND ARE GONE IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU WAKE UP, NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN! DON'T ATTEMPT FRAMEABLE DRAWINGS, YOU ARE JUST CATCHING WORKING CONCEPTS FOR INTERPRETATION LATER. THERE IS A VAST RANGE OF DECORATION METHODS. TEST SOME OF THEM OUT TO EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS. REMEMBER, YOU CAN ONLY CREATE TRULY ORIGINAL WORK THROUGH FOLLOWING YOUR
OWN DIRECTION.
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I'M PLANNING TO TRY AND KEEP TO ONE BLOG POSTING PER WEEK AS LONG AS I CAN MANAGE IT WITH MY CURRENT HEALTH ISSUES AND HAVE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS TO SHARE.
REST AND RELAXATION DON'T SEEM TO HAVE HAD MUCH EFFECT AS YET. MEDITATION SEEMS TO BE IMPROVING THE SITUATION SLIGHTLY. I HAVE MANY OTHER MEDICAL TESTS LINED UP OVER THE NEXT MONTH. I'M HOPEFUL THAT SOMETHING WILL WORK SOON.
POSTINGS WILL MOST LIKELY BE MADE ON TUESDAY MORNINGS. COMMENTS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
SEE YOU AGAIN SOON. RH
Lovely photos, and good advice (as always). Thanks. Barb at Alchemy of Clay
ReplyDeletePS, this is my last comment, cause I plan to stop commenting wherever word identification is required.
Hi Barbara,
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that you don't like words that you have to look up. What was it? If it is a descriptive botanical Latin plant name there is not much I can do. I did give the common names. I value your comments and hope you will reconsider.
I try to be clear, informative and accurate. Robin
Robin,
ReplyDeleteWe share the same kind of inspiration! I don't have your lovely garden but plants and sea life insprire me tremendously to either carve the face of leather hard clay or to draw/paint with shellac to create relief. I have always kept a drawing journal nearby and yes it is very helpful to capture stray images that wind their way through my mind.
My kiln is not cooperating, it blew the power to my entire house last night and it will be next week before my handyman electrician (qualified buider) is back to help me. I will probably have to refire an entire kiln load since it only got to 2026 F still quite a distance to cone 6 (2250F). I am going to try to find a local potter to fire with...
Take good care of yourself, you inspire so many of us!
Nadine
My first thought was, "Why is he showing us pictures of Queen Anne's Lace?" Then I read the text. Twelve to fourteen feet? Wow! That is a big garden!
ReplyDeleteIt still surprises me that there are styles in plants that come and go. I fear a lot of our forebears did not give a lot of thought to environmental impact. Purple loosestrife is a major problem in this area. I have been told that yellow and blue flag are being banned in some areas and speak to me not of gypsy moths. None of this was done out of malevolence just ignorance.
When asked where I get my ideas i generally say that I just look around me. My other answer is that I leave milk and cookies on the door steps at night and in the morning the tomte leaves me a stack of ideas.
I have a use for the posting capchas. I use them for my passwords. I just have to keep the list cached. Some of the 'words' cry for definitions....what is sumflin?
Sorry to hear R&R is not working. I do hope you will find a solution to the problem. Pain is such a pain!
P.S. Did you know that teazles were an important part of the wool weaving industry? They were used to raise the nap on woven goods. Their metal replacements are still called teazles. Ah the bits of esoterica that float to the surface of the mind.
ReplyDeleteHi Dad,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post with your beautiful photos and your description of how these gorgeous plants find their way into your artwork. Wonderful to see! The little visitor was adorable as well. We are at the cottage so I am enjoying easy internet access (ironic really!) ... I liked your garden shirt for MISSA too. Keep taking care of yourself!
Love Sarah
HI Sir Hopper;
ReplyDeleteThe Giant Queen Anne's Lace has been one of my favorite plants in your garden. There are many, many others. It reminds me of Alice in Wonderland. I loved the black and white's of it, plus your drawings. For many people, I believe it helps them to see the natural plant, the abstract of it, and then your interpretation. I believe it may help guide people to really look at their world, consider the things that they come into contact with, and then use the information in their work. Thank you. Hugs to you. C
HI C,
DeleteMANY THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I'M TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPING IDEAS THROUGH THE AVENUE OF OBSERVATION, DRAWING, INTERPRETATION AND IMAGINATION, A TYPICAL LINEAGE IN YEARS GONE BY. IT IS SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT WITH NO PERSONAL INTERACTION, AND TOOLS THAT ARE ABOUT AS SENSITIVE AS A BRICK TIED TO A PIECE OF STRING! DRAWING IS THE BASIS OF ALL GRAPHIC THOUGHT. WITHOUT STRUCTURE, ALL IS AMORPHOUS. RH
Lots of Good information in your post, I favorited your blog post so I can visit again in the future, Thanks.
ReplyDeleteSo enjoyed this post as it reminded me to get back to my sketchbook. I somehow have gotten away from carrying it around with me and it boggles my mind to think how many inspirational opportunities I've missed. What wonderful garden inspirations you have. Queen Anne's Lace is a favorite of mine and I can't imagine how striking it must be to see something similar in gigantic size. Lovely form that teazle is, too. Thank you for sharing your interpretations with us!
ReplyDelete