Friday 15 February 2013

starry starry night complete .....

Ah - collaboration is so sweet.  Many of you who comment upon this collaboration between Fiona and me say how lucky we are to be able to work with someone else in this way.  I am constantly reminded of this as we tackle each new collaborative idea. Each time we have worked on a joint project, new challenges have been brought to light, and even though we are far more relaxed about working together these challenges keep appearing, and ultimately resolve.  These are never concerns about working with each other - that is a continual delight and seamless experience, the concern is always about working into the others' book.  Bending it, nudging it ..... sometimes even dragging it in a new direction.

For me, Fiona's part in this book was far more gentle but in her unique way she was able to tighten my work, add depth and specificity to my imagery and generally add that little bit of magic that her work always brings.

My book is large - about 380mm square on the covers.  Inside however, the pages are not all the same in height or width.  I have left my book very soft - no hard covers and in fact these photographs have been taken before the book has been sewn together.  I know once our books meet next week there will be no time for me to post, so I am sneaking in the draft now.

I began with paper I had manipulated with rust and as such there was imagery of a sort all over my pages - both fronts and back.  I have actually extended my images right across both open pages in an attempt to show the immensity of our skies.  Being such a dark book, it is rather difficult to photograph and I found that by 'reading' it under lamplight, the images reflect the starlight as I intended.  Hence this is a book to read under light or it is rather dull ....


the cover

first page - immense skies above mountains
constellation Cetus (courtesy Fiona)

detail - mountain range drawn in graphite across all pages
back of page one - leads into this second page below

second page - Perseus

detail of page one and two

back of page two and the transparent page three

page four has transparent pages either side of it

detail of page three and four

constellation Pavo - courtesy Fiona

here you can see many of Fiona's details on my pages
this is page five - Eridanus - written and drawn by Fiona on my transparent page
the marks on the right Are Fiona's and they are reiterated on other pages
I love that you can see page six below.



page six - Crux
our Southern Cross - little metal parts added by Fiona on my image

This image of mine spreads across two full pages -
 the lefthand side much larger than the right.
Fiona wasn't going to touch this image but has added Pices.


this image with pages spread is to show the warmth the lamp brings to the pages (on the right) when read under light.


I must add here that Fiona did her research and printed out copies of the night sky from the Sydney Observatory Sky Map in January 2013 - thus the positioning of the constellations on each image is specific to when this book commenced.

This 'art blog' of mine will change direction a little over the next few weeks into a 'travel blog'.  I will keep in touch with all you are working on while I travel about soaking up new visual information and experience and will come home inspired.  Again.  This time though I will make certain I make time to explore some of the ideas I bring home in my visual bag

Take care till then .....


And because I have now completed the book here are a few images of it complete.




























I have tried to remove a few of these images but everything then disappears - don't have time to sit and work out why!






19 comments:

  1. What a beautiful book! I think the mark of a good collaboration is that without description we can't tell who was responsible for what. You two have worked beautifully together.

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    1. Thank you Kathleen. I agree that we work well together even though we work so differently apart. We were so lucky to find our work, our strengths of style, overlay or lay beside each other so easily and harmoniously.

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  2. A book I want to hold and travel in! Beautiful....

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    1. I am glad you sensed that Valerie - this book does draw you in and make you feel that you are floating with the stars through the universe ..... Fiona felt the same.

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  3. I love how you finished it Susan - and that I left you enough breathing space to do so! The graphite rubbed across like the Milky Way made me feel as if I was floating in the sky, and the hinted outlines of mountains below - just perfect. It is a special book and I am proud to be a part of it.

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    1. I love that you left me room too F - and yet I so took over your whole page and look what you did with your book then! Sublime. Strange isn't it, that though we each work eachothers' book, we don't swamp it. I like to think we bring the best out in each other .....
      Am very glad you felt you could float in my sky ...

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  4. Those deep sighs you hear...those are me, sitting over here and wishing so badly to be over there to see your books in person. One day...

    With each collaboration, I have been swept off my feet by the artistry and creativity that you and Fiona have and that goes into the work. Such thought and care. Argh! I'd best stop before I just start gushing.

    Have a wonderful trip!

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    1. I can hear them over here Jennifer. Thank you. Wouldn't teleporting be amazing then we could all drop in on each other so easily. I think Fiona and I get pretty much swept up too with this collaboration - always nudging the other and opening other possibilities.
      We leave Tuesday morning so are beginning now to get excited ... looking forward to being at the airport and then knowing there is nothing else that can be done until we arrive home.

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  5. I have to agree with Kathleen. It is a wonder how seamless the collaboration between you and Fiona appears in this beautiful book. I imagine the two of you looking up into the January night sky and pointing out the constellations to one another.

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    1. I had to smile with your last comment Julie. It sounds as though Fiona and I are a loving couple watching stars together at night!! when in reality, we are both home bodies and just love to curl up in the evenings with our men. I rarely see Fiona at night unless we are at a meeting ;-)
      That being said, I will make a point of spending a starry night with F getting her to point out those constellations she drew into my book .... what fun will that be!

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  6. This is gorgeous Susan, and a powerful work to see today as meteors and astroids swirl about. Gorgeous work, love how you and Fiona work together.

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    1. Thank you for that lovely comment Liz. It was a grand time to post on our Starry Starry night wasn't it - I will try to remember the asteroid activity that was around when I made this book.
      We head off in two days and are really looking forward to the time away. Will come home fresh with many news ideas and inspirations I am sure.

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  7. Forgot to say happy Holidays! have a great time!

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  8. Your book looks wonderful Susan. Have a great trip.

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    1. Thanks Helen. Am sure the trip will be fun. Very excited about the time in Spain where I have never been before (and Morocco and my favourite France) and will remember your message for Ersi.

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  9. Hi S - so glad you got to finish you work before heading off - must say I always admire your ability to take up the challenge to do such larger pieces and for them to work so well. As I have said before I admire the true collaboration you and F do - trust in each others work and trust that it will, and always does, end in such fine pieces. B

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    1. I think you are in the unique position of watching that challenge that presents itself to the two of us each time we begin a collaboration..... Strange that we can have the fear (trepidation really) and the trust simultaneously. I think these two books are my favourites thus far ....

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  10. susan, this book looks like it has quiet presence. i love the subtlety.

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  11. It turned out beautifully... I find it especially amazing that, despite the fairly monochromatic color scheme, how wonderfully detailed and textured the pages appear. The effect is magical, ethereal, and definitely reminiscent of a starry starry night.
    Happy travels and inspiration-finding!

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I appreciate your comments - thank you!