Friday 17 January 2014

a wander through daydreams …..

My book is called 'daydreams' and I am not sure that I mentioned that in the last posting.  I have purposefully introduced many dreamlike elements which I think can represent the kind of dreams we have …. the embossings have been made to appear threadlike, twisted and entwined or more surreal and symbolic, sometimes very ordered and logical. I really like both the definitions below and hope a wander through my book would evoke just this kind of reverie.

Wikipedia defines daydreaming as ' a shot-termed detachment from one's immediate surroundings, during which a person's contact with reality is blurred and partially substituted by a visionary fantasy'.

The Oxford defines daydreams as 'a series of pleasant thoughts that distract one's attention from the present'.

One of the great joys of this collaboration with Fiona is that it pushes us in different directions and we grow from that and learn.  Oft times we pick up new techniques along the way which become part of our artistic arsenal or fabric, and other times we work with ideas for a while, find they don't sit well with us and so let them go.  The elements I use in this book are ones that I have used for many years, but bringing in the pencil details is a new thing for me and one I will explore a little further.  It gives me the opportunity to return from my origins in drawing, yet keeping the line work in the background still allows the mind to wander more freely around the page imagining dreams and stories for ourselves without them being prescribed.
























































35 comments:

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    1. Thanks for visiting my blog Sharon and for the comment :-)

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    1. Thanks for that praise Connie. Have really enjoyed the challenge of this book and then delighted with the way it finally came together.

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  3. Love the embossing, the layers of language upon language, of image on language and visa versa [sp?], this is just wonderful Susan.

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    1. Glad you had this sense of layering and language Liz. Thank you for the lovely comment.

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  4. This is a beautiful wander through your book Susan - I was spellbound on-line and at home when I had the pleasure of working my way thru it. You have captured the sense of 'daydreams' beautifully and as Liz says, the layering tells the story so well...

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    1. Thanks Fiona. Sometime both the photographic journey and the hand held journey are equally pleasurable! I am so pleased that the book held together in the form of 'daydreams'.

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  5. Love, love, love this book. Each element perfect.

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    1. Thank you Jo. It is a wonderful thing when people respond so positively to work one has done ... I love that you 'get' the book.

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  6. I can imagine myself getting lost in daydreaming my way through your pages, time and again. This is a true book as well as a wondrous piece of art.

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    1. I am so pleased to think that this book could lead you into daydreams Olga. Thank you.

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  7. Susan, I just had a really good look at your Daydreams and don't mind telling you that I'm sitting here with tears flowing. You've captured the act of daydreaming so accurately...and shared the dream with us as well. The feeling is there too - the joy and lightness of a really happy daydream. Oh heck! I need to find the tissues.

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    1. Gosh we are an emotional lot we artistic people! Fiona and I crying over our books and now you ...... I take it as a huge compliment. Always love having your comments Jennifer, find myself hoping there will be one from you each time I post as your words always give me a lift. Thank you x

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  8. Absolutely beautiful! I love all the little off-shoots.... embossed and on string.... just like day dreams. I'm feeling joy in this book.

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  9. Hello again Robyn, thank you for taking a wander through my book. You are right - there is joy here. I feel as if a fresh breeze has swept in and around my studio.

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  10. S - beautiful work; and such a privilege to view the meeting of the books. B

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    1. it was wonderful to have you share in that special moment Barry. Thanks.

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    1. Thanks Mary Ann - nice to have you visit my blog.

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  12. A magical book of wonderfully layered snippets which give me a sense of happy dream.

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    1. Thanks Jack. I like the idea of bringing some lighter qualities to my work and will be focussing on those this year. Magical ..... thank you for that comment.

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  13. This book is all so magical, I don't know how to choose a favourite image or page but I'm bowled over by the embossing ... wonderful!

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    1. I am so thrilled people are seeing the 'magic' in this book. thanks Charlton. I think maybe the symbols and free play of images tend to add to the dreamlike illusion of magic - but at the end of the day, I think what was magical was being able to bring this book into being when the starting points were so different and unrelated.

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  14. You combine so many elements created from embossing, etchings, collage, string, etc. into such a magical lovely book.

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  15. thanks Donna. there is a sense of play and lightness in this book which has been absent from my work for a while. Magic - I like hearing that people find that here .... My hope this year to create a body of much 'lighter' works which will be a change from always pursuing the deep mysteries! Even my palette is going to a bit lighter :-)

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  16. Daydreams is indeed a rich book...simply beautiful. I wish I could journey through the pages with my hands/fingers, though you did a wonderful job conveying its spirit through such a generous collection of photos. The impression I am left with is a lovely sense of movement...

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  17. Thanks Lisa. That is the thing with books ..... they are made jsut for that reason, the sense of touch and intimacy with the work, the ablilty to explore the work in depth, in hand. Though I love being able to visit other studios and peruse work happening in those wonderful spaces over the internet, it will never be able to take the place of actually having the piece of work there in front of you. Pleased you found a sense of movement in this work. Thank you.

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  18. I'll just sit here in silence and go through every image again. Have already done so more than once. Thanks for this great beauty, Susan. xx

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  19. Thanks Ersi - for your always beautiful comments x

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  20. Exquisite and inspiring. Thankyou for sharing your work, Susan. For your interest, I live in new Zealand! Isn't the internet great?! I'm a beginner printmaker and love to discover 'more refined' design, than 'in-yer-face' stuff! Some of the Australians I have seen on Pinterest do lovely stuff too. Ellen

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  21. lovely embossing work. so inspiring!

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I appreciate your comments - thank you!