birthing twins .....

way too many photos - I have already removed ten from this post

I took ten times as many as this  .......

'ode to fallen angels' 

became two books....

details and fragments

very difficult books to birth 

but I am happy with them.

e x 13 complete

Sometimes projects take on their own momentum .... this was one of them.  When the idea was conceived I think I had quite different ideas in mind for what each envelope could/would contain.  I wrote none of this down which was remiss and I could recall none of those ideas when I tried. 

As the time came close for completion, I decided I just had to start the work and let come what may.  As I began gathering bits and pieces around the studio, papers, small copper etching plates, embossings and so forth a storyline began to emerge and once I was into the first few envelopes, the creative energy just seemed to take over.  In the end the thoughts all came rather quickly and spontaneously.

I think I will title my project  'Searching'  - a very loose title which I think encapsulates the random thoughts I had along the way, mapping part of that search knowing inside that in fact I need no longer look.  That I belong just where I am.

the thirteen envelopes

first - etching seen in last post

second - etchings, writing drawings

second - envelope and internal details

third envelope - etching, embossing and markmaking

fourth envelope - etching, embossing and marks

fifth envelope - etching, embossing and marks

details of envelope six  - embossings on leather, stained and marked papers

luminous graphite markings

seventh - etching on rusted paper, scratchings on envelope

envelope eight - leather embossing and rusted detail with marks

envelope nine - sewn together, suggestions of something inbetween layers

detail of envelope nine

envelope ten - sewn envelope, embossing and etching, markmaking

detail of envelope ten 

envelope eleven is a bound folio - thread supplied by generous Jennifer

envelope eleven - embossings on sublime fine paper, and etchings, marks

more details of envelope eleven

eleven - details

envelope twelve - etching, drawings, marks and scratchings on transparent paper

details of envelope twelve

details - envelope twelve

the twelfth  envelope has two etchings on its flap

thirteenth envelope - etchings on envelope and one page, staining, marks and writing drawings

details of envelope seven - (the search is over)

I smile often when I look back over the collaborative work Fiona and I have made in the latter part of this year.  I think I like it as much as any of the work I have ever done.  I am not sure why that is but I suggest it is something to do with such a lovely energy between us, the encouragement we give each other and the profound respect and liking we have for each other's work. It is more than this I am sure .... Fiona brings out the quieter side of my creativity I think, or at least the timing of this collaboration with the fact that I am in a happy place in my life, seems to make my work my thoughtful and quieter.

I count myself fortunate indeed :-)

e x 13 .....

Thirteen Envelopes - which is the title of this collaborative project until we find its name.  At last I have begun to think about how to fill, create, rationalise this project.  Actually to be quite honest, I have just started into the work and have decided the rationalisation will have to come later.  I could not find a story line or thread to bind the ideas together so leapt in head first and started printing and embossing and will see where this leads.  Then I will think of the story line!  Certainly not the best way to work but I claim artistic licence to forge ahead blindly .....

The work seems a little like rehashing ideas that I have had already but I realised that in Fiona's and my collaborative work, these ideas have not yet been used.  Our play date was yesterday but we decided to work in our own studios as neither of us at that point had any idea what to bundle together to take to the other's studio.  We both felt we needed all our 'stuff' around us - to grab and inspire.

Yesterday afternoon we spent an hour together for show and tell, and in the actual showing to Fiona I realised that a story line in my work was starting to take shape.  Fiona has begun with a story and her work is coming along beautifully.  I decided not to take photographs of hers knowing that I would post only on her images and not include mine.  She can show hers off.

I must add, that it was a real shot in the arm just to get together and chat about the work.  How lucky are we to have this happy collaboration.  Sometimes when working always alone, I find it difficult to move onto the next thought.  Not quite true - I seem to have a thousand thoughts, but sometimes I just seem frozen.

some of the materials I am working with

the introduction of some etching marks

leather and paper embossing

more small etchings

beautiful small sheets of soft paper - delicious for embossing

gorgeous brown deckled paper bought years ago

this envelope story almost resolved

my favourite so far - you can't quite see my scratching marks on the transparent envelope

This project will be complete during the following week and Fiona and I will get the 'books' together.  There was a quote on an artist's blog, one who had been to see the exhibition in Brisbane a week ago, saying that my 'standing stories' pushed the boundaries of bookmaking.  I rather think that calling our collection of envelopes pushes those boundaries too but am reminded that a book, essentially, tells a story.  And as such in my mind, anything then that tells a story can be called a book.  When Fiona and I visited the 'Cover To Cover' exhibition a month ago, the curator had written 

                                              BOOKS ARE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE IMAGINED.