My Wampum, An Artist’s Story
I had an unexpected, life changing experience at the end of 2023.
It kindof was that dramatic😊
I wasn’t planning it, but moving with intuition, I began to write in my visual language.
And it was so good. To see, to hear, to share with others.
I want to share more of it here, yes ~ but not all right now ~ I have a bigger plan that I want to share with you as this unfolds.
The discussion is wide and deep ~ and I don’t want to struggle ~ so I am going to break down the story into bite sized pieces.
I first noticed language in my art, when I painted my largest canvas
This piece of garden delight and joie de vivre is approximately 8′ x 4′ and is one of my early large florals, 2022. It was here that I started to see my visual language, just a glimpse, but I knew at the time that it was language. And I found a song on IG that was perfect to pair with it ~ the art, the music, it all comes together as an expression from deep in my spirit ~ so deep that I don’t know it’s there until I see it for myself.
Along my way as an emerging artist, I came across a fellow artist on IG who stopped me in my tracks. Her name is Tracy Hayes.
I’ve heard stories from other artists about their life changing experiences with art ~ this is one of those for me. Whenever I saw Tracy’s scrolls for the first time, I think I cried ~ I remember trembling.
I didn’t understand what she was doing or why ~ (and I don’t now probably) but her scrolls fascinated my budding artist brain.
It wasn’t until I recognized MY language, that I understood what called me to her scrolls of 2021/2022…. and what Tracy might have been doing. See more of Tracy’s work in a recent show at See Saw Art in Manchester NH here: https://seesaw.gallery/product/obliteration-scroll-25-by-tracy-hayes/
Please find time to go see her work, if you feel called to pursue this idea further. As well, See Saw Gallery has one of the finest curators in our area ~ I’m sure you will enjoy any of Amy’s shows.
I had 7″ & some time
At the end of 2023, I decided to take a break ~ to paint just for painting’s sake, and for the pleasure of renewal. We were entering peak season in the world of art sales, and I wanted no part of the race.
I learned from my first 2 years, that jumping on that train of pumping sales was NOT how I wanted to experience the winter holidays season.
So I started painting with a scrap piece of canvas that was left over from one of my large rolls ~ it was 7″ wide, and I don’t know how long. Very long.
This scroll of MINE👉 sparked something (not words) that I recognized.
I could begin to feel what Tracy might have been conveying. It was exciting to me! …to be on the threshold of something big, not knowing what it was, but trusting that I needed to explore this further.
A very special piece.
This was the tip of the iceberg for me. I had no idea until then, that scroll work was in my immediate future.
I bought a roll of multi media paper 24 feet x 42″ and 30 – 22×28″ double sided Blick deluxe poster boards.
I didn’t have a destination other than to learn.
What I learned is immeasurable, and the quantity of art I created was great.
I’ll be sharing photos, and much more of this study, which I titled, Expressions, The Series.
Bookmark this site ~ I’d love to have you back, I welcome you to join my experience as it is shared.
You don’t want to miss how this story of MY WAMPUM unfolds.
peace, friends!
Shake it out!
It’s fun to see the energy I had at the very beginning of this study ~ free to scribble, no idea what I was embarking on…. just free, free, free!!
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An Artist’s Wampum Story part 2 - Marie Florence Designs
says:[…] I left off in my story… In Part 1, I shared how I felt connected to scroll work through witness of another artist’s work. And […]