Value and Integration

I was thinking that perhaps the deepest goal of many mixed media artists is the synthesis of acquired artistic information.  That, and uncovering layers of the self in order to truly know it and express it.  My own personal learning ethic is to acquire as much information as possible, then integrate it.  From this, an original knowledge set is born, and a personal style, as well.  My joy is in expressing the mix to uncover the layers.  

It's a very "liberal artsy" outlook and one that I hold dear.  It requires continuing education in a lot of arenas.  Both inside and outside the comfort zone, and sometimes conflicting in purpose, style and opinion.   Art is born from the resolution of the problems that occur in the conflict.  Artists are problem solvers.  

The pic above is the front cover of one of the books I'll be using in Juliana Coles Field Notes class.  This one is hand made and the basic style for this book is currently being taught by  Kelly Kilmer in her Memories and Reflections class.  My tweaks to this book include the hand painted canvas cover and the arrangement of it's innards.  The spine is stippled black acrylic paint over a highly detailed plastic doily, courtesy of my friend Jo who is an antique dealer.  The first time I used plastic doilies as stencils was in one of Kelly's classes, and I fell in love with stippling.  Not so much the spray or misted paints though.  I like the more precise control that comes with paint on brush or sponge.

I've devised three distinct sections to the inside of this book, and have left a generous amount of expansion room in the spine for the advent of additional material.  The center is a single sewn signature of various lightweight drawing papers.  On either side of the signature are accordion folds of heavier weight paper: drawing paper on one side and watercolor on the other.    

You can see that there are an impressive number of pages to be worked, all of which can be folded or unfolded into two-page spreads. The tie is braided from three lengths of black silk ribbon.  The brass heart has a "made in Sweden" stamp and was included in a grab bag of assorted pieces and findings. 

Along with the traditional art curriculum, I learned basic bookbinding skills in college.  But I'll never pass up the opportunity to add to the repertoire.  The final product always arises out of the conflict of what to keep and what to discard of each piece of gleaned information.  I never tire or feel a glut of information.  I've discovered that there's a file folder for everything in an artist's brain, with an infinite capacity to hold more, synthesize more and integrate everything.  

Now to fill it up.  The book and it's papers are precious only as a means of storing the information they will hold, which in turn will not be precious as artwork, but infinitely valuable as a reflection of the artist's heart and soul.

Comments

[Lay Hoon]

Beautiful book !!
I'm same class with you too :)

[sharon]

oh, barbara! what a lovely book! and those folded pages are fabulous!

i am more than ever convinced that we are twins. i have been lately pondering a book with just that arrangement of papers on the inside. and wha-la! you've made one! ;}

" The final product always arises out of the conflict of what to keep and what to discard of each piece of gleaned information." a profound truism. i love your way with words...

excellent post, as always!

[Anja]

Absolutly amazing book.
Hugs Anja

[lottie]

What a fabulous book - I am a total beginner and would one day love to achieve what you have here - just joined the course you are on - it's awesome.

[Rosie]

Awesome book - so very Barbara!! Thank you for the nudges to take a Kelly class... My experiences and blogging about the fun I'm having has already inspired Lottie to join in (as you saw!!). Now, she's someone I'd never have come into contact with had it not been for my prolific bloggery! Who knew?
I love your cover - beautiful tones and I also have a plastic doily... I am truly finding much enjoyment in play - all I have time for really!!
Now to cook after a hard day on my feet! xoxoxo

[Rosie]

This is going to look absolutely fabulous hunni! Can't wait to see what happens when you're working it... assuming you'll post some pages, of course!

I hope all is well in your uber-artsy family life and that the kids are sorted for the coming season, career-wise? Mine is yet again moving schools, in an effort to complete her basic education. Then we are on the move again around May/June next year. I have had enough of rural life and long for a bit of culture, other than the biological varieties!! *grins*

I feel sure you get that! xoxoxo

[Susie LaFond]

Awesome journal and design!!!!