My direction in art over the past 12 months has been shifting to a mode where I am getting to know my self better through connection with place. For me, that place is mangrove creeks and tidal zones. I have a strong history of family connections to coastal and tidal zones - my Dad was a keen fisherman and now that he has been gone for over 10 years, my memories of him are found amongst the mangroves.
I don't consider myself to be a writer, but I am using words to explore and discover more about the connection between myself and place.
My casuarina skeleton lies like a bridge
connecting creek water to eroded bank,
my strength devoured by the hunger of a full moon surge,
my roots parched and shriveled, straining
against the ash of salt-laden air
holding both my breath and reclamation.
- I will return to the earth one day
This work is a study of mangrove leaves found washed up on the high tide mark. I was amazed at the variety of colours, so I made a long concertina of watercolour paper, with watercolour, pen and pencil drawings. I also added a few words of poetry that I had written - the words flow between the leaves along the length of the book, a celebration of detritus and decay.
I have come to the conclusion that I have a bit of an obsession about mangroves. I'm drawn to tidal creeks, the sculptural form of prop roots, the tang of decaying leaves in the mud, the song of honeyeaters. Over the past 12 months, I've been doing a lot of writing about my relationship to mangroves, trying to figure it out, and as a consequence my arts practice has become increasing tied to my sense of self and mangroves in tidal creeks.
My next few blog posts will focus on how I have used words and creative play to explore my experience of these magical but often unappreciated places.
A forest of putrid ugliness.
you think it you say it
but I hear whispered pulses of the rising tide, soothing hands stroking the casuarina, a heron’s beak striking the fingerling, a lone mangrove seed falling, falling.
I do my best thinking on my bike or in my kayak, the notebook is always ready!
Cotton Tree leaves - my other obsession!
Cotton Tree leaf drawing - coloured pencil and white pen on toned paper
Work in Progress - using watercolour over the top of a rejected monoprint. I used myself-made colour chart to figure out what colour would sit best against the busy background.
I've developed a new habit - notetaking - when out and about walking, riding, or kayaking in local bushland and creek areas. It's a habit which I've developed since I've started exploring poetry and creative writing. My goal is to get impressions and words out of my head and down onto paper immediately when the thoughts come to me. I've found that I think deeper and more creatively when I'm in the environment. And I also forget to write things down I get back to the car or home.
I made a couple of simple pamphlet stitch notebooks using an old sketchbook and some reject prints. Even though I have lots of ready-made notebooks, its so nice to make your own. It's also the perfect size to fit into the palm of my hand.
At home, I transcribe my notes into word lists, which I then use as a source for writing my poetry. I've found that the notetaking is really helping me with my observation and attention skills when out in nature. And writing it down in-situ avoids any memory frustrations 😊
Here's some examples of poetic exercises in which I've used my notes from a recent kayak trip:
Syllabic Verse - Two Stanzas of alternating 7-5-7 syllables
Olive green water, opaque
ripples mirror my
boat drifting with the current.
Horizontal branches reach
out, filtering light,
soft shadows and reflections.
Syllabic Verse - One stanza of verse running 3 6 1 4 8 4 1 6 3 syllables
Bronze liquid,
rhythm of paddle strokes,
silt
clothed in shadows.
Mangrove honeyeater forest
ends suddenly,
storm
water outflow like a
waterfall.
So much inspiration amongst the mangroves - reflections, the smell of mud, honeyeaters, leaves.....
Paddling a kayak and writing in my notebook can be a challenge....but luckily my partner Craig is very patient and waits for me. He is already used to me taking photos and a few selfies!
My handmade notebook, also challenging to keep it dry when out on the water
Some of my notes....errrrr....scribbled observations!
How's your lockdown/stay-at-home time going? I'm continuing with my self-residency @ home daydream.....
Since I 'returned' from my virtual lithographic residency in the mountain rainforest (see last week's POST), I've been lurking around tidal zones amongst the mangroves and mud. It's a favourite place of mine, with lots of childhood memories associated with it.
We've been out on our kayaks a couple of times in the past week, luckily kayaking for fitness is allowed under the lockdown laws!
So this week at my self-residency @ home I decided to finish off a project. It was intended for an exhibition in June, but that has of course been postponed, but its time I resolved the artwork.
To get you in the mood and so you can fully appreciate my headspace in this week's residency project, here's a short video of me out on the water in my kayak. It might give you a feel of the moment I'm blissfully just floating along listening to the birds. If the video doesn't play via your email feed, you can view it directly on my BLOG or Instagram feed.
The work I completed this week is some 3D sculptures of mangrove seeds. I wanted to have larger-than-life seeds to hang on the wall, featuring monoprints using leaves from the tidal zones. The scultpures will sit alongside some other works on paper that I started in this blog HERE.
So my first step was to print lots of monoprints on lightweight papers, such as tissue and japanese kozo. Its great fun and freeing to randomly print without worrying about composition. I used my oil-based inks and my Xcut press for maximum colour and detail. Here are a few samples:
The next step was to make the mangrove seeds. I created wire and paper frameworks then covered them in a product called Paper Magiclay. Its a lovely soft flexible product that air dries. It was a fun process recreating my large seed models based on the shapes of actual seed pods. I inserted small loops of wire on the back so the seeds can seamlessly hang on the wall, like they're floating.
I then tore my prints into small pieces and glued them onto the paper seeds, in a paper mache-like style. I used a mixture of Yamanto japanese glue and PVA. I painted the seed tips with acrylic paint and I also printed using my gelatine plate over the top in sections to add some more detail. More is better!
In progress
The final step this week was to apply encaustic wax, to seal the work and give it a rich dimensional look. This is a 2 step process - applying liquid wax then fixing it with a heat gun. Drippy, messy fun!
I melt my wax in tins in a skillet filled with water, on a low heat
setting. I use unrefined beeswax that I source from farmers markets.
Applying heat to the wax melts it into the paper
and makes it transparent.
The end result is some interesting representations of the mangrove seed. I like the layers of prints using leaves from the tidal zones on top of the seed structure, as a kind of representation of the connection of the different elements from the tidal zone.
I'm happy with the completed works, hopefully they will get selected and exhibited when the galleries are open again. In the meantime, they'll hang on my wall, assuming I manage to find a spot amongst all the other artworks!
The finished works.
The longest one measures 64cm.
As an artist I get obsessed about things. My latest obsession (and distraction) are the seeds of the Red Mangroves. These can be found bobbing around our local mangrove creeks and in tidal flows.
My obsession really started during a recent kayaking trip to North Stradbroke Island. The waters there are clear with lots of marine animals, invertebrates and plants - a wealth of inspiration and interest to an artist like me.
The selfie stick comes in handy when kayaking ! I'm hoping that I don't drop my phone in the water as I take the photo....
Paddling up a beautiful little creek off Amity Point. Can you feel the serenity and peacefulness from the photo?
I love the prop roots of the Red Mangrove. So architectural! Perhaps my next obsession.....?
Just passing by a mangrove tree at high tide and spotted these little guys, difficult to photograph because they kept moving around the other side of the tree from me.
I jumped out of the kayak at a sandbank to photograph the beautiful mangrove seeds that have dropped from the trees. This one still has its 'cap' on.
Here is a bit of information about the Red Mangrove Seed -
Flowering occurs in winter, with the production of a single-seeded, brown, oval-shaped fleshy fruit during summer. Seeds germinate on the tree (vivipary), which results in the appearance of a long, green, rounded propagule (seedling) about 30 cm long. The propagule protrudes through the wall of the fruit to hang vertically beneath it. This buoyant germinated seed is the first stage of the root system. - Qld Govt, Department of Agriculture & Fisheries
Tidal detritus on the sandbank - a goldmine of inspiration and musing....
Back in the studio, playing with drawings of the seeds. I like the idea of oversized mangrove seeds on a full sheet of watercolour paper.
More play, this time with monoprint and watercolour. Didn't quite work but still lots of opportunities to work into it further. Playing is tough, persistence and keeping an open mind is key. Not everything works, but it helps to sort things out in my head.
More monotypes, now playing around with the idea of drawing. I've been obsessed with circles and mandalas lately, so these are popping up in my latest work as well.
Using drawings from my sketchbook as a reference, I'm working into my monotype print with a detailed pencil drawing. I'm using my magnifier to get into the detail. Very handy tool!
What better way to spend our Christmas break than kayaking amongst mangrove forests in our local creeks?
Here are a couple of short videos so you can share the quiet special moments I have on recent kayak trips. I use this time to get into the moment and think about my next artist book. As I kayaked through the mangroves I was thinking about the beauty of special places such as these so close to urban development. I'm so grateful that I'm able to see and enjoy these places, where life is based on tidal cycles, the moon and the seasons.
I enjoy getting out of the studio to enjoy some sunshine. I've recently done a couple of kayaking trips around our local waterways, providing precious time to mindfully observe the trees, wildlife and geography as well as listening to bird calls and the soothing sound of wind moving through the tree canopy.
These journeys might not directly result in the production of art as I'm not there to sketch or print, but they provide me with some headspace to enjoy and observe, and more importantly, to think. I love my thinking time, something unfortunately rare to achieve at home with all the usual day-to-day demands.
I think we all need some time like this to keep our art connected to what we're passionate about.
I love my selfie stick!
Here we are, our kayaks resting on a sandbank whilst we enjoyed morning tea. We're in Schulzs Canal - a man-made river and recreational haven. The amount of rubbish that Craig picked up at this spot is an indication of the Canal's popularity and location near urbanised areas.
Pied Oyster Catchers - one of my favourite shore birds. You almost always see them in pairs, I think its very romantic!
You can't help but admire the architecture of mangroves and coastal vegetation - a view that can only be appreciated by boat.
I enjoyed the rippled reflections on the outgoing tide, serenaded by the mangrove honeyeaters. Shame about the regular roar of planes taking off at the nearby airport!
We lost count of how many old tyres we saw in Jacksons Creek - we wondered how they all got there. Unfortunately too big and too many to strap to the kayaks!
Craig and I gliding up a tidal creek out of the wind. What a beautiful day for appreciating this small piece of natural area right next to the airport.
We spotted a pelican gliding past, such an amazing bird. As a young girl, I remember feeding them left over fish during family boating trips. I still haven't forgiven the one who nipped my finger with its long beak!
