interpretations

interpretation (noun): a stylistic representation of a creative work

we all know nature does the best creative work... breaking the rules or following them, nature's hand is sure and deft, the results cause us to sometimes catch our breath in awe and others to sit quietly in repose

not really trying to accomplish either with my work, more just a desire to try and fashion something that comes close visually whilst at the same time helps me gain an understanding of what has drawn me to notice a particular moment in place and time

what is it about a stark winter landscape that I love so much?

I believe I'm coming closer to understanding that now - it's something to do with the quietness of it

it's just rather all encompassing I think... quiet colours, quiet sounds, quiet shapes - a time of stillness in sound and growth

the world rests and I rest in it

the sliver of open water, a flash of turquoise softly surrounded by a gleaming white

texture on texture

not aiming for a direct translation - too much attachment to getting too many details right when learning on a landscape I love

instead, winter somewhere

a mountain, a few trees, snow and ice

a flash of water

click on the bottom image to get a better view of my attempts at granulating snow and ice where the water flows

this was my second attempt and it comes pretty close I think

I've learned a lot over the past week about tinted charcoal pencils and paint pans - it's not the easiest media to work with though my struggles were not helped by using hot pressed watercolour paper

nor were they helped by only having water brushes with me - not a fan of them either but thankfully I have  proper travel brushes so they will be going with me from now on

that's the thing though,  I try and keep trying, until I figure it out

there's more to learn but this has me feeling some hope that I can, and I will

progressing

I do love trying new things in my work and have several sketchbooks full of small samples to prove it

lately I've been pin-tucking fabric to create the look of cracked ice and the other day I finished the first sample of taking that idea further

the fabric pieces were sewn to paper, machine-stitched, and then much of the paper removed with water

white gesso was applied to both the front and back

I've placed it on a piece of watercolour painted blue to see if it had the effect of an icy river

pretty happy with it though I already have a plan for a different version

one thing truly does lead to another and I'm keen to make the next version

not for a bit though as I've travelled through the mountains to the wide prairie of Alberta

a landscape of lines...

lines of fencing

lines of trees

a line of clouds on the horizon

field lines

cut lines

ditch lines

I brought limited supplies, just  a few things to try small ideas

keep my hands busy in quiet moments

today I started this

a splash of water with tinted charcoal

a scrap of brown for wood

another of blue-grey line patterned Japanese tissue paper

and now some stitched wooden pilings - my intention is to stitch them all the way across and think about what comes next...

same song, different tune