Further experimentation – Variations of surface intensity

Spiral-testFrom the core, an eruption of significant emotional magnitude penetrates the outer shell.

The outpouring is chaotic yet strangely structured, but always hard to predict.

The waves of internal detritus and debris are powerful and all consuming.

Those close enough to witness this explosion are never unaffected.

All ground beneath us shifts, cracks and dissolves the solidity that holds one upright.

The vibrations are felt for hours afterwards, slowly but surely their magnitude dissipates until, eventually, all is still.

This stillness, an uncomfortable calm, both quiet and loud in its silence.

Eventually a soft noise breaks into one’s consciousness, like a chink of light cutting through the rock that veils the valley floor, illuminating our path.

The reality of one’s very existence? Perhaps the way forward?

Burnt-test

Devil’s bit scabious

Ok, so experimentation continues apace. You just never know where the journey will take you, I mean, who knew I would be dabbling with a film approach?

Not sure where this is going at the moment, if anywhere, but I am really mesmerized by this at the moment. Just need to sit back and question what it is that captures me?

Take a look (note…this is a slow reveal!).

Devil’s bit scabious from Howeunique on Vimeo.

Serendipity

Serendipity has for some time been my favourite word. I have, for the last couple of years, based my process around the delights that serendipity can bring. So, how wonderful when exploring a new theme for some work…that these have caught my attention… Of course, what this now means is my mind is wandering along an altogether new path and i am very much enjoying the journey 🙂

cut flowers Jo Howe Book sculpture experimentation
Cut Flowers
cut flowers Jo Howe Book sculpture experimentation
Cut Flowers
cut flowers Jo Howe Book sculpture experimentation
Cut Flowers
cut flowers Jo Howe Book sculpture experimentation
Cut Flowers

 

Time passing…

Gosh, hasn’t it been a while! Finally got a window to catch up on blogs, chats and other delicious activities that we tend to sideline a little when the pressures on.

Ok, so I have managed to shoehorn a few working days in the studio, resulting in playful activity and generally trying to remember what old books feel like. So here we are, a couple of examples of those playful days… looking forward to getting back down to some more intensive studio activity… so many ideas bubbling, so little time!

Kusudama-Flower Jo Howe Book Sculpture
Kusudama-Flower
Kusudama-Flow Jo Howe Book Sculpture
Kusudama-Flow
Kusudama-Ball Jo Howe Book Sculptures
Kusudama-Ball
Kusudama-Tower Jo Howe Book Sculpture
Kusudama-Tower

 

Stirring the pot… waking the creative.

Ok, so as I am sure most if not all artists have a period of ‘stuckness’, this one has attached itself… viscous and difficult to dissolve.

I have ideas.

I even have experiments on the go, yet that familiar shroud of disengagement clouds my sight. So what do I do to move forward, lift the obstructive veil… I delve into automatic writing processes and doodling. Where this goes and what this does in terms of moving me on, I am unsure. What I do know is that it does loosen and distract, sometimes for hours ( the guilt of this weighs heavily into the dilemma).

So here are a couple of the latest distractions… to muse or perhaps amuse, but there is something significant about acknowledging this as ‘all part of the process’ by posting here… I think?

sketchbook01 doodling away the glue, Jo Howe, the process of being an Artist

sketchbook03 doodling away the glue, Jo Howe, the process of being an Artist

sketchbook02 doodling away the glue, Jo Howe, the process of being an Artist

New Work

Ok, so another couple of new work additions… one sold already (that’s got to be a record for me!). It made me think quite a bit about how I remain connected to my work and that it is intrinsically part of who I am. My knee jerk reaction to someone wanting to purchase it was ‘oh, but I haven’t had long enough to sit with this and reflect.’ I realise that it doesn’t necessarily have to be with me for that to happen… a strange emotion all the same… Made me smile (that and some cold hard cash in my hand!).

Three Great Rules Jo Howe Book Sculptures
Three Great Rules
Three Great Rules detail Jo Howe Book Sculptures
Three Great Rules detail
Three Great Rules detail Jo Howe Book Sculptures
Three Great Rules detail
Arrrghhh!-2012 Jo Howe Book Sculptures
Arrrghhh!-2012
Arrrghhh!-2012-detail Jo Howe Book Sculpture
Arrrghhh!-2012-detail

New work – Commissioned piece

Not my usual approach but the work is a response to a very special family occasion. I really enjoyed this diversion from my normal practice and as always, found new things to learn and new problems to solve… Experimentation is a wonderful methodology!

Butterfly Illustrated 2012 - Jo Howe, Book Sculpture
Butterfly Illustrated (Diamond delight) 2012
Butterfly Illustrated 2012 - Jo Howe Book Sculpture
Butterfly Illustrated (Diamond delight) 2012
Butterfly Illustrated 2012 - Jo Howe Book Sculpture
Butterfly Illustrated (Diamond delight) 2012 – Detail
Butterfly Illustrated 2012 - Jo Howe Book Sculpture
Butterfly Illustrated (Diamond delight) 2012 – Detail

New work – ‘A Sense of Self’

Ok, so I’ve been busy working with some amazing staff and pupils at a local special educational needs school exploring our ‘sense of self’? Really has been quite a journey which will culminate in a group show of pupils, staff and about 14 professional artists entitled ‘A sense of self’. I’m really looking forward to the show, a celebration of creative expression and diversity.

So here is a new work that I am submitting. It really has been interesting… when all my work essentially stems from personal experiences to focusing on oneself specifically, the dynamics of my practice shifted.

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