Monday 11 January 2010

We must take the current when it serves


There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.
William Shakespeare (from Julius Caesar)

What a wonderful thought from the old bard and such a simple philosophy given such poetic treatment - he was a clever fellow wasn't he? I thought I'd find a nice seaworthy quote to float alongside my art today and this one splashed me right in the face as soon as I started looking.

Don't you just love the sea? This piece reminds me of my holiday last summer in Cornwall. When I read that the Three Muses challenge for this week was 'water' I knew I had to stretch myself and attempt what I've always found impossible - crashing waves. Lick your lips... Can you taste the salt spray? It's a bit of wild day on this stretch of coastline. I don't like the look of those clouds...
I bought two large canvas boards a week or so ago and they'd sat in my lounge all white and pristine for too long. One became The Mad Hatter and the second this. Can I let you into a secret? I'm a bit pleased with it. I love the texture, brooding sky and churning water. I got nice and sticky glueing and moulding tissue paper for that rugged effect. I also threw in a little bit of that old book I'm slowly ripping to shreds. Most is covered up with paint, but if you get in close you might just snatch a word or two. I used a palette knife for much of it too which is new for me and made me feel like a proper artist!

I like to create art that gives you something different depending on where you view it from. From a distance I hope this shows the power of the sea, the crashing waves and heavy looming sky. Then, close up are the little hidden secrets, words floating in the waves whispering stories onto the shore and tiny fragments of colour.

Perhaps this is a bit like me. From a distance I may appear as one thing, but get to know me, bring me close and take a peek into my soul and you'll find out so much more.

How very deep and philosophical for a Monday evening!

28 comments:

  1. Lisa! This is beautiful--at first I thought it was a photo--I just love it!! And the text under the shore--Oh I just love it!!

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  2. Lisa I love it! Your art is rally evolving at a fast rate. But I can't help it! The sea is a particular love of mine...

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  3. this is amazing! and you SHOULD be pleased with it. love the texture of the water and the sky, but especially the water cos that created such a wild energy! and it melds perfectly with the painted beach. calm then storm! awesome piece my fren!!

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  4. Love the texture as it really helps bring out the might waves. Well Done! You're getting better and better. Bravo! :D

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  5. Thats a really terrific painting, almost made me feel a bit chilly

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  6. Wonderful painting, and indeed the best of art allows us to have different experiences as we approach it differently with each view. I share that and appreciate your support with your comment left yesterday (monday).

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  7. Very, very nice! I really like this piece quite a bit! You *SHOULD* be pleased :)

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  8. Beautiful, Lisa! I love the depth that it has. Such an angry, threatening sky. You are definitely a "proper artist"! I like the way you are challenging yourself with large pieces!

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  9. This is terrific - you have recreated the mood of a stormy day on the coast brilliantly.

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  10. Oh wow this is incredible.
    Wonderful structure and colors. Fantastic.

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  11. that texture, oh my!! beyond words actually!!

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  12. I absolutely adore this canvas Lisa - how talented you are! You deserve to be proud of it. You've captured the foamy stuff really beautifully, and the beach where it meets the hillside is fabulous. I felt exactly the same when I started using a palette knife - grown up!! =)))

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  13. Wow, this is amazing, Lisa you have captured the sea so well, the colours are fantastic, too - outstanding masterpiece!

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  14. This is terrific. You've really captures a piece of the soul of the sea here. I can indeed taste the salt.Wonderful work!

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  15. I think these are the best you've shown on the blog so far. You should lok at the work of jeanie Thomas who paints and collages seascapes - she often uses silks to give texture and then scumbles oil paint over the top.
    I will blog one of her pictures soon

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  16. I love your writing and your beautiful seascapes are the icing on a very tasty cake. Wonderful ideas, fantastic artwork. Standing ovation from me!

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  17. Lisa, your painting is splendid! I read your write-up to see how it was made and am blown away by the work you put into it. This is so beautiful. Thanks for the detail pictures, too.

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  18. Lisa, you've taken us all on a wonderful voyage. Your art is powerful and well done, and the Shakespeare quote has gone into my quote journal. I'm so glad you've joined our talented artists who visit us weekly!

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  19. Beautiful, moody painting that really captures the power and emotion of the sea. It reminds me of our northern California coastline in Mendocino. Dramatic and colorful!

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  20. This is a layered, emotional and very beautiful piece of work!

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  21. This is WONDERFUL! The depth and texture and glimpses of text are perfect! Love it, Kristin xo

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  22. WOW!!! This is totally awesome. This is the first time I have taken this challenge and the artwork is incredible.
    Debby

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  23. Beautiful - love the close ups where you can see the paper. My computer took a while to load the image - so at first i thought the sky was a puddle with pine needles clustered in it!?

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Thank you for your comments - I always love to hear what you think :)

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