This day was all about bringing the essence of the natural environment around the Barn into the studio to create an interior space that would reflect something of my experience as an artist touched by the exquisite beauty of Spring Island's natural environment. In this case it was the long needled pine, the cones, the bark, branches and long straight needles that had touched me the most.
The magnolia leaves were a thoughtful gift from a special visitor. When I added them to my still-life of branches, pines, bark, etc, they became a connection to my home in Greenville, SC where the magnificent magnolia trees have become my symbol for place.
In this large charcoal drawing you can see the influence of those long needled pine branches I collected from the tree just outside the studio.
The finished drawing of the pine branches, along with the other drawing became the bookends for a still-life of my red earthenware crepe myrtle containers with branches, leaves, pine cones and a palmetto fan. This arrangement along the back wall became the central element of the installation I was trying to create inside the Barn studio where I was working.
Sometimes I love the details best of all!
The last addition to the still-life was the Palmetto leaf.
This was the final touch to my studio installation. On the two low tables, one for drawing and one set up for work in clay, I laid out the work I had done in clay, some of which was started in the two fun mini workshops I did the first two days. I especially wanted folks coming to my powerpoint, "My life as a Spiral" on Thursday night to see something of my process as an artist.
Although speaking always makes my heart flutter a bit, a warm and receptive audience calmed me immediately and I settled into my talk, knowing I was among friends, some old and some new.. I started weaving my life story by sharing how childhood experiences before the age of 6 had a profound effect on my life and on my art. The Spring Island audience deserve special thanks and recognition for making me feel so at home and appreciated. An intimate and low-country gourmet dinner party at the club afterwards was the icing on the cake! This was one of a multitude of acts of kindness and hospitality that any future visiting artist can expect...
Installation of an artist at work in studio 1, the Barn, Spring Island, SC