Sunday, March 27, 2016

A Thought for Sunday, March 27, 2016

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." -- John 10:10

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

I Goofed!

Friends, your humble correspondent screwed up! This past weekend I forgot to post my Thought for Sunday for the first time ever! Where was my brain? Out to lunch, apparently. I know some of you check these Thoughts regularly, so rather than make you wait until next Sunday to get your Thought fix, here's what should have appeared last Sunday:
"Old is when going braless pulls all the wrinkles out of your face." -- Author unknown

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

The Boho Series

Several days ago I posted a small collage on the blog, the first of a series I'm creating in a colorful Bohemian style:

Boho #1  in its original form        ©2016 Lynn Edwards
I made this piece to give myself a quick break from a large, labor intensive commission I've been working on. To make all of these collages, I used my own leftover painted and stamped papers from other projects; no additional painting was done. Typically, after putting Boho #1 away in a drawer for a while, I then made a few changes to it. I also chose to change its orientation as shown below. A good abstract design should read well from any angle:

Boho #1 in its altered, final state.   ©2016 Lynn Edwards
I think these small tweaks made it a much stronger piece. What do you think?

On my next break, I made the second collage of the series:

Boho #2    ©2016 Lynn Edwards  
I haven't decided if Boho #2 needs anything further. I may give it the drawer treatment, also. Do you think it needs more work? I'm kinda leanin' that way...

And here's Boho #3:


Boho #3    ©2016 Lynn Edwards

The great thing about working in series is that it's a chance to explore a concept in many different ways and from different perspectives. It also offers experimentation opportunities, so working in series can be quite freeing creatively speaking.

I'll be adding more pieces to this series in the weeks ahead, until my collection of these particular papers dwindles down. If you have any opinions or suggestions, please share them! Meanwhile, break's over and it's back to the commission for now!

Text and images ©2016 Lynn Edwards


Sunday, March 13, 2016

Reliving an Experience Through Art

"Winter Lights" acrylic on canvas   ©2016 Lynn Edwards

Art can do many positive things for people. One of them is helping a viewer to relive a past experience that holds a special meaning for him or her. Such is the case for the painting shown here, which holds a wonderful memory for me.

"Winter Lights," above, was inspired by my memory of a perfectly still, perfectly awesome winter night many years ago. As I stood at the edge of a frozen lake, I was transfixed by the sight in front of me. Before me was a vast field of glistening ice, and above, a star strewn sky. The moonlight reflecting off the ice was dazzling, made even more so by the infinitude of stars pinpointing the velvety darkness of space. It was one of those rare and tantalizing experiences that opens one's soul to something greater than it's possible to imagine.

Every time I look at this painting I'm transported back to that experience. I can remember every detail of it: how incredibly cold it was (approaching zero), how quiet and still it was, and how pristine the surroundings were (no light pollution, no traffic.) But what's burned into my memory is the breathtaking sight of all that ice glowing in the moonlight.

A work of art can play many roles. It can comfort, confront, evoke, soothe, intrigue, uplift, inform...its effects are many. Whenever I'm feeling stressed or tense, just looking at "Winter Lights" gives me a sense of calm and well being. Although they're usually unaware of the experience that inspired me to paint it, others tell me it has a similar effect on them.

"Winter Lights" currently hangs on the gallery wall in my studio. Across the room, on my inspiration board, there's a quote from the artist Esther J. Williams that really sums it up for me. It reads, "Our art is not just a product -- it is a life-enriching piece of magic." As anyone who's ever been moved by a work of art can attest, its magic can be powerful indeed.

Text and image ©2016 Lynn Edwards.

A Thought for Sunday, March 13, 2016

"One of the greatest victories you can gain over a man is to beat him at politeness." -- Josh Billings

Sunday, March 6, 2016

A Thought for Sunday, March 6, 2016

"When a smile touches our hearts, when the forest stills us to peace, when music moves us to rapture, when we really love, or laugh or dance with joy, we are one with the angels." -- Dorothy Maclean