We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
"Little Gidding"
T S Eliot

Wednesday 17 July 2013

White Heat

All this heat has inspired me to use another of the wooden canvases I bought, this time an 8x8 one.

After a coat of gesso, I used crumpled tissue paper top and bottom then applied a coat of paint (Fresco Finish Nougat).  When dry, applied some molding paste, coloured with acrylic paint (Fresco Finish Vanilla), and a few shells were embedded in the paste at this point too.

I hand cut some clouds from sticky backed canvas (by Claudine Helmuth), and stuck them on too, though later I wanted to move one, and was able to do that relatively easily.



The sky and sea were painted (more dry brushed really), and then I spent a considerable time deciding what to add as I had a few potential items.

Decided on some fishing net, a piece of driftwood, fish cut from printed tissue paper, piece of cotton lace, more shells, and a bird die-cut 4 times from thin chipboard (all 4 pieces stuck together to create more dimension).



Finally, I wanted to convey heat, so dry brushed and dry sponged white paint over the whole canvas.





I added some more fish running around the edges of the canvas (or should that be swiming?).







The title of this piece - White Heat -, reminded me of a poem by one of my favourite poets - Emily Dickinson.  The poem has nothing to do with the canvas, but thought I would share it with you anyway!


Dare you see a Soul at the White Heat?
Then crouch within the door—
Red—is the Fire's common tint—
But when the vivid Ore
Has vanquished Flame's conditions,
It quivers from the Forge
Without a color, but the light
Of unanointed Blaze.
Least Village has its Blacksmith
Whose Anvil's even ring
Stands symbol for the finer Forge
That soundless tugs—within—
Refining these impatient Ores
With Hammer, and with Blaze
Until the Designated Light
Repudiate the Forge— 

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