crown

Assemblage. Sigh.
How enticing!
But how?
What?
How?
With what?
How?
Flitter, how?!

The bug crawled in during the mentorship week in Naramata. Like street art (more on later), it's been simmering for a while, but when I saw Susan's work in person, the need to poke into it got under my skin.

I've always had a collection of found objects somewhere (ok, in many places) in my studio. Pieces have found their way into paintings and, happily, into collectors' lives. Even then I was careful with liberty, for a strangely - or worse, unworthy - placed addition on a 2 dimensional plane is just so wrong to me. The question: "Is it wanted?" had to be a answered with an absolute #%^* yes! Naturally, when it came to grabbing that skinny tall box and running into the studio with my headsetonfirebyalltheburningideas, the same question bubbled up. Only this time, it wasn't about one object or idea added into a project. This time, the whole thing was a question.

Because it was unfamiliar. Because it had so many components - yeah, that is a piece of my shattered thermostat in there and I so wanted to include the mercury but not this time. Because I had to find skills I didn't know I needed. Because I was almost as intimidated as I was excited. Almost. Because sometimes, there is no choice.

"Crown", assemblage, 3 x 30 inches, 1.5 inches deep, found objects, paint, silver leaf & resin. 
Above, complete project. Right, detail


Check out Susan McCarrell's work here

the love spinner

With the exception of a blue heart that you can't see

 in this photo because it's on the back frame, 

I am not going to say anything about this one. 

You do it, if you desire.

"The Love Spinner", 6 x 6 inches, mixed media on birch

Nikol Haskova Studio

SOLD

ten for 10

 "We Are Gold", 6 x 6 inches, mixed media on birch

This is the second in a series of ten paintings to honour 

10 years of marriage. 

Each year brought my husband and me a deep pool of experiences. 

When I say loveliest love, luscious lust, diving disagreements, 

encompassing embraces, adorable adoration, saturated sadness 

and blindingly beautiful belonging, I am scratching the surface. 

To me, this unity so vastly varies from any other. It's amazing

and hard as well as nurturing and trying, sometimes at the same time.

It brings warmth, shine, delicious sparks of lightning and chills. 

From seductive spring to frosty winter, we've felt all the seasons. 

We are still here. The same and different. Young yet rooted. 

Mature yet excited. Calmer yet on fire. 

We are gold.

                                                                                     

Playground

I. Heart. Mixed. Media! While acrylic will always be

my first love, the desire to push, embellish 

and be eccentric when I want to is deeply satisfied

with this choice. Let me loose!

"Playground", 6 x 6 inches, mixed media on birch

Nikol Haskova Studio