A Sense of Place & Material
Like many, I come from a long line of growers who knew their landscape intimately. Some risked everything to move halfway across the world for a better life, only to arrive at square one. They cultivated the land, built with the materials they had, and created so many somethings where there was only barren land. My heart tells me they connected with the land in ways that are uncommon today in our technologically-driven society.
Growing and tending numerous houseplants and a garden have been a source of joy and grounding for many years. I love botanicals so much that my entire right arm is filled with their likeness. I am nurtured by being outdoors, greeting the natural world with fresh air to inspire me.
Then one day, I had an inkling (pun intended).
I followed a hunch and bought the book "Make Ink: A Forager's Guide to Natural Inkmaking" by Jason Logan, and my universe instantly expanded, one of those head-exploding moments in life. When something resonates strongly with every fiber of your being, you know it's for you.
Foraging began and continues to be on walks in my neighborhood or the lake region. It calls for a deepening of relationship and connection to the earth with the principles of the Honorable Harvest.
The making of ink is inherently experimental and invites curiosity to the fore. I have created inks from locally foraged materials and items in the kitchen or garage. Adjusting the pH of the ink and adding mordants also create differences in ink color. I keep notes with swatches.
Painting with and testing the inks is even more serendipitous. They are teaching me how they prefer to blend, the colors they produce, and even the colors they become with oxidation days later. They really are wild inks!
Deepening this area of my creative practice will entail:
- Continuing to advocate for ethical foraging practices and honoring the land
- Honoring our ancestors' roots and heritage
- Expanding my knowledge of ink materials and experiments
- Collaborating with other foragers and ink makers
- Learning to create my own pigments and paint
- Seeing where the materials take me!
I am planning the first collection of paintings in 2023. Sign up for the mailing list if you'd like to stay in touch.
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