Friday 28 November 2008

Merry go Round





Jump on our merry go round and join a group of artists/crafts-women as they link hands around the world and tell you a little about their lives in art a


We are group of 8 women from all over the world
, we have got together in what would constitute an example of peaceful idea exchange and diplomacy, and agreed to come to our blogs once a month and share a bit more about ourselves.
We choose a question and all of us have to answer it in our blogs. It will be very interesting to read what each of us has to say, taking in account how much our lives and crafts differ.

This months question:
How do the different seasons affect your arts and crafts?

Well, the thing is that the change of seasons was never so present in my life, or ever affected my daily life as much as it does now that I live in The Netherlands. In my "previous life" in Argentina, seasons came and go (we do have 4 different seasons, same as here) but either because I was too young and busy with...eerrr... being a teenager? or I don't know why, I really didn't pay much attention to it. Maybe as you get older you become more conscious of how fast time goes by? Don't know. The thing is, even though winters in the south of Argentina (the southern you go, the closer to the southern Pole...brrrr coldest place in the world) can be very cold, freezing temps and all...it's sunny. Most of the time it is sunny. What affects me here is the lack of sun, light (no kidding, I have to take vitamin D supplements!!! never in my life before!).

Autumn I enjoy thoroughly because I love the colors and tastes it brings. And I guess that inspires me a lot. It is also the season where I can work with wool without really feeling like I'm a looney... in summer, it just seems weird to be carrying loads of wool around the house!Too warm! So, autumn is quite an inspirational time of the year, followed by winter which is dark and sad in my opinnion...and also cold, so it forces me to be indoors and that means work work work... I'm a very outdoorsy type of person. I love hiking and taking long walks in the woods... so in spring and summer you will seldom see me inside whilst the sun is shinning outside. I feel like I'm wasting my time if I am sitting inside and outside everything is full of color and light.

The seasons therefore do affect my art and influece also my choice of materials. I tend to do more paper and pencil, ceramics work in spring and summer, and more wool, felt, sewing work in autumn and winter whilst indoors. I suppose because of the context surrounding me, in summer colors are more bright and in winter one tends to work more with browns and greys, black... Nature is indeed inspirational consciously or uncosciously...it still runs our lives!



Do please read more from the rest of the girls who take part in this merry go round!


Anna, Half and Acre
Andreanna, Glamasaurus
Charlotte, Fancypicnic
Agathe, Le bar du vent
Fabianna, Easterya
Lily, lilypangartanddesign
Ruth, Birdland creations
Sara, Crafts of Texture

8 comments:

'fancypicnic' said...

Well, I never!! We've practically written the same thing! Except, of course, I've never been to Argentina...ever!

You're so right about how nature affects us, and how the colours creep into our work...and I love the fact that your work alters according to the season. Makes complete sense!!

Yvette said...

I could'nt imagine artwork without the influence of nature..I think it started there..

Easterya said...

Great read! I'm the opposite of you: after spending a good 3 decades in Northern France and Southern England where the rain is omnipresent and the sun plays hide and seek, I find myself in a place where the sun shines constantly! I wouldn't go back even if you paid me! The outdoor life keeps me alive and nature has never inspired me as it does now.

Lily Pang said...

I can image how cozy and warm to work on wool in winter beside the fire. I love the chill feeling of the wind on my face in the winter.

I have sun and heat all day in Singapore. Haha..

Sara Millis said...

Ah yes, nature is everything to the artist I think... it is our muse either subconsciously or consciously and I think the older we get the more we realise this.

I loved reading this, thank you!

Sara x

Ruth said...

I love the way you use so many mediums in your work - and the idea that you can choose from one of these depending on the season and your frame of mind. And of course - colour is your thing! You do such wonderful colourful work so I'm sure that hits you every season. For me, silver is silver is silver.....whatever time of year :=D

Mariana said...

Charlotte! Indeed...maybe it has to do with the fact that we live surrounded by nature... the forestis so present in our lives that, there is nowhere to scape!

Yvette, you are absolutely right!

Easterya, hahaha I see! Well, lucky you living in the sun...it must be beautiful there!

Lily, yeah, wool in Singapore is probably not a good idea. But last night I stayed until late working with wool, felting some stuff, witha big cup of tea...it was lovely.

Sara, you are welcome!

Ruth, thanks! thanks for the compliments! Silver is silver and beautiful silver indeed!

meherio68 said...

Vitamin D supplements saved me when I was living further north and getting really quite depressed every single winter... Have you tried one of those daylight lamps? Apparently, they can do the trick...