The Curated Collection Archives - Page 7 of 12

The Curated Collection | Ann Sheir

I have long been a fan of the mystery and texture that are layered into encaustic work. A technique that combines pigment with wax, encaustic work is tactile yet ethereal, the translucency of the wax creating a filmy veil over the details, inspiring a dream-like interpretation of the subject matter. Canadian painter Ann Sheir – an accomplished Toronto-based encaustic artist – has a collection of encaustic works that focus in on the elusive beauty of cherry blossoms. From the tree in our own backyard to the legends of the Japanese cherry blossoms my mother grew up admiring, I have a fondness for this delicate icon of nature and love the way its beauty is captured in Ann’s work.

As it turns out, Ann also teaches classes and workshops from time to time. If you live in Toronto and would be interested in taking one of Ann’s classes, contact me and perhaps we could put a group together!

Wishing you an inspired Monday.

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|June 24th, 2013|0 Comments

The Curated Collection | Eric Blum

I first stumbled upon the haunting and ethereal work of Eric Blum on Pinterest of all places! It was just one image, but it captivated my imagination. There was something other-worldly, soulful, gentle and transparent about the work that drew me in and made me feel.

As it turns out, his entire body of work has a similar effect for me. There is a sense that his work is capturing blurry impressions – perhaps early memories that can’t be carved out with hard lines and sharp edges, the way things look when you don’t quite look straight at them, or remember your dreams just before waking.

There is something poetic and not at all literal in his work that speaks to me. The organic and gently layered shapes and lines allow perception to become reality.

His technique fascinates me as well – this entire collection is a mixture of ink, silk and beeswax on canvas. I imagine a process similar to the one of really coming to know oneself – slow, patient and deeply rewarding.

Somehow these pieces remind me that we can be at peace with the unknown. In a world where our daily task seems to be to control it, I find in Eric’s work a reminder to let go instead. In letting go, we find a sweeter, wilder song to sing, a more adventurous path to trod, and more open arms to embrace the surprises that await us.

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|June 17th, 2013|0 Comments

The Curated Collection | Aleksandra Rdest

You know me. I love a story driven by process, and Canadian painter Aleksandra Rdest‘s is a good one. Recently compelled to find a less toxic medium with which to work, Aleksandra’s creativity as a painter has been pushed to new limits and soared to new heights through the beauty of experimentation. Redeeming a technique that has existed for centuries {in fact, samples from the 1st century still exist}, Rdest chose egg-based tempura painting as her new, non-toxic medium of choice. The result is a group of very modern paintings created using a truly old-world, classical technique.

I studied tempura painting in my art history classes, but I had forgotten one very important detail in the years that have passed: it is only the yolk of the egg that is used to create the paint. As such, the artist has a deep yellow base from which to start creating their colours. This is not so problematic for producing golds and greens, but it provides significant challenge for creating true and clear blues and purples.

Aleksandra seems to have overcome this hurdle with grace and ease, though she says she is still working to refine her colour formulas.

The fast-drying nature of the egg-based tempura seems to suit the graphic, almost photo-negative aesthetic of Rdest’s paintings. I am very excited to see where this new technique will lead her work.

Aleksandra’s process makes me wondered what old world technique or handcraft – discarded in our age of technology and “all things new” – needs to be revived or reconsidered. Sometimes the new way isn’t in fact the best way, and I love that her passion for living a toxin-free life drove her to redeem this all-but-lost artform.

What discarded way of doing things could you redeem and make new today?

xo
s.

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|June 3rd, 2013|1 Comment