Creativity, Passion and Explorations

The reasons behind Creativity and Exploration.

'There are some who can live without the wild things and some who cannot'. Aldo Leopold

The process of exploration and experimentation happens  through the manipulation of a diverse range of techniques and mediums -  the  image then evolves - Creativity is most often informed by ideas which focus around anthropic ecological concerns.

This series of works, Tropical Abstracts, has given me the chance to explore and experiment with digital photography.Intialy focussing on ideas through which  I considered the major impacts of human activity upon the natural environment.

 My intention also is to highlight the inadvertent alienating effects upon humans themselves by exploring chasem of disengagement from the land and other life forms we depend upon. Initiated by reducing the environment to commodity - imposing exploitative methods, thwarts the order of natural ecological processes.

Taking a photo image of a butterfly I played around with ideas by  exploiting the original image through manipulation. Abstracting the insect from its natural  background to highlight the consequences of man's manipulation of nature. As not only do pesticides kill targeted insects, but all other insect life - pollinators we depend upon. 

The impact of pesticides and herbicides now is  adversely effecting fauna and flora - rendering nature into its current precarious state. 

 Ideas that Rachel Carson explored and discussed in her seminal book 'Silent Spring'. 

Aldo leopold , Also expressed concerns about human disconnection  fron the land....to re -engage at a deeper ecological level .

In order for humans to survive....  we need to let the wild to thrive.

Based on flora and fauna

Drawing Skills...Back to basics..

Reconnecting with drawing skills.....through winter - besides being therapeutic... it is the foundation and vessel  through which to explore and express ones humanity through creativity:  The inner life connecting with the outer world... 
The act of drawing creates space in which to contemplate many facets of the material world, the interactions of shape, form, light, shadow, texture and patterns all come into focus.

In a recent project I focused on exploring the journeys we take on public transport. Through initial study sketches whilst travelling by train I created a series of  drawings titled Travellers and then went on to produce lino cut images, titled ,Worlds Apart, through which I explore the internal and external worlds in which we exist.  

Drawing is still basically the same as it has been since prehistoric times. It brings together man and the world. It lives through magic.Keith Haring

Still Life; in the home Graphite on paper yvonne forster 201

A Remarkable lady, Graphite on paper
by yvonneforster 2017

The Revellers, Graphite on Paper,
by yvonne forster 2018

The Remedy, Graphite On Paper,
by yvonne forster, 2018

Travellers Graphite on Paper,2018 by yvonne forster

Reflections and Shadows Graphite, by yvonne forster

Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/drawing

Exciting New CreativPaper online : Art Magazine

Exciting New CreativPaper online : Art Magazine

Making a New World mixed media
by yvonne forster

cliick on follwing link will take you to the online Issuu page


https://issuu.com/creativpaper/docs/creativpaper_issue_no_008_vol_3o_008_vol_3

The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature. – Joseph Campbell

∴ We feel connected to nature, yet we can hardly explain why nature impresses us so much, or why do we seek to spend time in nature. The truth is that we are part of nature as anything else. When we disconnect from nature, we forget who we are. ref below

Read more: https://www.spiritbutton.com/inspirational-nature-quotes/#ixzz5AOuYAezn


Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’ – Robin Williams

Read more: https://www.spiritbutton.com/inspirational-nature-quotes/#ixzz5AOvIx4fe

Our eARTh exhibition opens on the 24th March till 23 December 2018

Here is the electronic Issuu version of The Our Earth Catalogue...All artist images and statements enclosed...

please click link below....

Exhibitionhttps://issuu.com/kunsthuisgallery/docs/catalogueourearthweb

Altered Perceptions, Mixed Media& Collage, by yvonne forster

The series of works are a response to the impact of industrialisation, industrial farming and pollution on bird and insect populations. The use of pesticides and changing patterns of land use has led to a decline of many insect and bird species. The abstracted form of the of works Altered Perceptions explores and reflects human activities, abstraction of nature, ignoring the interconnectivities that maintain the well being of the whole. 

The series was inspired by Rachel Carson's views on the effects of chemicals on wildlife and George Monbiot’s recent book 'How Did We Get Into This Mess? The works are mixed media acrylic paint, oil pastels, gold leaf and collaged materials with the phrase "humankind ...we are but one thread" embedded.

Refs George Monbiot - How Did We Get Into This Mess an Rachel Carson  - Silent Spring

Kunsthuis Gallery.... behind the scenes

Altered Perceptions VI by yf 2017, Mixed Medium.

 The behind the scene stuff!...final preparations for my work to be sent to Kunsthuis Gallery...The after the snow falls ... shadows in sunlight as I took my art works to the post office... on their journey to The Kunsthuis Gallery in Crayke Yorkshire..A very exciting exhibition - 'Our eARTh' focuses on various aspects of climate change...

Shadows in the snow as I take my work to the post office

Sunlight and shadows in the church yard

Three works ready to be sent to Kunsthuis Yorkshire

Preparations framing the works

Using recycled materials for packing work

Three works ready to be boxed up

Altered Perceptions I by yf 2017 Mixed Medium.

Kunsthuis Gallery Our eARTh exhibition - works Altered Perceptions...

 Kunsthuis Gallery in Yorkshire 

Soon three of my works will make their way to Yorkshire, to be part of The Our eARTh Show. This has been a very exciting experience - since first applying late 2017.

I was very much hoping to be a part of the exhibition due to its emphasis majoring on climate change and how we  consider the knock on effects which impact the natural environments habitats and wildlife.

The event will show case artworks from round the world. Each artist highlighting their concerns around the issues of ecology and conservation. The themes ranging from  recycling of plastics, landscape, birds, water to melting ice-caps plus more...

Here is a work that will be exhibited at Kunsthuis Gallery

Altered Perceptions by yf 2017, mixed media collage

Rewilding is not about abandoning civilization but about enhancing it. It is to ‘love not man the less, but Nature more’.” ― George Monbiot - from his book Feral

Continuing with images which are part of my series of works - Altered Perceptions I have decided to experiment by working on larger scale canvas.  These images show the works in progress... They portray birds disconnected from their natural environment now being set in an abstracted space, The images are an attempt to explore the growing tensions between the natural world and the effects generated by human activity.

Book Feral: Searching for Enchantment on the Frontiers of Rewilding

Reflections and recent works....

Reflections and recent works

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will ensure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

The impact on wildlife due to changes in farming practise (and the expansion of the farmed area) is so rapid and severe that it is hard to get your head round the scale of what is happening. A study published this week in the journal Plos One reveals that flying insects surveyed on nature reserves in Germany have declined by 76% in 27 years. The most likely cause of this Insectageddon is that the land surrounding those reserves has become hostile to them: the volume of pesticides and the destruction of habitat have turned farmland into a wildlife desert. George Monbiot (Ref1 bottom of page)
The shocking collapse of insect population, hints at a global, ecological meltdown. George Monbiot- guardian.com (Pollution.)

There is a great sense of freedom from 'being' in the midst of nature. Using art to capture what is experienced allows for a growing consciousness to occur, the awareness of natures complexities and abundance's can develop into a deepening respect - to see self as 'part' of nature- rather than present time exploitation - to begin to work with nature in a sustainable way. 

I enjoy working with many mediums and exploring new techniques/styles which I can then incorporate into art ideas and themes - currently I have re-explored environmental issues in particular surrounding the impact of deforestation upon wildlife habitats.Over this year my focus has been to depict both the abundance of plant life - in respect to photo tropism and symbiosis, and continue investigating the diversity of fauna found in forests ...In the last few months I have worked on developing a deeper understanding concerning the effects of industrialisation - in particular pollution effects upon wildlife habitats and insects. The consequences of the decline of insects now having a knock on effect on species of birds. A recent a series of works Altered Perceptions has been underway...The series inspired by Rachel Carson 's views on the effects of chemicals on wild life - And George Monbiots recent book titled,  How did we get into this mess?
Birds and insects informed the series. The works are mixed media acrylic paint, oil pastels, gold leaf and collaged materials...embedded with phrase ..."humankind ...we are but one thread"

These works are a mixture of both abstract and bird/insect imagery, using collage materials, acrylic paint oil pastels and goldleaf. 2017

Altered Perceptions II 2017 by Yvonne forster

Altered perception III 2017 by YForster

Altered Perceptions VII 2017 by Yvonne Forster

So, if you don’t fit in, if you feel at odds with the world, if your identity is troubled and frayed, if you feel lost and ashamed - it could be because you have retained the human values you were supposed to have discarded. You are a deviant. Be proud.

George Monbiot http://www.azquotes.com/quote/809924