Ebb & Flow

Ahh…it’s January & freezing!!!

Still, I’m in the studio adding in the final iridescent details to the last painting in the Sea Change series.

It’s called “Ebb & Flow”

It’s very deep sea with the most mysterious octopus like creature swirling away.

Just needs to fully dry through the winter before being released into the wild! Just in time for the tour!

So wonderful to be looking forward to an art event…don’t you think? I got on the waiting list to be vaccinated. I’m hopeful I’ll be able to have my work space open this time around for you to visit in May. Lots of creative alchemy going in there!

“I’d like to be
Under the sea
In an octopus’ garden
In the shade
We would be warm
Below the storm
In our little hideaway
Beneath the waves”

— The Beatles

Begin again and again

I often imagine my place in the world as an artist is not just about self-expression but what Victor Frankl called a “dedication to a cause greater than oneself.” For me that is striving to inspire and open a window to beauty.

Many times, I feel very pollyannish feeling this way. It seems naive and ridiculous. Especially in the face of the madness of 2020 that has surfaced in our country. It’s absolutely heart breaking, disappointing, aggravating, irresponsible, confusing, frustrating…I could go on and on but honestly I suspect like me you are all already exhausted.

There is nothing I can put into the words that you have not already read, felt or thought.

What I would like to share…and it maybe that I’m writing this as much for myself as to share with you.

I would like to say we must begin again. Cast aside any energy or anyone that nurtures hate and violence to feed the worst, lowest and ugliest side of our human selves. Focus and refocus again and again on what truly deserves our very precious energy. What we create matters.

Grab your tools. It’s a new year. Begin again.

Be Well.

“For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one’s personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself.”

— Viktor Frankl

More Pintalism....Into the Unknown

I continue following the pin-ta-lism pieces into the unknown…

It’s been a lot of paying attention and play. There are some interesting light effects catching my eye when the low winter sun makes its way into the studio. It’s about discovering the magical little changes that light brings more than making a finished piece of art.

details

Details

Details

Then there is the shadow play! I have not figured out a way to catch what I’m seeing in a photo…yet. Here are some snaps that give a glimpse of what I’m seeing.

light & shadow

shadow & light

I’m just going to keep following this exploration in photos and see what I can pull out of this experiment. I’m curious to see how it will find a way into future paintings.

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Spectrum series...work in progress

Slowly closing in on finishing the nine Spectrum Series paintings. Sometimes when I look at them I see molecule shapes unraveling in chains. Other times they seem to me to be foggy like the smokey remnants of alchemic explosions.

details

details

details

It’s really starting to come together but I think it’s calling for another layer or two…it’s got a desire to glow.

Last of the rosemary from the garden…smells so good!

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Lucent Blues

I’ve got three of these “Lucent Blue” watercolor pin-punch pieces in the works.

I’ve spent an insane amount of time punching these little holes. So many…the paper is starting to feel a bit like textured fabric.

They are still in progress. Very much in experiment mode with these pieces.

I had to set up in the kitchen to use a window big enough to shoot photos. I think I’ll shoot again at another time of day to see if I can catch the sunlight coming through or maybe on an overcast day…so it’s not so bright.

I’ve also been getting some very cool shadows when the light goes through. Still working out in my mind away to photograph that. We shall see…

pin-ta-lism : playing with light while pushing the potential of pin punching.

is there such a thing as too much alteration?

yes & I don’t care….it makes me pleased as punch;)

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Lady Yellow & Pintalisim

Today my husband called my pin-punch, watercolor, drawing style “pintalisim.” This makes me smile and tempts me to trademark it or something…but only as a joke;)

Lady Yellow

It’s always interesting when faces show up in the work. They come from time to time. Always ladies, often with water or tears dripping from eyelashes. Not sad exactly…something else I can’t put my finger on. Just something I think about.

I think this Lady Yellow wears her ideas like a headdress. Maybe a “headdress series” could be on the horizon someday…again just something to think about.

Lady Yellow with front lighting

Lady Yellow Back Lighting

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Psychedelic flower power

For a million reasons I’ve been a little obsessed with the pinhole watercolor pieces. With no idea how they might become art pieces. I’m good with that…I just want to see where it goes.

These are explorations of using them in photography. Then pushing the color limits in lightroom…with some wild psychedelic effects.

and…this set has a bit of a pretty antique vibe…I think.

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Revamp a thing or two

sharing pin hole sketches today along with a post about posts…ah so very meta;)

So…about a year ago I switched things up and rebuilt this website. Like all things, it was a ton more work than I ever imagined.

I hoped that this new format would be easier for me to make blog posts. The good thing is…it is!

The not so good thing is…some people think that since the rise of social media…individual blogs are now obsolete. Apparently, with so much happening online no one has time for something as old-fashioned as blogging. I guess…I’m suddenly old-fashioned…who knew!

Something…I think a lot about is the need to stay close to the creative edge. To keep stretching into unknown places. To find the sweet spots where I’m following a path but not repeating myself. The only way to be there is to experiment and let things be a little messy…a little all over the place.

I want this blog to be a way to share the paintings. I also want to create a place to collect my random creative tangents.

Anyway…I’m thinking that in the coming year I’m going to use this space even more as a place to dip into the stream of consciousness. For the most part, I’ve been holding back because of some notion I have that a blog should be focused on one thing. I hate to say it but better for marketing…and all that blah. blah.

The shifts and upheavals of the pandemic are a catalyst to revamp a thing or two.

I’m not exactly sure what is going to show up here but I’m feeling an unexpected sense of freedom in being suddenly old-fashioned.

Please feel free to dip in here from time to time but going forward I’m not going to send out an email for every post.

I’ll send out a round-up post from time to time if something especially good bubbles up!

light from the front

back Lighting

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Cosmic Lace: Cascade

Cosmic Lace: Cascade, 36” x 36”, oil on canvas

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I've just finished reading "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel. I'd been wanting to read it, ever since I saw the intense color-filled movie years ago.

It's a powerful story of being lost at sea. It has that magical mix of entangling imagination with reality and sprinkling drops of wisdom all along the way.

I especially liked this little line… "At the heart of life is a fuse box.”

It keeps coming to mind when I look at this painting from the Cosmic Lace group. I called it "Cascade" because it always felt as if it was energy on overload...just totally overflowing.

The full line from Yann Martel's book is “Blessed be that part of us that protects us from too much pain and sorrow. At the heart of life is a fuse box.”

I've lived long enough to know there are times in life when heart pain is so heavy it feels as if there is no end. Then the pain goes numb...it's like the energy gets cut off...just like a "fuse box."

And, then the miracle of time comes and ever so gently lets the energy flow again. Making life different. Still good and beautiful.

Come to think of it this painting has been grabbing my attention a lot lately…

A few weeks back, there was a car on the street out in front of my house. It was parked in just the right way to catch the sun and bounce it into a corner of my living room it never reaches. Right onto this painting, turning it into a window into another world.

Oh! to paint with light like that!

Till next time.

Be well & stay safe

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“what is stronger than the human heart which shatters over and over and still lives”

— Rupi Kaur

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Mandala Mala Project

Mandala Mala Project

Lots of you know all about my Mandala Mala Project but if it’s new to you…

The quick story is…

I’m making 108 mandalas, that instead of selling I give away in exchange for doing good deeds. I call them “tasks.” The idea is to make art a catalyst to nudge our world in a positive direction. You can think of it as a pay it forward art project.

It has taken me many years to make and give away the first 73 mandalas.

This past year I’ve made over a dozen new mandalas that are now ready to go out into the world. They are perfect for giving this holiday season.

These are little mixed media encaustic pieces that shimmer depending on how the light hits the surface. I sanded and rubbed the wax with graphite & interference powder creating a sort of satin metallic look. An artist friend of mine described them as little jewels…which I think is just right.

These mandalas are extra special because the “task” is making a donation to help fight cancer. I’ve chosen the Cancer Research Institute to be the charity. Their mission is to "Save more lives by fueling the discovery and development of powerful immunotherapies for all types of cancer."

This past year many people in my circle of friends & family have had their lives cut short or shook up by a diagnosis. I’ve never felt so grateful for the people who devote their intelligence and skills to fight cancer. These mandalas are just a little way to support the work they do.

Do you want to make a donation and get a Mandala ?

The way it works is…

STEP 1: Pick from the mandalas below

*Yes, you can do more than one…they look especially nice in sets of three!

*Yes, you can do it even if you’ve already done one of my mandalas in the past.

STEP 2: Let me know by email which mandala or mandalas you would like.

*First email gets you first dibs.

Step 3: I’ll set them aside for you & send you the link to donate.

Step 4: Make your donation

$50 minimum donation for each small, 5" x 5" mandala
$100 minimum donation for each medium, 8" x 8" mandala

*Yes, you can definitely donate more if you would like

STEP 5: Send me your confirmation email that you made your donation. Then schedule a time with me to pick up your mandalas.

*Yes, you are more awesome than the average awesome!

Be Well & Happy Thanksgiving!

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The Shimmers

Yay! this one has been claimed, Shimmer One, 8” x 8”, $100 Minimum Donation

Yay! This one has been claimed! -MH Shimmer Two, 8” x 8”, $100 Minimum Donation

Yay! This one has been claimed! - MH, Shimmer Three, 8” x 8”, $100 Minimum Donation

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The Glimmers

Glimmer One, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Glimmer Two, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Yay! This one has been claimed! -SM, Glimmer Three, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

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Chaos Mandalas

Chaos One, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Chaos Two, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Chaos Three, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

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Out of the Blue Mandalas

Yay! This one has been claimed! - EG, Out of The Blue One, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Yay! This one has been claimed! - SM, Out of The Blue Two, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Yay! This one has been claimed! - BD, Out of the Blue Three, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

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Calmness Mandala

Yay! This one has been claimed! - VM Calmness One, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Yay! This one has been claimed! - VM Calmness Two, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

Yay! This one has been claimed! - VM Calmness Three, 5” x 5”, $50 Minimum Donation

To learn more

check out these videos on YouTube &

visit the Cancer Research Institute

“So let us rather not be sure of anything,
Beside ourselves, and only that, so
Miraculous beings come running to help.
Crazed, lying in a zero circle, mute,
We shall be saying finally,
With tremendous eloquence, Lead us.
When we have totally surrendered to that beauty,
We shall be a mighty kindness.”

— Rumi

Moody Birds…ready to fly

Side View, “Moody Bird: Lift Off”, 16”, Mixed Media

The last two Moody Birds are finally finished and ready to fly!

I’ve loved working on these encaustic pieces for so many reasons.

The combination of pressed plant life with the “metallic-like” rubbed wax surface in the circular shape has always felt like portals into a dream world. They are moody and dark but play with the light when viewed from different angles. Plus…scratching into the textured surface always felt especially birdish!

Let me introduce you to “Lift Off” and “Look Out”

Both are available for purchase. Please contact me directly through email siobhan@siobhanbedford.com

“Moody Bird: Lift Off”, 16”, Mixed Media, $250

Detail, “Moody Bird: Lift Off”, 16”, Mixed Media

“Moody Bird: Look Out”, 16”, Mixed Media, $250

Side View, “Moody Bird: Look Out”, 16”, Mixed Media

Detail, “Moody Bird: Look Out”, 16”, Mixed Media

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“If you’ve got it...haunt it”

— Rose Pressey

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And… the whole flock together!

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Boo!

Happy Halloween!

Want a little more Halloween mood?

Click to check out last years Moody Bird Post

Moody Birds

Art Lovers

I’ve had very few circumstances where more than one person wanted a particular painting. Sometimes it takes years for the artwork and the collector to find each other. When they do it always feels like it’s meant to be. It’s one of the reasons I love doing the studio tour because I get to meet the art lover in person.

Not everyone “gets” the work but those that do… really do! To me, they become part of the art-making…like it’s their eyes in particular who can see.

I thought it would be nice to share some pieces that have found new homes this year. Some are recent works finished this year. Others waited patiently for years to finally connected with the right collector.

I’m always grateful for the support of art lovers but especially so this year. It’s like you are holding the door open so beauty can still find a way into a world…so in need of it.

I’ll just tell you one more thing…someone told me this past week that she felt like putting on a silk robe and walking right into one of these paintings. It totally made me smile, sort of like a spa day for your soul.

Enjoy!

Eden Experiment: Ruby Fire

“Enchanted Organism”

“Cosmic Lace: Serenity

“Spark”

“To the dull mind, all nature is leaden. To the illuminated mind the whole world burns and sparkles with light. ”

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sea Change: Ice Tide

Eden Experiment: Pinky Star

“Opulent Season”

“Beauty, which is what is meant by art, using the word in its widest sense, is, I contend, no mere accident to human life, which people can take or leave as they choose, but a positive necessity of life. ”

— -William Morris

Numinous Realms: Nomad

“Cosmic Lace: Radiant Adornment

“I’m restless.
Things are calling me away.
My hair is being pulled by the stars again.”

— Anaïs Nin

Wild Thing

Ahh…yet another flower power post!

Since the spring I’ve been paying attention to garden details in a deep way. I feel like all this up close studying is sinking in somewhere in my psyche…even if at times it feels like a distraction away from painting.

There is something inside that keeps nudging “follow this wild thing!”(maybe it’s O’Keefe’s ghost;)

I probably adore this passionflower vine more for its spiraling tendrils and buds than the flowers themselves. The flowers have a strangeness that looks “machine-like” to me. They always look like a propeller about to spin off in flower flight.

It has a good kind of creepiness too…like the eyes of a plant monster. Kind of perfect as we edge closer to my favorite holiday…Halloween!

Once it gets a grip in the garden it grows like a wild thing! Popping up in unexpected places. Its enthusiasm borders on invasive. Makes it easy to snip big handfuls to stuff in a vase in the studio.

I’m feeling lots of inspiration from those tendrils on dark backgrounds. There is also something fascinating about how that soft green bud opens into such a dramatic display.

I’ve actually been lucky enough to see the exact moment of bloom. Watching the energy flip from gentleness to boldness in an instant. It’s hard to explain the feeling of watching the ta-da! of petals…except to say it’s good to pay attention to organic magic:)

““I hope you will go out and let stories, that is life, happen to you, and that you will work with these stories from your life…not someone else’s life…water them with your blood and tears and your laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom. That is the work. The only work.””

— Clarissa Pinkola Estés

I hope to get some new canvas delivered soon so I can see where it leads!

Till next time…

Studio Tour: The 2020 Edition

The Chester County Studio Tour is happening this weekend. I’m studio #7 in Phoenixville. 148 4th Ave. My downstairs space is open with a guest limit of 4. I’d love for you to come out but if you need to keep safe I’ve put together some videos to give you a virtual studio visit.

2020 Edition Video #1 Artist, Siobhan Bedford, her sharing her art studio for the 2020 Chester County Studio Tour. more info available at www.siobhanbedford.com

Artist, Siobhan Bedford. Chester County Studio Tour: 2020 Edition. How I make art.

Artist Siobhan Bedford, Chester County Open Studio Tour: The 2020 Edition. Art On View

Experiments

I’ve been in an experimental mood…

A shift started in the spring with the Doodle Ladies and it has just carried through all summer. I think the pandemic rattled something loose inside me and pushed me to take a detour into works on paper.

In the studio, I’ve been playing around with pinhole punching in some very tiny drawings. That led to pin punching some bigger abstract drawings. Then before I knew it I was pushing the needle into even bigger drawings that became more elaborate.

This is one…I call them “Light Bright Ladies.” Although they could just as easily be called “Poppy Ladies” because I’m pretty sure they got their start from all the poppy photos I took this spring.

What I find interesting about these mixed media pieces is the way the light plays on the surface and transforms it when backlit.

It’s a little exhausting on the fingertips to punch so many holes through the paper but also surprisingly soothing. I just splurged on a fancy Pergamano tool so that should save my little finger muscles…(in case you were concerned;)

I like the braille effect when I run my finger over the surface. I also like to think of the process as paper voodoo or acupuncture for paper…it depends on if I’m feeling vexed or in a healing mood;)

Front lit

You might not see her if you look too quick…but she is there. Look for the eyes.

Back lit

These ladies are a little unruly…I mean ripply…to get these photos I had to tape them to windows and walls. I’m not sure how I would display this work as I’m interested in both the front-lit and the backlit versions.

This work is all still very experimental so anything can happen…But, one idea is to frame them pressed between glass but then I would lose that ripply unruliness that I’ve come to love. Another is to print them up along with all my mixed media lady drawings from this strange pandemic time into a book.

I’m not sure how long that book would be…since this strange time still hangs over our days.

experiments to be continued…

“If I cease searching, then, woe is me, I am lost. That is how I look at it - keep going, keep going come what may.”

— Vincent van Gogh

PS….If you are not already on my list…Please be sure to send me your email at siobhan@siobhanbedford.com to be added to my VIP list so I can keep you updated as we get closer to the open studio coming September 19 -20.

Art on View

Wonderful to have my art on view at Visual Edge in Phoenixville. I love seeing how they look on the cool brick wall.

INFO: Walk on by to peek in the window or call ahead to mask up and check out up close

ADDRESS: 227 Church Street, Phoenixville PA, 19460

PHONE: 610-933-5137

Street parking available weekdays from 9-5 or Borough Parking Lot #1 is just steps away, look for the blue sign and use the Church Street entrance. (the parking lot takes quarters, or use the PassportParking App @ ppprk.com)

www.myvisualedge.com

TO PURCHASE: email siobhan@siobhanbedford.com or call 484-680-1532

Altar Of Your Sky

Oil On Canvas , 24 x 24 in $600.00

Cosmic Lace: Eternity Illuminated

Oil On Canvas , 36 x 36 in $1600.00

Emergence: Womb of Creation

Oil On Canvas , 60 x 36 in $3000.00

Beauty Break

I’m still obsessing with light & flowers.

Not yet sure where all this photo exploring is taking me. I hope to eventually find a bridge of energy between my paintings and plant life. Till it appears here is another “flower power” download as a beauty break for you!

Lately, I’ve been enjoying a little graininess in photos and hope you do too :)

oh…forgot to mention this is a Gladiola from my garden!

They are complete flowers…that means they have all “the parts” to keep themselves “in business” with self pollination. Enough with the plant porn:) Let’s see them as symbols of the marriage of divine feminine with divine masculine.

Ta da! Almost enlightenment;)

I do love me some super moody snaps…but let me try to brighten things up just a bit.

“And then there are the days
where you cannot breathe
because
everything has turned to beauty
and iridescence.
Because
you are a witness to this ordinary world.
”

— Jeff Foster

We’ll continue this botanical love affair with passion flower snaps next time…till then be well!

Eden Experiments

I’m stuck…this group of six pieces is 99.9% done. The only thing that’s holding me back from making them available to purchase is coming up with individual titles.

While I was working on them the idea of “Eden experiments” kept coming into my mind. I think they have a touch of Rorschach. When I look I see a hint of the random “chemical crashes” that trigger the very first building blocks of life. Things like DNA strands, microscopic particles, cells, etc... I also see the beginnings of flowers forming out of seeds and pure energy.

What do you see?

I thought I would pull them all together here on the blog in hopes of igniting some ideas for six names. If you have ideas I would love to hear them.

Email me at siobhan@siobhanbedford.com

Fire in the Belly

I decided this was the perfect painting to share with you as we head into the 4th of July during the pandemic.

First…it reminds me of a firework exploding into a million flecks of light.

Second…and it’s awkward to say, but it does remind me a little of all the virus images we have been seeing over the last few months. Try to forget I just said that;)

This painting is one of the 9 Spectrum paintings I’ve been working on for the last year. Although, they are not exactly monochromatic each piece in the series has a focus on a single color.

This one is obviously very yellow. In a way, it’s like the powerful July sun firing up the long summer days.

Third…this reminds me of the Chakra System.

If you have ever spent anytime breathing & bending in the “yoga world” you have probably heard of it. If not…it’s a Sanskrit system of energy running through the base of the spine to the crown of the head and down again. I like to think about it as the connection we have from our earthy body to our higher self.

Yes, it can all feel a bit woo-woo to our everyday way of thinking of things. And…Yes, it’s also completely fascinating.

Anodea Judith wrote an intriguing book called Eastern Body Western Mind. It’s a very in-depth blending of the physical body, Western Psychology, and this Eastern energy system. In it, she associates each chakra energy with color energy and a place in the body. Yellow is associated with the solar plexus. If you have ever had the experience of “trusting your gut” you know this place. It’s your “fire” in the belly. In the chakra system, it’s the place of power. Specifically the power of the will to transform.

Fourth…I wish you a very Happy 4th of July! ( see what I did there? wink. wink)

Even though things will be different this year, I hope you’ll feel that fire in the belly that freedom makes possible. Like the tiny specks in this painting swirling in all different directions…our power is still brighter together.

PS… If you are curious as to how a painting transforms in the making…here is a slideshow of work in progress snaps.

sweating the start last summer

bring in the yellow

structure of the core

light it up

give it glow with a glaze

snap from last January

sparks start swirling

up on the wall for the deep dry

“Power is the expression of the sacred in its evolutionary unfolding. Power is the awesome presence of the divine. Power is the mystery, the unknown, the confrontation with the other. Power is the transition from the past to the future. In order to escape the narrow traps of personal limitation and approach the magnificent expanse of totality we must reclaim our power. Power is the ability to determine our own destiny. Only in a path of uniqueness can the vital energy uncoil and pierce the regions of the unknown. Only with power can we move aside the obstacles that keep us imprisoned, enslaved and unconscious.”

— Anodea Judith

Poppies

Oh poppies! They bloom so quick and fade so fast! Their beauty is silky and papery. Even the simplest one is stare worthy. I have to share some snaps with you. I took them in the studio using sunlight and a velvet backdrop. I find most of my inspiration for art sourced in nature. So, photography has been a wonderful way to give deep attention to the endless fine details.

If you are a gardener…these are Mother of Pearl Shirley Poppies. Angels Choir is another one of my favorites. I scatter seeds mixed with sand in late February and then again in early March. If there is snow on the ground even better. It feels wonderful to throw seeds in the face of winter. Then run back in the house and just let them be. They are happy if spring is cool and not too wet. They don’t like having their roots disturbed. So to thin them I snip rather than pull the seedlings out. They fade fast when the summer heat kicks in. My garden is really tiny so I just pull them out to make room for sunflowers and cosmos. But...someday I’ll have a big meadow and will let them dry into the prettiest little seeds heads.

If you are not a gardener…just enjoy my obsession:)

“When the world wearies and society fails to satisfy, there is always the garden.”

— Minnie Aumonier