Tags
abstract art, art, creativity, lesley fletcher, mylar, projects, Starry Night, Starry Night over the Rhone, Vincent VanGogh
I am a huge fan of Vincent Van Gogh, without actually knowing too much about him. I purchased a wonderful huge, art filled book on him and his art only to get it home and find that it was in French. I suppose I didn’t notice at the store because of the excitement of getting 75% off this beauty and my ability to read headlines in French without realising the language change. That though is the extent of my French language skills. I think, in my own defence, that I was very distracted by the images, the colours, the style, the everything that VV put into his more than 800 pieces.
For those who didn’t know, he actually only sold one painting in his life which was The Red Vineyards at Arles. Currently it presides at the Pushkin Museum in Moscow.
My favourite is hard to pin down but I think I will go with Starry Night Over the Rhone
Since I had this big ole book full of gorgeous VV prints, I decided to mix the bad fortune of not being able to comprehend the text properly with good fortune in that I am using his art to influence, inspire and incorporate into my newest undertaking. I had wanted to create some small pieces (4 x’s 6 inches) so that they would easily fit into common 5 x’s 7 inch frames and combine a layering technique using all sorts of things I have lying around, including several large pieces of drafting mylar.
The mylar is likely from about 1960 but in perfect shape and I have a lot of it. I also felt the need to have a go-to project because I have been writing so much and not paying much attention to creating in an unstructured sense. Unstructured creativity is the best thing for my mind. It clears up like magic and time passes as though I am a child playing outside on a warm summer day. All of a sudden it is dark, I am hungry and wonder where exactly the time flew to 🙂
Anyway, back to mylar. It is very tough to photograph and equally difficult to scan but I will throw up what I have done so far because, well, I feel like it!@!
So with no further ado – here are my first two piece with love and many thanks to Vincent Van Gogh.
“In Motion”
“Love & Live”
Wishing everyone warm spring days and starry, starry nights.
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Lesley Fletcher is a writer (freelance, books, content, lyrics,stage plays) as well as a visual artist specializing in monoprints. To learn more about her please visit the tabs here on WordPress or her website at http://www.LesleyFletcher.com
Inspiration Import 
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Love your mixed media pieces Lesley…do you sandwich the art between two sheets of Mylar and are these ones scanned or photographed? That’s working pretty small but looks like you’re having fun…
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Hi John, No deliberate sandwiching here. The first uses the drafting paper as a canvas and the second as well, but given the transparency, I decided to layer from under the 2nd one. What you see on top is a home made sleeve. I tried to find the technique to share but I was unable to find the video. The 3D pieces on top are made by spreading a thin layer of Mat Medium on a piece of plastic, scribbling with fabric paint (I chose black and white), letting it dry and then peeling it off. It created the accent piece that I just matched up with the existing piece. These were scanned but because they have some topography they don’t really come out all that well. I did manage to get some lettering in but not satisfied as yet. The lettering is too crisp for my liking. Yours are da bomb ! 🙂 – thanks.
I seem to remember getting the idea from Jane Davis (Vermont) – she is amazing. You would love her art.
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Very nice Lesley. Unique and creatively interesting.
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Thank you my dear Kim. I must visit you soon! Put the kettle on will you ? 🙂
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Already done.
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I love these two pieces Lesley. Oh, to be as talented as you (sigh). 🙂
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‘Tis but believing and blocking out pre-conceived ideas of what art is. I am always going back to my art and wondering where it came from and that’s when I realise it flows from a part of the brain that requires quite nothingness :). This said, I am not a trained artist and was advised not to take anything but technique type art classes. Thank you LuAnn. You have made my Sunday better!
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Your work always makes my day better! 🙂
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Lovely and interesting post Lesley thank you! There was some time back an amazing video of Van Gogh’s paintings while Starry Starry Night was being sung. If I could lay my hands on it I would send you the link – but maybe you try?
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Susan – thank you! The post you are speaking of was likely found here 🙂 https://inspirationimport.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/im-in-the-mood-for-art-with-vincent-van-gogh/
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Ho thrilling to discover such a gorgeous art book on Van Gogh … and at 75% off! I lived in Amsterdam andthe Van Gogh museum was a favorite rainy day excursion. Virginia
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I would love to see the museum one day, or maybe I would need two. Nice to see you Virginia!
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I know what you mean about wondering where the time went, when one plays with free form. What you call mylar, I think we call it architect paper? A thick kind of tracing paper? I have some here, but it ripples when I try and glue it to a surface. But a lovely way of creating layers. Love these pieces.
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Perhaps it is like architect paper, yes, but I know it as drafting paper. I used all purpose Tacky Glue and it seemed to work without rippling and even disappeared, so I got lucky 🙂 Thanks – lovely to hear from you and glad you like my work.
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Tell me more about the Tacky Glue? South Africa is often at the bottom end of stocking workable materials. I suppose it aids creativity in that you make the inadequate materials work for you somehow but it would be nice to have a wider choice. What’s it made up of? I know wood glue, use modge podge sometimes and have heard of starch glue but haven’t tried it yet.
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It is essentially a crafters white glue that can be used on fabric, wood, pottery, paper. It dries clear and wipes up with water so if used on pottery will not make it impermeable. I don’t see any ingredients on the bottle. Also, it is flexible so works well with many projects. The one I have is made in China and distributed out of Ohio and bought here in Canada. http://www.darice.com. A search for Tacky Glue on Google brings up Aleen’s brand name. Since the advent of scrapbooking, I am sure you will find it in a craft store. They claim to be the ‘original’ tacky glue people 🙂 The other type of glue that I absolutely love is rice glue (maybe a starch glue?) because it goes such a long way, is water soluble, environmentally friendly and can be used with very thin tissue without ripples. The key to rice glue is to dilute it, apply it, let it dry flat (use wood stir sticks to keep edges from curling) and then when ready to use, rejuvenate with water – like a sticker.
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Indeed starch glue and rice glue may very well be the same thing. I’ll give it a try. And I’ll check out the craft store next time I get to a bigger centre. I live in a remote area so it can get a bit difficult to get hold of stuff. Most stores are willing to post things to one though so I’ll do a bit of research here. Thanks!!
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Oh, those pieces are lovely, Lesley! I can see how very alive they are, and they do have that sense of being inspired by Van Gogh. I’m so glad you shared them! I love Van Gogh’s work too, so I understand why it means a lot to you. And maybe you’ll pick up some more French, too…
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Ha – I will Fed Ex the book once I have cut all the good stuff out. Thanks for seeing him in mine xox
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