Catching the power of nature to create organic, random, texture and beauty is a challenge for humans. As much as we try, we tend toward the symmetrical and the repeated rhythmic form which falls short of organic. To catch the random we work with process to take ourselves away from thought in order to capture that illusiveness of nature. The splatter technique/process that Pollack embraced is an example of this.
Yet this very illusive quality is what draws me forward. For those that know me well, they may be surprised since I am so often mislabeled a perfectionist . I am learning to notice those small moments of opportunity for randomness and look to embrace them without humanizing (organizing) them but catching them and allowing them to move in their own way, like an eddy that changes the flow.
So today I light the belly of the beast and start a trashcan firing. Opening myself to the moments and the eddy's. I pull out the ingredients, and toss them together with as much relaxed abandon as possible. I find I am out of red iron, so I do without. I am surprised I have no sawdust but I have several large bags of shredded legal documents to burn (perfect). The weather adds to the variables, a damp cool misting has moisture damping the kindling as I layer the pots, dry leaves, kosher salt and copper, alternating layer after layer.
My thoughts and worries, the shredded paper will burn too quickly therefore giving me only a light carbon trapping instead of the darker black and contrast I prefer. The damp will inhibit the slow steady burn and require relighting ....but no matter I have committed to my process and now I await the gifts of the flame.
Yet this very illusive quality is what draws me forward. For those that know me well, they may be surprised since I am so often mislabeled a perfectionist . I am learning to notice those small moments of opportunity for randomness and look to embrace them without humanizing (organizing) them but catching them and allowing them to move in their own way, like an eddy that changes the flow.
So today I light the belly of the beast and start a trashcan firing. Opening myself to the moments and the eddy's. I pull out the ingredients, and toss them together with as much relaxed abandon as possible. I find I am out of red iron, so I do without. I am surprised I have no sawdust but I have several large bags of shredded legal documents to burn (perfect). The weather adds to the variables, a damp cool misting has moisture damping the kindling as I layer the pots, dry leaves, kosher salt and copper, alternating layer after layer.
My thoughts and worries, the shredded paper will burn too quickly therefore giving me only a light carbon trapping instead of the darker black and contrast I prefer. The damp will inhibit the slow steady burn and require relighting ....but no matter I have committed to my process and now I await the gifts of the flame.