Beauty in the Dark
October 31, 2018
Uncategorized
Happy Halloween, my fellow revelers! This holiday, which has its roots in both the fear of death but also the remembrance of loved ones who have gone on before us, gives us an opportunity to face that inherently scary part of this cycle of life with celebration and even laughter. This day has long been one of remembrance and reflection for me, along with the celebrations, having read, as a teen, about the many cultural traditions that celebrate our passing as a natural part of life giving our time here purpose and preciousness. The way these traditions embrace the full cycle of life just made so much sense to me.
So today (and the next couple of days that encompass the Christian All Souls Day, Gaelic Samhain, Mexican Day of the Dead, and many other related celebratory traditions) we get to recognize the role that death and the dead have in our lives and do so with merriment and even beauty. To aid in the view of the beautiful side of these traditions, I’d like to introduce you to this incredible series of sculptures by the artist Krisztianna, inspired by the four seasons and the cycle of nature.
This piece is Autumn, of course, which is a time of final harvesting and of blooming and changing colors as nature prepares for winter. Krisztianna captures the richness of the season with a nod to the Day of the Dead and its celebratory themes in a riot of color and texture. Polymer is but one of the materials used in her sculptures. This is a serious mix of media. With resin cast elements, resin clay detailing, wood, acrylic paint, stainless steel wire, and foam, as well as synthetic and dried flowers, it’s a celebration of artistic materials as well as the season and this day.
You can see more of her fabulous wall pieces on her website, in her shop and on Instagram.
Have a happy and safe holiday!
When Your Buyers Impact You
November 9, 2013
Inspirational Art
Adriana Ayala didn’t set out to be a Day of the Dead artist, but buyers liked what she did so much with a requested piece that she found herself making more and more fun and decorative skulls like these below. Great little pieces, aren’t they? The only thing was, Adriana, a resident of California but originally from Venezuela (where there is no Day of the Dead tradition), knew very little about the holiday, where it came from, or even what it meant to its observers.
This eventually lead her to do a large exploratory piece about the holiday and its origins. Her exploration and the resulting art pieces are the subjects she covers in the article she wrote for our Muse’s Corner personal experience section of The Polymer Arts magazine. Instead of picking and choosing the aspects of the holiday that were most enjoyable, Adriana represents the whole of the tradition, from its dark sacrificial past to the modern day celebrations of life. You can read about her little adventure and see the interesting piece she created when the next issue comes out at the end of this month.
Obsessed with Day of the Dead
October 31, 2012
Inspirational Art
Of course, I had to look for something in theme with my favorite holiday today. I find Halloween, the Day of the Dead and similar observances so very intriguing. Our passing is as much a part of life as our living and an acceptance and even celebration of it can so very much help be at peace with it as well as helps us appreciate each day we have to live, love, create and share.
I am not, however, a year round observer but I think Tamra Kohl of Sacramento, California may be. She has the most varied presentations of the Day of the Dead theme I think I’ve ever seen. With a well honed sense of humor about it, she has been making dolls, dioramas and cake toppers with the well known skeletons and flowers motifs of the holiday. Only she doesn’t stick with just the famous Fall holiday. Her skeletons can also be found lounging in a bubbly tub for Valentines and in Santa suits. Others are out getting tattoos, having acupuncture, flirting with a playboy bunny while seated at a slot machine and even skeletons dogs can be found surfing as you can see here.
There seems to be no boundaries for these Day of the Dead spirits. And why should there be?
You can enjoy Tamra’s many renditions of the Day of the Dead motifs on her Flickr page and website.
Happy Halloween, my fellow revelers! This holiday, which has its roots in both the fear of death but also the remembrance of loved ones who have gone on before us, gives us an opportunity to face that inherently scary part of this cycle of life with celebration and even laughter. This day has long been one of remembrance and reflection for me, along with the celebrations, having read, as a teen, about the many cultural traditions that celebrate our passing as a natural part of life giving our time here purpose and preciousness. The way these traditions embrace the full cycle of life just made so much sense to me.
So today (and the next couple of days that encompass the Christian All Souls Day, Gaelic Samhain, Mexican Day of the Dead, and many other related celebratory traditions) we get to recognize the role that death and the dead have in our lives and do so with merriment and even beauty. To aid in the view of the beautiful side of these traditions, I’d like to introduce you to this incredible series of sculptures by the artist Krisztianna, inspired by the four seasons and the cycle of nature.
This piece is Autumn, of course, which is a time of final harvesting and of blooming and changing colors as nature prepares for winter. Krisztianna captures the richness of the season with a nod to the Day of the Dead and its celebratory themes in a riot of color and texture. Polymer is but one of the materials used in her sculptures. This is a serious mix of media. With resin cast elements, resin clay detailing, wood, acrylic paint, stainless steel wire, and foam, as well as synthetic and dried flowers, it’s a celebration of artistic materials as well as the season and this day.
You can see more of her fabulous wall pieces on her website, in her shop and on Instagram.
Have a happy and safe holiday!
Read MoreAdriana Ayala didn’t set out to be a Day of the Dead artist, but buyers liked what she did so much with a requested piece that she found herself making more and more fun and decorative skulls like these below. Great little pieces, aren’t they? The only thing was, Adriana, a resident of California but originally from Venezuela (where there is no Day of the Dead tradition), knew very little about the holiday, where it came from, or even what it meant to its observers.
This eventually lead her to do a large exploratory piece about the holiday and its origins. Her exploration and the resulting art pieces are the subjects she covers in the article she wrote for our Muse’s Corner personal experience section of The Polymer Arts magazine. Instead of picking and choosing the aspects of the holiday that were most enjoyable, Adriana represents the whole of the tradition, from its dark sacrificial past to the modern day celebrations of life. You can read about her little adventure and see the interesting piece she created when the next issue comes out at the end of this month.
Read More
Of course, I had to look for something in theme with my favorite holiday today. I find Halloween, the Day of the Dead and similar observances so very intriguing. Our passing is as much a part of life as our living and an acceptance and even celebration of it can so very much help be at peace with it as well as helps us appreciate each day we have to live, love, create and share.
I am not, however, a year round observer but I think Tamra Kohl of Sacramento, California may be. She has the most varied presentations of the Day of the Dead theme I think I’ve ever seen. With a well honed sense of humor about it, she has been making dolls, dioramas and cake toppers with the well known skeletons and flowers motifs of the holiday. Only she doesn’t stick with just the famous Fall holiday. Her skeletons can also be found lounging in a bubbly tub for Valentines and in Santa suits. Others are out getting tattoos, having acupuncture, flirting with a playboy bunny while seated at a slot machine and even skeletons dogs can be found surfing as you can see here.
There seems to be no boundaries for these Day of the Dead spirits. And why should there be?
You can enjoy Tamra’s many renditions of the Day of the Dead motifs on her Flickr page and website.
Read More