Sunday, October 11, 2009

Digital Collage - Abandoned



Abandoned started with a friend emailing me this photo of this house. She had gotten it off the Internet from Scotamus. She asked me to do something with it. She knew this house from when when was younger and just sort of stumbled upon this photograph. Funny how that can happen. I thought it felt like the season of spookiness and Halloween. The girl in the window is my friend when she was a child, the two ghost children are unknown relatives, and the assorted crows and ravens are my photos.

Abandoned can mean so many things -houses, friends, family, a child, hopes, dreams, art... What makes someone just walk away? Can someone explain that to me? I like to think that it is for the best. That the person walks away because he or she is doing the right thing... dreams lost. We walk away because we don't like the way something is turning out, or the feelings it is churning up, or maybe it is lack of resources... we tell our self that we will get back to this when we have more time, more money, more... So, today I call an old friend I haven't talked to in awhile, finish a project I set aside, and started one that has been flitting around in my head.

13 comments:

  1. Wonderfully done!
    Happy day,
    Christina!

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  2. Art featuring an old house always makes me pause and wonder Your beautiful piece reminded me of a poem I wrote to accompany one of my pieces some time ago. I hope I won't bore you if I share it now.
    ***
    I see them now, as they were then
    So many years ago
    I'd bring back those simpler times
    If only it could be so.
    Barefoot days & childhood games
    In the lazy summer sun
    And Mama calling from the door
    When day was gone and done.
    Time moves on, & life unfolds
    As it was meant to be
    But, in my mind, in memory
    I bring then back to me.
    ~~B. Crawford

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  3. Interesting question. As I tackle getting myself ready to move art supplies and fiber supplies into the new studio I have come across unfinished projects. Projects that had so much hope when they were started and then boom, left. Some just tossed aside. At first, it was frustrating to see and then a bother to even have to make a decision about them. I tried putting myself back into the moment when I started it and asking myself WHY I didn't finish it.
    Do you know what I discovered? It doesn't matter. None of those questions matter. I realize that all I have to do is ask myself, do I like it? Do I want to finish it or do something different to it?
    If it's a relationship am I really interested in keeping it or renewing it? If no to any of the above, it's OK to gesso over it, donate it, throw it away. It was something that I needed to do to express myself AT THAT MOMEMENT IN TIME. I've moved on with my journey. Maybe the object, person, place, hasn't and it's ok to let go of it. BUT, do it gently and with respect. It had it's purpose and place in your life. :)wordyBea

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  4. Now, about that haunting digital work. Amazing. Absolutely amazing.
    I LOVE IT. :)Bea

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  5. Bea I agree, sometimes you just have to give yourself permission to let go!

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  6. Wonderful picture. It is haunting but not in a creepy way. Sharon

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  7. Totally Spooky!!!!! and wonderful!

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  8. I love old buildings and this one is a jewel and the work you did on it seems to fit it so well. I have a picture of myself in front of an old barn that is falling down, it was my grandfathers barn when I was a kid, going to try and work it into my art journal.BE BLESSED

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  9. Wow I love old houses you did a great job!

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  10. i love this. digital images just fascinate me!

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  11. Hauntingly beautiful, Elizabeth. This abandoned home has much to say.

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  12. Perfect image for the season. I'll consider your thoughts about abandonment throughout the day, I'm sure. You must have had fun placing the images - the two on the left are perfectly rendered - they look so authentically 'spirit' like.

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  13. Beautifully done. I just love the mysterious feel.

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