Amee with a solar print of grasses on calico in process.
A solar print on calico developing amongst the rusy stuff behind the Paper Mill
Solar print of grasses developing in the sun
Final grass print on calico
Spinifex print on calico using purple solar reactive dye
On the Catwalk! The purple spinifex panels became part of one of the outfits required to show off Amee's jewellery
The orange grass print on the catwalk at Eco fashion week in Perth
The 3 'print outfits' on the catwalk at Eco Fashion Week In Perth
Using a rusting process circular tablecloths become works of art destined for the catwalk
Close up of the rusted tablecloths
Rusted tablecloth on the catwalk! Amy's vision for the rusty tablecloths was spot on!
Here they are, all three tablecloths. Perfect with Amee's stunning paper jewellery creations.
Now far from the catwalk... Deb continues to experiment, dyeing paper with various natural dyes.
'Flag' Concertina Book, showcasing various beautiful papers from Curtin Springs
Rusted Cloth bound book, with dyed string and paper beads.
The rusted book open. I utilised a small piece of rusted paper destined for the bin to make this tiny treasure.
Post Cards form Curtin Springs. Handmade paper concertina books, drawings in pastel of Curtin Springs 'icons' reference old fashioned fold out post cards
Detail of Mt Conner Post card Book
Detail of Mt Conner Post card Book
Detail of Mt Conner Post card Book
From a burnt Sand dune, Mt Conner: Pitt pencil on spinifex paper
Mt Conner Stormy; Pitt pencil on spinifex paper
Mt Conner Burnt Country: Pitt pencil on spinifex paper
Mt Conner from the Mulga Park Road: Pitt pencil on spinifex paper
The back of Mt Conner: Pitt pencil on spinifex paper
Waiting for the full moon to rise Lake Swanson: iPad drawing using Procreate
Evening, Spinifex on Spinifex paper: Acrylic ink
Ridgeline, Spinifex on Spinifex paper: Acrylic ink
Spinifex on Spinifex paper: Sepia ink and pastel
Three Hills: Spinifex on Spinifex paper: Acrylic ink and pastel.
Rust pattern near the Paper Mill.
The sound of rain,...water running over cracked soil...Hurray!
Tiny plants erupt after rain
Tiny flowers after rain.
Trees reflected in the dam after rain.
Clouds reflected with Mt Conner in the distance
Clouds reflected
Eagles nest in dead treas.
Pacific Heron at the dam.
Sunset stormy sky.
Lone tree, storm light
Lone tree, storm light
Various grasses in late light
Sunset clouds
Thorny Devil, saved form the road and released.
Artist in Residence at Curtin Springs
I have been working with Curtin Springs Paper since late 2015, it featured largely in my 2016 exhibition FLORA; The Alchemy of Playing with Plants. Taking up my post as Artist in Residence in November 2017 I looked forward to the opportunity to carry out some exciting new experiments with Curtin Springs paper.
I am practiced at the process of natural dyeing and eco printing on silk and wool but I was keen to see what results I would get on the hand made paper. So I set up a little studio/lab under cover, outdoors, where I could safely boil up natural dyes and eucalyptus leaves on a camp stove. These were then applied to the hand made paper, using steam and clamps.
The results were fascinating though not always what I had hoped for. So being first and foremost a ‘plein air’ practitioner I turned my attention back to drawing. It was very hot however, being November, not a comfortable time in the landscape, so I rose early to beat the heat and flies, drawing upon the beautiful dawn landscape using pastel pencils (Pitt Pencils) on spinifex paper. The big skies always delight me at Curtin Springs and we were blessed with some spectacular storms. So I worked each day on drawings of Mt Connor and the so-called ’Halfway Tree’, a singular Desert Oak of magnificent proportions and significance.
With tourism being such an important part of the Curtin Springs oeuvre I played with the notions of postcards and personal narrative, developing a couple of concertina books using handmade paper, that bear reference to old fashioned fold-out post cards from my childhood. I plan to develop more of these.
As always I took lots of photos and reveled in the good creative company at Curtin springs. I worked with Amee helping her develop concepts for textiles and clothing for her entry in Eco Fashion Week in Perth, it was fun! Amee is a courageous creative and it’s always a pleasure to work along side her. Congratulations Amee on your success at Australia’s first ever Eco Fashion Week. Well done!
See Amee’s jewellry collections: www.curtinsprings.com/curtin-springs-jewellery/
Larapinta Creative Camp at Curtin Springs 22nd – 29th April 2018: Join Deborah and Amee for a creative adventure into paper making, landscape and new art making horizons: www.larapintacreativecamps.com.au
Amee with a solar print of grasses on calico in process.
A solar print on calico developing amongst the rusy stuff behind the Paper Mill
Solar print of grasses developing in the sun
Final grass print on calico
Spinifex print on calico using purple solar reactive dye
On the Catwalk! The purple spinifex panels became part of one of the outfits required to show off Amee's jewellery
The orange grass print on the catwalk at Eco fashion week in Perth
The 3 'print outfits' on the catwalk at Eco Fashion Week In Perth
Using a rusting process circular tablecloths become works of art destined for the catwalk
Close up of the rusted tablecloths
Rusted tablecloth on the catwalk! Amy's vision for the rusty tablecloths was spot on!
Here they are, all three tablecloths. Perfect with Amee's stunning paper jewellery creations.
Now far from the catwalk... Deb continues to experiment, dyeing paper with various natural dyes.
'Flag' Concertina Book, showcasing various beautiful papers from Curtin Springs
Rusted Cloth bound book, with dyed string and paper beads.
The rusted book open. I utilised a small piece of rusted paper destined for the bin to make this tiny treasure.
Post Cards form Curtin Springs. Handmade paper concertina books, drawings in pastel of Curtin Springs 'icons' reference old fashioned fold out post cards
Detail of Mt Conner Post card Book
Detail of Mt Conner Post card Book
Detail of Mt Conner Post card Book
From a burnt Sand dune, Mt Conner: Pitt pencil on spinifex paper
Mt Conner Stormy; Pitt pencil on spinifex paper
Mt Conner Burnt Country: Pitt pencil on spinifex paper
Mt Conner from the Mulga Park Road: Pitt pencil on spinifex paper
The back of Mt Conner: Pitt pencil on spinifex paper
Waiting for the full moon to rise Lake Swanson: iPad drawing using Procreate
Evening, Spinifex on Spinifex paper: Acrylic ink
Ridgeline, Spinifex on Spinifex paper: Acrylic ink
Spinifex on Spinifex paper: Sepia ink and pastel
Three Hills: Spinifex on Spinifex paper: Acrylic ink and pastel.
Rust pattern near the Paper Mill.
The sound of rain,...water running over cracked soil...Hurray!
Tiny plants erupt after rain
Tiny flowers after rain.
Trees reflected in the dam after rain.
Clouds reflected with Mt Conner in the distance
Clouds reflected
Eagles nest in dead treas.
Pacific Heron at the dam.
Sunset stormy sky.
Lone tree, storm light
Lone tree, storm light
Various grasses in late light
Sunset clouds