Friday, April 28, 2017

The Naturalists' Notebook





well gentle readers,
the show is finally finished and I will be packing shortly..





but I wanted to share a few things with you..
it all began last summer..


The Naturalists' Notebook, Cosmic Butterfly, top, L-R Let There Be Light, Flowering and No. 73


It was the sort of charming shop
that might just disappear if you turned away for too long.
It had a magical aura. I waked in and thought I saw an old woman
sitting at a desk, she smiled as I walked past but continued to read her book.
There were stacks of old papers, manuscripts, music and assorted documents in faded brown long
hand and old photos scattered everywhere.
Pots and pans were filled with lace trims and an old settee
called my name.
I sat and began to look through a dusty album,
the naturalists' notebook...
Perfect, I thought ... I had been looking for just 
such a something.
I paid the woman, who poked the money into her book and continued reading.
The notebook was a puzzle, there were no notes of nature, nothing scientific but instead, there were
drawings and paintings on paper...
And then I realized I had found an artists record of a natural adventure..
Each drawing labeled as Fig. corresponded to a work of art
and suddenly
I woke up...









Yes, 
the idea for the notebook came to me in a dream....







Artist Statement


The Naturalists' Note book was born in a dream, following an illness that left me unable to create. I spent many days watching birds, butterflies and dragonflies. My love of nature assisted me in my healing and followed me back to the studio. My aim has always been to bridge the gap between realism and abstraction, to illustrate relationship and to convey hidden meaning through symbols.

My mixed media pieces always elevate the mundane, celebrate the antique and express in rich layers. In this collection, I strived to create a sense of magical realism, where butterflies form mandalas and crows stand ready to perform magic. Though this is a documentation of personal growth, it is also a map of universal discovery.









Inside the Naturalists' Notebook.. Caterina Giglio






and I was excited to 
create something that held the inspiration
for each piece of work..

You can take a video tour
of the show below..








I had two antique journals, one was the Antique periodical holder
and the other one was a handmade book filled with pressed flowers.
They fit together as if they were made for one another..
fortunately there were many blank pages left in the flower journal,
and I began to fill them following notes in my studio journal...

 I created my first inspirational piece, or Note below
the finished board is on the left.


Cosmic Butterfly, on board left and Notes on Cosmic Butterfly right, above.

as I worked, I thought, 
why not put the notes in the show as well..
so this collection offers you a clear idea of my inspiration, as well as the finished piece..



 L-R bottom, Rooted, Endless possibilities and Freedom


I have been working daily on this show since 
December 
and I am ready for a break
so I will be taking 
a blog and Vlog break 
but will be back soon..

We will 
live stream on FaceBook
May 5 
at the show,
 7pm MDT
and for those unable to make the show on 
Friday night we have a 
matinee scheduled for Saturday the 6th



The show is now open for 
Pre Sales 
and you can look at each piece on the
Gallerie Page.



As always, I thank you in advance of your kind comments..
you continually bless me with your support..

xo