Stand Still

Arts & Crafts Series
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Stand Still*

"Stand Still in the Forest" I find that my greatest source of replenishing my inner energy comes in the form of hiking, and walking outdoors. I love being one with nature, bathing in the woods and forests, enjoying the crunch of new fallen snow on a crisp winter day, the dappled light that cascades down to my hands, face and feet as I recharge and discover.

I created this artwork style, which I call my "Tile-Inspired Series" because of my love for the ceramic art tiles from the early 1900s. Grueby, Rookwood, Teco (among others) were creating beautiful decorative narratives with their landscape tiles. Since my medium is paint, I wanted to stay true to my roots and try to create a new style of painting that evokes a similar feeling to the tiles of yesteryear.

I start with an acrylic panel, then add sculptural molding compounds to the surface to create the high relief that's seen in the white outlines of the shapes. Once it's dry, I can sand the forms and then I let the acrylic paint pool in the reservoirs I've created to get a glaze-like effect.

Artwork and words (illuminated verse) by Julie Leidel, 2023.