Imitating Plants in Paper

Happy 4th of July to the Americans out there and happy summer to the rest of you. I hope you can spend time with family or just do a Zoom call if that's your only choice. I know I am lucky to have Sam and Leo the cat to entertain me these days. As I said in my last communication, this is a good time for reflection. I've gone so far as to study art history, in my own way, of course.

See more about this painting below. I chose it because it has major elements of abstraction. It is perfect inspiration for my art.

Sea Daffodil, Mary Delaney, 1778

Now that I've got a little time on my hands (ah-hem), I decided to dig deeper into the history of my technique. I have to admit I was humbled to find an artist using a similar technique in 1771. Here I am going around telling everyone I developed my own technique that no one else has done before. While that is partially true; I have developed my specific technique, but there is a long history behind the style.

Like many artists, I like milling around in the studio experimenting and challenging myself to find new processes and new images. I have rarely been motivated to study the history behind it. Well, that all changed this week. I looked to the internet for answers about art history and found these amazing facts.

Mary Delaney (1700 - 1788) created cut out paper art work she deemed "Paper Mosaiks". Hmmm, like my "painting with paper." Ms. Delaney started making her work at age 71. That's pretty cool because I'd like to do this for a long time. Mary knew she developed her own technique and told others, "I have invented a new way of imitating flowers." Works from her botanically accurate depiction of plants can be found today in the British Museum.

This technique is a form of decoupage and is associated with crafts and artisans. I don't at all like the reference to what many consider lesser than fine art, but now I want to own it. It is associated with "women's work" as well and I might as well own that. I have learned that the cut out paper artwork was the fashion for ladies of the court, like needlepoint and drawing and painting.

A while back I was in a 4-woman show called "Women's Work" at a gallery in Los Angeles. My work was also featured in a show at The Craft and Folk Art Museum. Interesting. It's so fun to delve into the past and paste together new connections. Like collage, different pieces come together to tell a new story that enriches art even more.

Red Rose, Maureen Maki, 2020

I continue to work in the studio, moving along with my Alchemy series combining elements to create something new. I am currently reworking some older pieces, breathing new life into them with new additions. It seems most appropriate when you think about my Mary Delaney story. We keep adding to the past.

So next time I hope to have some images of this latest experiment to share with you. In the meantime, I leave you with my wish that you use this time for reflection too. I've found that being at home has allowed me to maintain a regular yet more focused brainstorming/journaling process. There's no better way to get in touch with yourself.

Stacks of new paintings