“middle of august” making of the collection
This collection embodies the essence of late summer, capturing the interplay between light and water in a river. It invites reflection on the fluidity of growth and the continuous renewal found in both nature and life.
Continuing on with the idea of painting over old canvas that was a prevalent theme in the last collection, it was also the start of this body of work. Looking at an old idea in a new way. This collection began while I played around making these orange little minis, because I enjoyed minis after doing the first round and they are a nice change of pace after working on the big pieces. I felt inspired by the greens of late summer, in the river and on walks. By the lazy late summer sun reflecting in the river when its at its lowest of the season, when you can see the bottom and everything flowing through it. In Montana our rivers and lakes are super clear in the summer, especially when they are low. No longer is it a dark, mysterious black like in the beginning of summer. It’s more of a subtle, calm friendly version. Similar to a human, sometimes we are dark, deep, mysterious in life. Sometimes we are subtle, calm, friendly. It’s the combination of it all, that makes life interesting. The same river, but with many different facets. i think that speaks to us as humans, and our ability to be multi faceted. To like two things at once. to love the city, and also the mountains. To be outgoing and spontaneous, but need time alone to recharge. For some, to be a mother, and still their own person. To be spiritual, and still want to party. To be grounded, and still get lost in the depths of your dreams.
Exploring these concepts is a common thread in my art, and in my life. Holding two things true at once. Looking at something old, with a new perspective. These pieces began as an orange color, which felt inspiring. However, as the creative process went on, something wasn’t right. The inspiration was gone, and the pieces felt direction-less, and without depth.
Sitting along the river bank in my back yard one day, watching the sun reflect on the ripples of water in the river, I was able to find a new direction for these pieces. Like it was sitting there all along, waiting to for me to see. Not to seek out, to notice. The rivers are so beautiful in the middle of August. The water is low, and takes on the color of the surrounding trees, with lazy late summer golden sun reflecting off the top. You can still see to the bottom, but the entire bed of water is layered with these different colors. So complicated, yet serene.
Once I started changing the pieces to green, I knew this was it. Adding in more textures, lace, and papers to enhance the pieces, giving the dimension the feeling of small waves on top of the water.
The pieces were almost complete, but something was still missing. In my abstract pieces, I enjoy using old books or magazines, and leaving the text showing through. These pieces didn’t end up having any text showing, so how was I going to name them?
A trip in mid-August to Iowa to visit my Nana and family was just the answer. The majority of the paintings I created in college while I was discovering this style are at her house, and as I was viewing them I found my answer.
I used to write and script in my paintings, adding poems or musings or lyrics of songs I was listening to while painting. I haven’t done that yet in a collection, so I decided why not start here.
To finish the pieces, I sat out back one night on my retaining wall, overlooking the river. I added in quotes or musings about August, the idea of late summer, and the pieces felt complete.
If you resonate with the idea of late summer, the Middle of August was created for you. To remind you of those late summer afternoons, with golden sun and rivers tinted green from fully grown overhanging trees. The laziness of those moments, grasping the last momens of summer before fall begins.
”The Middle of August” is now available to view and purchase at Sage and Cedar in downtown Kalispell, Montana. If you do not live in Montana and would like to purchase a piece to have it shipped, please email me at info@ashleyannart.co