I look at a lot of art every day. It helps inspire me to see how other artists create and the vast variety of work that is out there. However, it can be difficult not to compare my work with theirs. I struggle sometimes in finding the value in my own work, especially when I compare it to the work of established, educated, immensely talented artists. Taken in the right way, though, comparing my work with others can help me find perspective and guidance.
One thing I have noticed is that so many artists, especially abstract artists, work within a specific niche. They have series of work where the pieces are all very similar as they work with the same techniques and mediums. For example, one of my favorite abstract artists is L. C. Bailey. You can see how his body of work is practiced and obviously all the same artist. This is something that I have never done- all of my work is very different, even my quilled abstract art. There are so many different art forms that I love and want to learn that my work seems ever evolving- not a bad thing, necessarily, but I’ve always wanted to create a series of artwork that is very similar from one piece to the next, ironically enough simply because it’s something new that I haven’t tried to do before. 
With my piece, Scars, I knew I had found a combination of art forms that really worked together and that I could use to create a series of artworks. Here is the second in my newly created series Recorded Histories.
This piece is entitled Chronologically. The blocks of black paste and quilled paper pieces connected by lines of ink bring to mind histories connected by time, and rolling forward in a way that shapes the future.
The rest of this series will all include the same elements- black and white, with maybe a pop of one color. Ink lines and text highlighting the edges of each shape, with some typed text peeking through. Each in some way will symbolize our individual lives and the way that language plays a part in our understanding of truth- things as they were, things as they are, and things as they will be.
I’ve included a video of my process and I would love to hear your thoughts on it as well as on the piece and it’s meaning, and suggestions for additional pieces as I continue this series. Thanks so much for reading and commenting!!
Quilled Abstract Art
I love this piece. I love to work in a series and have a couple of series in the works but just this weekend I started to work in black and white. Not sure I will add a pop of color. I love the quilling pieces it just adds one more dimension and texture. I can’t wait to see more.
Thank you so much Karen! My first in this series was in black and white… I will probably do several without color. It’s just such a classic combo. I’ll have to come check out your new black and white pieces! Thanks for visiting!