Collection 1 – Circles - Lyndsey Bushell Art

Collection 1 – Circles

Circles of Perception

Circles of perception

This painting came about after a process of experimenting with different materials including ash and clay and how we see ourselves within society. It is a very special piece to me, as it was the first one after making the decision to go solo, removing myself from the rat race and being true to myself.

Please read further details on how I came to this outcome below.

Shop – for prints from this collection

Calm Chaos

Calm chaos is a poem I wrote.

After writing it, I started to think about what the word calm meant to me.

To me calm can be a colour, a shape, a feeling, a type of light or texture.

I tried to capture this in the image here. The soft colour has been created from adding ash to gesso. A natural element that creates a beautiful tone. The circles were formed by dipping household items into the paint mixture. One, a glass ramekin, the other, a milk bottle lid. Both man-made objects.

The ash and gesso give texture and the circles work harmoniously together like a choir of voices, filling the space with a pattern that although is chaotic and un-uniformed, creates a sense of calm.

Spirals

Carrying on with the circular shape I ripped some lengths of paper to create some spirals. I like the ripped edges and the way the paper forms itself into such a beautiful shape.

Here the light makes the paper look soft and pleasing to the eye. It has a romantic feel about it, possibly because of weddings but for me it is about the softness of the shadows and shapes created by the light.

Barriers

I wanted to mix the two ideas together and placed the spirals onto the ash mixture. Initially i wanted the mix to work as a form of glue to stick the paper to the canvas.

However as I was applying the mix, I started to see it forming a wall. Strengthening the outside of the paper. Much like people, who put up a wall to protect themselves, the ash mix was becoming a wall to protect the delicate paper inside.

Synomonous with the defences we create ourselves, a brick wall so to speak, one made from our own making, sometimes confining us to our own prisons. We think we are protecting ourselves from harm but in doing so create more harm than good.

The spirals inside are where we are going round in circles, searching for a way out, feeling trapped by our own confines. Our delicate emotions trapped inside our walls, hidden away from those around us.

Texture

As well as making a mix with Ash and Gesso, I have also made a mix with clay and gesso. Forming another soothing and natural colour. But by doing so I have also created a wonderful sculptural textural medium. Earth/clay is the very ground we walk on and ash resembles the end of living organisms. Life and death.

Both part of the cycle of life, the ever turning circle.

Which and Why

Which and Why? two circles. one perfectly round, the other not It’s so simple but it gives so much. I put this out there to see what people said. Here are a few of the results.

“Perfectly round, I like things uniformed.”

“Not perfectly round. I like different, as you follow the line each curve swaying you in a different direction a different view point, there’s so much to see on your journey and yet you still get to the same end.”

“Perfectly round.”

“I like the two together”

“The one in the middle.”

So depending on what you choose, there is no right or wrong answer. However I do think it shows a character trait. My thinking was similar to the second response. If I was to travel around the world in a strait line, it would restrict what I could see and do. Whereas if I went around the world and went to many different locations, I would no doubt see a lot more, have a wider experience of what is out there and and a more rounded opinion, due to the different cultures I would encounter. Therefore having a greater depth of knowledge.

I started to realise that it was interesting what people wrote and how it reflected in their personality. The two people who like the perfect circles are very organised and assertive. The others are very accepting of individuality and enjoy the journey. All great qualities but different. So is it saying something of a persons subconscious mindset?

I decided to take this further. Rows of perfect circles and rows of not so perfect circles.

And this got me thinking.

Would this experiment show that people who choose the perfect circle, live and work in structure, with rules and firm guidelines, who thrive in our current culture of business, organisations and heirachy. They love to have a nice house, fast car and an all inclusive package holiday to show off all their achievements?

Where as the other is less likely to conform to rules, they have their own mind and like to appreciate the small things in life, like nature, companionship and adventure holidays.

To chose both would mean a good balance between the two. Accepting we all have our differences and that’s ok. Rules give structure but don’t control.

To go between the two and take the small space between the two circles, could suggest that neither fits. They are trying too hard to fit in and not found their place yet.

Moving on from this, I started to think about perfection. The pressure of trying to achieve perfection and what if, you are someone who is not trying to be perfect?

I sensed that the not so perfect circle has more colour, that by not trying for perfection, would bring light and colour into your life and you are more likely to be more true and honest to yourself.

Whereas the people who strive for perfection, by doing so were less likely to be their true selves, conforming to what we perceive as being perfect, not who they truly are.

So I decided to colour in the not so perfect circles with pastels and make the colour go closer to the edges.

But the perfect circles I painted with black ink to emphasise the black and white thinking, right or wrong, and as I painted more circles they got further and further away from meeting the sides ,showing how hard it would be to reach what we perceive as true perfection.

“So the coloured circles are like when you are a child and the black circles are how you are as an adult?”
Mike Bushell

An interesting interpretation

Rules of conformity

Going over the boundaries and not meeting the rules of conformity. Now I see how we are expected, within our society, to meet so many standards. How just being yourself can put a lot of strain and struggle on whether or not we succeed or meet expectations.

We live in a world of targets and rules and a need to be better than the next person, so we can work and earn and live to put food on the table for our families.

But is this right?

Is this how we should be living?

Is this the natural way for us to live?

Under constant pressure, rushing to places, trying to fit everything in, meeting deadlines, taking abuse from others?

Or have we moved so far from our natural way of life, we wouldn’t even recognise it if it was right in front of us?

Is our idea of perfect so far removed from what is perfect that we are all fooling ourselves and being brainwashed into thinking we are doing the right thing?

So what happens if we fall outside of the perfect circle. We try so hard to do our best, to meet expectations, keep everyone happy, bend of backwards. Is that when we fall ill? We become stressed, overworked and unwell. Is that when the body and mind say stop!!! it’s all too much?

At this point do our boundary lines become blurred? Do we find that keeping to boundaries and expectations is just too much. Is that when people break down, break the law, or lose their minds, a cry for help? enough is enough?

Then are these the people we become afraid of, because of their unpredictability? The people of society we avoid. When really they are the people of our society that need us most?

The Final Piece

With all this information in my mind, I set out to paint my final piece.

We don’t need to be perfect. In fact – by not trying to be perfect, we are indeed, more perfect. More true to ourselves. As we go through life we are always competing with others.

We are put into environments where we are taught we must be better to survive. To achieve the perfect grades, the perfect look, the perfect home and family.

But to live, be kind, share, relate, love and laugh are the things we need to focus on.

Remembering that the clay in this painting represents the very ground we walk on and the ash the end of all living things. It is a reminder that we have a choice how to live. it depends on us.

Circles of perception

The circles are showing that we are all in this together, no matter what you are like and regardless of what perceptions you have. Perfection is a man made concept, we don’t have to be perfect to be successful and loved. But what is important is that we must take care of one another, support each other and work together to create a masterpiece.