Uploads from escher is still alive, tagged segment

2nd Night Frosted 4 Colour Sun Wheels

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:35:08 -0800

After the rapid melting of the frost on the sun wheels yesterday I left them overnight again in a frost pocket hoping that the night would be cold.

When we returned they were indeed frosty again so I set up my camera to film a timelapse of the frost melting. In the space of an hour the warmer-than-the-ground air had melted all the frost completely.

On the way back I took them with me and placed them next to the path in the hope that they would brighten someone's afternoon.

The rest of the time we made kid's land art so we can update the LandArtforKids.com site and blog in the next couple of days with new activities and games for Winter.

Land Art Site

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Frosty 4 Colour Sun Wheels

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 07:34:01 -0800

escher is still alive posted a photo:

No not a super-sweet kiddies breakfast cereal but a reprise of the 4 Colour Sun Wheel I made in Spring earlier this year.

As a follow up to the 'leaves and light' series that I was following then, which was all about finding out whether Autumn colours were present in Spring and Summer, I am now starting a colours of Winter theme. I realise that Winter doesn't officially start until 21st of December and there are still deciduous leaves hanging onto some trees but the short days and frosty mornings, blue skies and golden light equal the best of Winter for me regardless of the calendar date.

But despite it being the tail end of Autumn these leaves are not Autumn leaves. Each was taken from evergreen shrubs, the same as I did in Spring. So it is clear to me now that it is possible to make these wheels at any time of the year.

I spent yesterday making the wheels but by the time I had finished the light had already turned golden and faded shortly after and I missed the opportunity to get a photograph.

So instead, after dark we headed onto the moors and looked for a sheltered spot to arrange them so they would hopefully become frosted over during the night. I was also hoping that the next day I could sit and watch the frost gradually melt off them as the sun rose and struck their frames.

But before that we would have to make it back to the car in the dark. There was just enough light to see, but for some reason the path back (despite being the same path but in reverse) was much trickier to negotiate than on the way out. Someone had placed odd shaped rocks all along the way, that tripped us and weren't there on the way out and I can tell you it isn't much fun walking into a gorse bush in the dark, although I obviously needed convicing of that fact as I repeated the experience several times.

My first thought as I woke up this morning was what the temperature was and how frosty the wheels will look. It was 1 c and so I raced out the door as quickly as I could.

When I found them they weren't as frosted up as I hoped but then the frost wasn't as heavy anywhere as it was yesterday. I took some shots of them where they were then headed off to find a spot where the dawn light would strike them. Despite the ground being hard and frosted, the air was not as cold. Within minutes of setting off walking the frost began to melt from the wheels and it was all gone after a few short minutes. So I set them up on a patch of frost and waited for the sun to appear.

Once I was done I looked for a really cold frost pocket and once more placed them out ready for tonights frost. The UV of the sun had faded the yellow and as ever the sculpture's appearance changed with time, just as everything does, the only key factor is how quickly or slowly things change, but as sure as sure everything changes whether we are aware of it or not.

The time I spent out this morning tuned me in to the temperature of the ground and the different temperature of the air. The low arc that the sun follows and the places where the sun hits at different times and the other places where the sun doesn't hit again until Spring. Although I made the sculptures yesterday and just photographed them today they still gave me the opportunity to experience the changes and cycles of a crisp winters day, the fluctuations and eddies and transitions that one might miss if you did not spend the time to study so closely.

Land Art Site

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Frosted 4 Colour Sun Wheels

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 07:33:44 -0800

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Land Art Site

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4 Colour Sun Wheel Film

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:19:43 -0700

escher is still alive posted a video:

This is a film of this that I made back in April. If you've seen the original picture you probably didn't realise I was getting eaten alive by midges. Now you can see the gory action all to yourself. I defy you not to feel itchy once you have watched this through!

Land Art Blog

Traffic Lights for River Traffic

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Sun, 31 May 2009 11:31:32 -0700

escher is still alive posted a photo:

If I go off on a bit of tangent somewhere in these notes then it is because I have baked my head out in the sun today. If I really start to go off on one then it might be best to call the men in white coats. If you tell them to pretend to be selling ice creams then I will go with them without too much of a struggle.

I wanted to do something with water (other than drink it) today but I just can't leave (you see what I did there) coloured leaves alone especially in the wonderful sunshine we are enjoying. First I thought about making the discs so they were parallel with the water but the light shining through them was too much to resist. I am sucker for it don't you know.

I can sense some of you are hovering by your phones looking up the local mental institution number. Anyhow...

The red one is made from copper beech leaves, the yellow and green from rhododendron. Thorns and dried grass stalks were used to pin it all together.

This stream is right next to a footpath and I guess for the average passer-by it is a little unusual to see two fully grown adults splashing about in wellies in a small stream. Not unless they have met either of us before.

At one point a lady and her dog walked past and they were a little shocked (both of them) to see us there especially as the dog wanted to jump in a follow the water upstream just where we were.

As we were finishing up another walker went past and stopped to ask what we were doing. I explained to him about land art and showed him the sculpture.

"Why are you doing that then?"

"Well you know, it just making a sculpture" I replied

"Yeah but why would you want to?"

"Errmm, just for fun?"

I started to pack up, collect together the bits and bobs and fold up the tripods. Our new friend fancied a bit of a chat and being a friendly chap I joined in.

Soon, I am not sure how, the conversation turned to his nephew and how he is 17, 6' 5" but not fat you understand, just a big bloke. And he's got this motorbike see, that he has trashed and he never looks after his things because his parents always do everything for him. And he's got this phone right, cost £400 it did and guess what he'd only gone and lost it two days after buying it! You wouldn't believe it would you! Two days! Kids today eh. And then he went to the snooker club with his uncle and when they came out he had a flat tire. "A flat tire!" I exclaimed. "Kids today having flat tires willy-nilly, never would have happened in my day!"

Meanwhile I can feel the skin on my right ear and right forearm slowly starting to burn and crisp up nicely. The smell didn't seem to bother my new chum. "I am helping him build a new motorbike, but he seems to think I will do it all for him."

"Does he, what a cheek eh!" I replied.

"He reckons he is going to get Terry to do it for him, but I know Terry I've talked to him about it" he said.

"Nothing gets past you does it mate" I agreed.

"No it doesn't. He reckons if Terry can't do it he'll get his Grandad to do it. Wrong again - I've been to see Grandad too, he's got no chance!"

The blistering was becoming quite intense now so I took my chance, pushed him into the river and legged it.

Land Art Blog

Rainbow Leaf Stripe Amongst the Buttercups

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Sat, 30 May 2009 07:50:35 -0700

escher is still alive posted a photo:

Land Art Blog

Rainbow Leaf Stripe Amongst the Buttercups

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Sat, 30 May 2009 07:50:53 -0700

escher is still alive posted a photo:

With this sculpture I have finally joined up the circle. I started on a path a few years ago where I began to investigate the colours of Autumn. I made this from cherry leaves and was astounded at the different colours that were there. They were not all obvious at first and by making something where the colours faded - one into another - I had to spend time with those trees and study their leaves to discover all the colours that they could produce. I have made more sculptures over subsequent Autumn seasons and I found that that range of colours is not always available, different seasons bring different factors that affect the colours and I discovered that sometimes the full range is only there for a day or two.

This season has been the first time I have tried a similar voyage of discovery to reveal the colours of Spring. In some ways this has been an even more suprising, inspiring and fruitful journey and I have been amazed to find quite how many colours there are to be found in leaves. In fact this Spring has been comparable with a really good autumn in the variety of colours present, the only difference being the quantity of coloured leaves to be found. What has staggered me the most though is how I have missed the colours before. Sure I must have seen them in the past but their presence fleetingly glanced off my consciousness without making much of an impression.

It is only during the last few days that I have finally found the full range of colours I would expect in fall and realised that they were there all the time. Yellows, reds and greens have been present in abundance but the oranges and in-between hues were harder to find. But through the process of making the leaf series I have been constructing recently I have gradually reached the point where I now know that all the colours of Autumn are present in Spring too for those that care to look.

This is what land art is all about. Immerse yourself in nature to open your eyes to the world. Discover that we are often distracted and unable to see what is all around us. Know that there is joy to be found in the structure of a leaf, the colours all around us, new growth, new life. With each new discovery a veil is lifted and it is possible to see more clearly. I hope that I bring some of this to you too.

But with each new insight there is the promise of more. There is so much more to see that I cannot see now, I am convinced of that. And again I will be surprised as to how blind I have been as I peel back another layer. Next Spring I will find out more about this one as I learn the difference between one season and the next. Will all those colours be there again? Will there be more? Did our cold Winter mean that this Spring was more colourful than before? There are many revelations yet to be had I am sure.

Ps. I haven't started drinking yet. I talk this much rubbish when I am sober. To the barbie mobile!

Land Art Blog

Red Orange Yellow Sun Star

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Sat, 30 May 2009 07:02:34 -0700

escher is still alive posted a photo:

As you know I am a man of few words so here are a few: Sun, leaves, colour, thorns, circles, buttercups, summer days, beer, barbecue, drunk, shenaningans, unconscious. I'll expect you can guess the direction my Saturday afternoon will take. Time to make fire!

Land Art Blog

Rainbow Sun Wheel

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:19:02 -0700

escher is still alive posted a photo:

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Coloured leaves? Sunlight? That's completely unexpected. Never seen that done before."

The first sun wheel was getting a bit too big for it's boots. After getting all that attention a few weeks back it's been swanning around the house making demands and muttering about how "no-one understands me, its tough being a celebrity."

Well I had to bring him down a peg or two so I made him an older sister to slap him around a bit. There has been a marked improvement, you'll be happy to know, he has even brushed his hair and doesn't only converse in grunts and frowns now.

I did some travelling for work earlier this week and put some extra hours in. As Friday and the weekend are set fair I left work early and got home just before lunch. My partner said to me "so what are you going to do this afternoon?"

"Land art of course" I replied with a grin. This was met with a frown. I guess tactless enthusiasm for a fair weather weekend wouldn't go down well with someone who works Friday afternoons and evenings and Saturday mornings! Especially after we went out yesterday evening and collected a bounty of beautiful coloured leaves that she then lovingly arranged on the dining room table. I'll be having them I thought! I guess there is someone else round here who needs slapping around a bit.

This was constructed the same way as before using hazel, leaves from several different shrubs, reed grass to divide the circle and thorns to pin it all together. The leaves themselves dictated the form. I only had a few larger leaves so those went in the middle, the rest were much smaller and so demanded to be put into smaller frames. Also the colours available were more orange, red and brown with only a few yellow leaves collected and the green leaves were fresh and so had to be used sparingly as they quickly wilted in the strong sun.

Other land art lessons learnt today.

1) The sun moves! No, really it does! Banks of cloud kept rolling past and when the sun reappeared I had to keep moving the sunwheel forward so it wasn't in the shade. As I have explained before land art is very "deep and meaningful" and I think I might be onto something with this sun movement thing, I reckon that might explain what happens at night.

2) It is never, ever the right temperature. It is only ever too hot or too cold. Today the sun was very strong and it was far too warm for anyone other than lizards and Californians. I blame meteorologists. Oh and the banks. And politicians.

Have a nice weekend everyone!

Land Art Blog

Rainbow Sun Wheel

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:18:55 -0700

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Land Art Blog

4 Colour Sun Wheel

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:00:01 -0700

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Back at work today. And it was dull, dull, dull. So of course I day-dreamed of land art. I wanted to bring together the experimental ideas I have been trying out recently. Colours, circles and sunlight. I wanted to take more care and be more precise too. Fortunately rhododendron leaves are robust and can take a little more abuse than the fresh new leaves but still I cursed every time I snapped a thorn or stuck one into the end of my finger.

We are fortunate to have a wonderful park in Lancaster, full of diverse plants, hidden nooks and crannies, sandstone outcrops and magical hidden corners. Unfortunately the windless evening proved popular with the midges too and they were really in their element nibbling my ears.

I seem to be blessed when it comes to finding the right conditions for photography. The light was perfect and the background quite striking and in a few short minutes I had some nice pictures recorded. The low evening light meant the high contrast look that I like was achieved without any post processing. These are just as they came out of the camera apart from a little cropping. Fortunate indeed. A few minutes later the sun dropped enough so that the wheel was no longer illuminated, I had arrived at exactly the right time.

View On Black

Land Art Blog

4 Colour Sun Wheel

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:59:43 -0700

escher is still alive posted a photo:

View On Black

Land Art Blog

4 Colour Sun Wheel

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:59:53 -0700

escher is still alive posted a photo:

View On Black

Land Art Blog

Frost Melting Timelapse

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:30:41 -0800

escher is still alive posted a video:

This is a timelapse film of the frost melting from the Frosted 4 Colour Sun Wheels after two nights of leaving them out in the cold.

Land Art Site

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LandArtforKids.com

Sun Wheels in the Heather

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:57:00 -0800

escher is still alive posted a photo:

After filming the melting frost timelapse I moved them to a spot by the path at Birk Bank, Clougha and arranged them so they would catch the afternoon sun. I hope that passing walkers may chance upon them.

Land Art Site

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Sun Wheels in the Heather

nobody@flickr.com (escher is still alive) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 06:56:47 -0800

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Land Art Site

Land Art Blog

LandArtforKids.com