Tag Archives: vignettes

Juxtaposition

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I love the word juxtaposition. I like both how it sounds and what it means. The structure of the word itself is like a juxtaposition ~  ’juxta’ is kind of punchy  and then ‘position’ rolls smoothly off the tongue. A whole chapter in my book will explore the theme of artfully juxtaposing objects and elements to create compelling groupings and vignettes.

In art design and music, the negative space of a composition is as important as the positive. As an editorial photographer I am always mindful of this, for graphics and words need a place to rest too. One needs to look at not just the forms, silhouettes, shapes etc of a grouping, but the spaces created between them. In Japanese this is called Ma.

If you imagine cutting a shape out of a piece of paper, you have the shape, but then you also have the rectangular sheet of paper left with the shape cut out…this is the Ma, the negative space. Ma is something to be experienced, like intervals in music. It is a pause for reflection, it is quiet space. For me, one of the most important aspects of striking the right note in the juxtaposition of things, is finding the Ma. I love to combine eclectic elements, rough with smooth, old with new, organic forms with linear etc. These combinations are  tactile and intriguing.


But if just clumped together, grouped without a lyrical sense of vertical and horizontal direction, if not given room to breathe or if just placed all equidistant, the result can be boring, busy or confusing. With intuitive intent I  push and pull and adjust my compositions until this perfect pause of space is formed.

This applies to my photographs and paintings as well.  I want some tension, some areas that maybe even feel rough or slightly unbalanced, some areas that transition smoothly, gently, and then the magical space that invisibly holds it all together.

All styling & photos by Heather Ross

tactile

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I never really knew how much texture influenced me and my work until it was pointed out by others just how texturally strong my photos were. There is so much I could say about texture, and will say about texture in my book. For now I will let a picture speak a thousand words and share some recent images of my trip to the beautiful tactile country of Italy.

Here in the landscapes, the food, the artisanal goods, the architecture, the rural towns and the cloth of life one cannot escape an abundance of texture.  When editing this post and all the images I chose I questioned some of them and their pertinence to the theme of ‘texture’. We tend to think of texture as nubby, bristly, grooved etc but when taken texture into consideration it is the qualities of all textures and surfaces, and the play of different surfaces that make things interesting. The fava beans are waxy against the dry chalky terra cotta. The glass smooth against branches and linen. The poppies velvety against the prickly wheat. I hope these images will not just speak as travel photos, but more as an inspiration board that could inform ideas for a design palette, a painting, a wardrobe, a table setting, a textile, a way of life.





a state of grace, a sense of place

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On this Sunday evening I thought I would just do a small post about displaying objects that hold personal meaning. I have a personal connection to Kwan Yin. She is considered the goddess of compassion and mercy in many Eastern cultures. She is an elegant willowy figure often portrayed in blanc de chine, draped with strands of pearls and flowing cloth billowing in the wind. Associated with motifs of the lotus flower, water elements, an urn or  weeping willow branch { to collect tears } she is connected with nature and maternal love, and is a highly revered and adored bodhisattva. I had a profound dream once about Kwan Yin, and ever since started coming across white statuettes of her form.  I was drawn to them for both their symbolic meaning and also their beauty, and started collecting them.

I created this vignette in the living room upon my home. I look upon it every day and love it.  You can see how graceful the statuettes are, with the poised hands, the flowers, the undulating cloth and waves. Her face is so peaceful, gentle. She is grouped with found objects, some seaweed, coral, beach glass and a sea urchin. The framed print is of an actual sea dragon, creatures that look like kelp in the ocean. It by Barb Snyder, a friend and very talented printmaker. She happens to be a marine biologist ~ we both share a love and appreciation for oceanic forms! All the shapes in this vignette are so organic and lyrical, so I like how the strong horizontal lines of both the frame and the book and the deep smoky grey wall color { just looks black in the image } offset this composition. Books, original art, found natural objects that retain the memory of the moment from when they were found, symbols of love and compassion, these are all things I like to surround myself with.

I find textured white ceramics, porcelain and china just so lovely and they always  looks so wonderful in groupings. Above is an image from my boutique Heather Ross [ in house ] where I have much more blanc de chine on display. See how lovely it all is grouped en mass with glass, old architectural fragments and my paintings above. The smaller Kwan Yin stands atop a dragon, another associated motif. Even in the shop certain people are very drawn to the Kwan Yin and gravitate towards her. Objects, symbols and colors resonate with us for different reasons. What is important is to notice which ones make us feel peaceful, grounded, inspired  and to surround ourselves with objects such as these in our homes and lives.  I encourage others to  group together the things they love, working with certain visual commonalities to bring it all together. In the first image for example, common threads of ocean inspirations, tones of white and lyrical forms are all interwoven to create a serene vignette that always enchants me.

little still lifes

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I spend so much time at my boutique ‘placing’ things. It seems it has become a meditative art unto itself. The chemistry and nuance of objects brought together. The play of contrast or symmetry, the juxtapositions of texture, form and color. The shop is always evolving because of course items come in and items go out…but even in my home I am continually adding & subtracting to my vignettes. Layers are formed, moods created, found objects and treasured momentos get woven into groupings, creating altars of visual sanctuary and inspiration. I took a little walk around the boutique today with my Iphone and captured
these little still lifes….by days end there are sure to have changed. Enjoy.

An antique linen bound book with a found leaf and an antique calling card for someone named Garland…

an old timepiece on a antique silver tray so tarnished that is a wonderful burnished blue, with a little old gold trimmed egg cup…..

          a cedar stump table with a bamboo bowl filled with dried magnolia leaves…
a blanc du chine statuette of Kwan Yin ~ the goddess of compassion and mercy ~ stands in front of one of my paintings Evolu….        a painted wooden egg rests in stacked early american pressed glass bowls…..              urchin spines as fine as glass rest in a tarnished silver sugar bowl…..a large antique coral sits with a seashell nestled within, atop an old concrete planter …beside it lays a great old leather surveyors tape contained within a bed of sea glass
burnished golds are gathered together…an old brass goblet, antique Venetian church elements, copper lustre ware candle holders and a beautiful old santos atop a Florentine gold leafed table…

an opalescent mouth blown glass vase rests within a vintage turquoise dish….my painting Green Dragon Dreaming echoes the watery forms and colors….            a sea urchin nests within a chipped cream Spode double ended teacupI love antique glass ranging in tones from perfectly clear to the most subtle amethyst or lemon meringue tinges. These glimmers atop a Victorian mirrored tray              ethereal chiffon ribbon, glass, silver & china in peri winkle blues….

All photos by Heather Ross, taken on location
at Heather Ross [ in house ] Please feel free to pin or share but
do photo credit ~ thank you! Heather