Black Petals

c2013 Helen Reynolds

Winter for White Cloud Black Mist

c 2013 John Wakeling

c 2013 John Wakeling

I was amazed when the Waitakaruru Aboretum suggested they could continue displaying White Cloud Black Mist over winter. During installation, the work had seemed so fragile and ephemeral I was anxious that it could blow away all too easily. So I popped up to visit and it has lasted really well - a few bits of rubbish have blown off, but most are still attached.

Blue Fern

I took this in New Plymouth - at the Festival of Lights - during a beautiful warm evening.

visual time organization

c2013 Helen Reynolds

As so many  various other things press on my studio time, I wonder (again) how I can fit everything I want to do in to my life.
I tried writing out a standard timetable, with the little boxes to be filled in, but I couldn't make it gel.
But collaging my timetable into a picture suddenly made it all more meaningful to me. Under this, there is still a 'timetable' to scale - the images start at 6:30 am at the top, and work down to 10:30 pm at the bottom. Monday is the first column down, working along to the weekend on the right hand side.
Quite a few things changed when I worked this way - at first the timetable was incredibly visually busy, so aesthetically I had to include more subdued elements, just to  improve the composition. Of course, I was trying to cram too much into plans, but I could only read that visually.
Another big change to the timetable happened when I came across a seascape that was pulled me in instantly. I just knew I had to include a large chunk of seascape in my picture. Yet when I was trying out a more traditional timetable, I kept trying to include time drawing or photographing outdoors - but my rational mind kept telling me I just had to do more 'important' things with my time. But a more visual approach led me a bit closer to the way I really want to use my life.

Drawings from the Couch #1

c2013 Helen Reynolds

I have been making squiggly rough drawings the minute I collapse onto the couch after and finishing up the dinner dishes. I set a timer for 10 minutes, and draw.
It's amazing how much resistance I seem to experience each time - but the internal complaints eventually die down and when the timer dings I am happy again.

Honeycomb Paper

c 2013 Helen Reynolds

The lovely Mary McCallum inspired me to try working with honeycomb paper. There are delightful possibilities - the possibility of movement, combined with structural stability, accessible and lightweight materials - and you need to be obsessive to glue the layers together.
This is my smallest test so far...I have glued a hundred pages together for more playing with honeycombs.

Temple in Laung Prubang

c 2013 Helen Reynolds

A blind contour drawing of a Budhist temple in Luang Prubang, Laos.

White Lines

c 2013 Helen Reynolds

Oban

c2013 Helen Reynolds

I was staying at the world's southernmost pub - in Stewart Island - and feeling almost too relaxed to even draw, watching the boats in the harbour from the verandah. A fantastic place.

Featured on Kiweye

Kiweye, an online magazine of design and visual arts from New Zealand, has just posted an article on my Red Planet project - see it here

Clouds over Southland

Garden City/Hutt

c2012 Helen Reynolds

White Cloud Black Mist - close up

c2012 Helen Reynolds

The wind has been blowing ferociously - I'm a bit nervous about all this staying in place!

White Cloud Black Mist

c2012 Helen Reynolds

White Cloud Black Mist video

White Cloud Black Mist in action...

Interview on 'Utopia into Dystopia'

Curator Claire Ulenberg talks about the 'Utopia into Dystopia' summer exhibition at Waitakaruru Sculpture Park on Radio New Zealand Concert  - Claire and Eva talk about my work here!

In progress - White Cloud Grey Mist

Some of the rubbish suspended - tying it up is taking ages!

Utopia/Dystopia

utopia: unattainable (clouds in the sky, soft palaces of pillows) (new products in shiny packaging)

dystopia: brought to earth a cloud becomes mist, brought into the home the new becomes junk

...the thoughts behind White Cloud, Grey Mist

Building for Utopia into Dystopia

Here I am painting part of the installation that will be going up just outside Hamilton soon!

Add caption

Utopia into Dystopia is the summer sculpture exhibition on at Waitakaruru Arboretum over summer - I am busy building White Cloud Grey Mist at the moment.

Butter Paper Coral

c2012 Helen Reynolds

Road Abstract

c2012 Helen Reynolds