Brian Fisher Print, Paint and Sculpture Blog

Gnosis, Rust Monotype, 30x30 in. ArtXchange Gallery’s new exhibit, Mandala: Contemporary Interpretations of the Ancient Form (Opening July 3, 5-8pm, thru August 9, 2014) features nine artists (Nola Avienne, Sarah Barrick, Eric Carson, Brian Fisher, Carl Gombert, Terra Holcomb, Chris Moench, C. Andrew Rohrmann and Connie Sabo), whose work explores the structure or theme of Mandala, the Hindu and Buddhist representation of the Universe. Mandalas, commonly seen as circular forms or a square within a circle, are a microcosm of existence, a meditative tool, and a Jungian symbol representing the effort to reunify the self. Above is my Rust Monotype Gnosis, one of several related rust images I will be exhibiting. ArtXchange is located at 512 1st Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104. Hours are 11:30-5:30 Tuesday-Saturday.

It has been a pleasure to exhibit in Playing and Living Joyfully , May-June, an exhibit curated by Janice Randall at Seattle's Plymouth Church. My two Monotypes in the exhibit, "Dog Walkin Waltz" and "Divining Center" shared the wall behind the baptismal font of this beautiful church with work by artists Kristen Reitz Green, Carol Swchennesen, Penny Grist, Donna Botten and Pam Ingalls. It was a wonderful exhibit in an inspiring space.

Workshops are celebrations of discovery for those who take them and for those who teach them! Several weekends a year my good friend Ilse Reimnitz and I teach monotype and watercolor workshops. I always have fun meeting new artists  and renewing ties with the friends who have returned to take another workshop.  And for me the bonus is to be with and make art with Ilse. Certainly watercolor demands patience and concentration  but the method we like to teach also embraces the serendipitous.  By reacting to what happens in an initial pour of transparent nonstaining pigments compositions are imagined, established and developed in each newly painted (staining) layer. In the photo above Ilse demonstrates the process.  Making art is a strange amalgam of actively seeing, purposeful motion and a portion of don't forget to breath, deeply.  People who make art are filters and conduits at the same time.   I thank the participants of our workshop and Ilse for reminding me.