Naming the Garden Take Two

I started a series of calligraphy and photographs in early spring called Naming the Garden which fizzled in late May. There were several problems. The main one was my choice of paper and ink. I was using torn strips of Lokta paper from Chino Crafts in Nepal which was the same paper I used for the Words For Our Time series and J. Herbin ink. The paper was difficult to tear and the writing took multiple attempts as the pen would often catch on the paper and create little blots of ink. I also found that it was hard to make the time to both write the tag and take the photo.  

I have just returned to the project with some changes. I am using Canson Edition paper which is smoother and sturdier and am cutting rather than tearing. I am using only the brown ink and not alternating with the gray. And I have been making lists and am going to write out all the Latin names I can think of at the same time. Then, when a flower is blooming and the light is right, I can go straight to work with my iphone. Below is a practice shot. 

My mother-in-law's passing has been another inspiration. She is the reason I am into Latin names for plants. She started a landscaping business when she was in her early 60s (that indomitable spirit) and schooled me on the importance of identifying plants by their Latin names so there would be no confusion about the exact plant you were looking for. I look forward to the documenting the rest of this season and returning to the garden in the spring. 

Naming the Garden-Getting Ready

According to the Celtic calendar, we are now in the spring season. There is a quickening in the air as the light lingers at the end of the day. But it is still cold and icy here in New England and I am itching for the sight of blooming flowers. I'll get my chance at the end of the month with the sharp yellow of the witch hazel—a tonic for the winter-weary.

As I mentioned in my last post about my Naming the Garden series,  I'm writing the name tags ahead this year. I'm enjoying spending time conjuring up images of colorful flowers as I write out their Latin names. Below is a picture of two piles of tags. Can you guess which pile I will be using and which one is going into the recycling bin?

Studio Sunday-Naming the Garden II

I'm enjoying my Naming the Garden project—writing Latin Genus names on a strip of paper and photographing them with the flower. I didn't want to use black ink. I thought about colors to match the flowers but that seemed too complicated. I decided to go with gray and brown—neutral, not so strong as black, and available in the studio. Here are some of the images. If you want to see them as I do them, follow me on instagram (susankapuscinskigaylord).

Looking Back at 2020

 

I started last year with this image, created with no idea of how precious our breaths would become and how strong we would need to stand. As I embark on new projects in 2021, I wanted to take a moment to remember the ones I did last year.

KEEPSAKE BOOKS VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE

Keepsake Books is a series of how-to bookmaking videos I made to offer a creative activity during the pandemic. While most of my videos focus on the construction, these deal with the content as well. Here's what I wrote about them:

Keepsake Books help us embrace all the complexity of life—to celebrate the joys, cope with the difficulties, and honor those who have passed. They are made with the most accessible of materials and the simplest of techniques. These are books of the heart, made with your fullest attention and deepest feelings. Each of the eight projects has a theme. There are ideas for content—words to write and simple illustrations to make. 

Videos are free to view on my youtube channel.

SUFFRAGISTS SPEAK

I had casually contemplated a project on women's suffrage and then suddenly became passionate to do something as the anniversary came closer. I enjoyed the research as well as the lettering and found such power in their words and their stories. I'm still working my way through my list of biographies and am in awe of every single woman.  

Suffragists Speak can be purchased on my website.

SEA JEWELS: WAVE PAINTINGS BY SANDRA KAVANAUGH

Sea Jewels is a catalog of pastel wave paintings by my friend Sandra Kavanaugh. The book is 6" high by 8" wide. All the paintings are reproduced actual size. I am amazed at the power and immediacy she achieves at such a small size. I designed the book and it was such fun to work together.

Sea Jewels can be purchased on Sandra's website. 

On deck for next year: design of a book of poems by Anne Mulvey called Family Matters, a new book by me called Naming the Garden with photographs of flowers with their Latin names in calligraphy,

a new video series on youtube involving calligraphy and words, and new Spirit Books. I am grateful every day for my work which keeps me grounded and inspired. 

Naming the Garden

The witch hazel is blooming, I love any chance to write words, and mother-in-law taught me to identify plants by their Latin Names. So I've decided to start writing out the names of flowers in Latin and photographing them with the flowers. My daughter got me onto instagram so this was first posted there and uses one of their filters. I like this quick bit of creativity and connection to the growing world in the midst of my usual work which takes place mostly in the studio. I'll continue to do it as the flowers blossom in the garden and post them here once a month. If you'd like to keep up with more frequent postings, you can follow me on instagram (@susankapuscinskigaylord) where I post other things as well.