We all know the expression “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. In this month’s blog, I would like to explore creating something beautiful from something ugly. The artwork I have chosen to illustrate my point is a bear skull that I have used mixed media to turn into a sculpture. My sister procured the bear skull from a friend of hers who is a hunter.
When I received the bear skull it was a mess. The teeth were falling out, it still had matter clinging to the inside that had to be removed (gag) and it was very discoloured. It truly was an ugly and rather repulsive object. It sat in my studio for a few days after I cleaned it up and secured the teeth with epoxy waiting for me to come up with an idea. Sometimes things that at first appear quite ugly can in fact be transformed into something quite exquisite. After the skull was thoroughly clean, dry, and secure I decided the first step I needed to take was to paint it.
Off to the hardware store I went to buy some satin finish spray paint. I gave it a couple of coats of paint allowing it to dry between coats. When I saw the difference a coat of paint made the ideas started to come to me. Instead of an ugly bear skull, I now had a white, delicate object just waiting to be transformed into something beautiful. I started digging around in my collection of fabrics and came across an assortment of very old hankies that had been given to me years ago by my friend Anne.
I met Anne when I volunteered to teach an art class for seniors at the Bayshore Seniors Club in Woodland Beach. Anne was elderly and not long after I took over the class, she started to lose her sight. She was a very sharp individual who had a quick mind and a wicked sense of humour. When she could no longer see to paint, she quit coming to my class so I started visiting her at her home. We spent many evenings sharing stories over a cup of tea. Her experience as a decoder during the Second World War was fascinating. The ugliness of war ended with her meeting her husband. They enjoyed 60 years of a very happy marriage.
One of Anne’s hankies was the impetus for the rest of the embellishments on the skull. The embroidered corner of the hanky fit perfectly over the forehead of the skull and added a delicate touch. This led to me digging through my large collection of buttons and beads to find the right size, shape, and colour. More digging in my fabrics came up with the piece over the snout that reminds me of stitches holding things together and is a contrast to the hanky above it. Lastly, I wanted to hang some feathers off the side of the skull to add some more dimension and a new texture to the piece. I had to visit a few stores to find the right size feathers to balance with the skull. The end result, I feel is quite beautiful.
Sometimes we are faced with things that are upsetting or difficult or downright ugly. With patience, problem-solving, acceptance, and creativity we can find the beauty that lies beneath and bring it to the surface. My eyes look for the hidden beauty in people, places, and situations.
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