Arctic Dreaming: Polar Bear. Scratchboard and acrylic ink 11 x 14 in. Copyright 2008, Tania Nault.
So if the dream is complete, does that mean this board is now awake?
Arctic Dreaming: Polar Bear, work in progress. Scratchboard 11 x 14 in. Copyright 2008, Tania Nault.
I’m nearly done! Just in case you’re wondering about the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in the lower section, here’s my thoughts: some Inuit groups believe that the Northern Lights contain the souls of the ancestors, including those of the animals. I wondered if Debby’s soul has joined up with her ancestors?
This has been an exciting board - I don’t normally “wing” so much of a board - but for this one, the entire Northern Lights area at the bottom of the board is scratched straight onto the board without any pre-drawing. There was something frightening, yet oddly freeing, about working in this way.
As I mentioned last week after Debby the Polar Bear (Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg) passed away I found myself contemplating a portrait of her based on photos Kevin took when we were at the zoo earlier this year. I chose a pose with her napping and once complete, plan to add colour to this to suggest a reflection of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).
Arctic Dreaming: Debby the Polar Bear, work in progress. Scratchboard, 11 x 14 in. Copyright 2008, Tania Nault.
I’m pretty much done the cowboy boots themselves and have started work on a simple background for them - I think the ref is of a wood floor or deck?
Cowboy Boots, work in progress. Scratchboard, 10 x 8 in. Copyright 2008, Tania Nault.
At any rate, I can see one thing with the floor I already don’t like (no shadow where the boot touches the floor) but I need to set this aside for a couple days and finish a couple boards for the Art Gallery of Regina Art Galore Show. More on that anon….
Cowboy Boots, work in progress. Scratchboard, 10 x 8 in. Copyright 2008, Tania Nault.
As you can see, I’ve made some progress with my scratchboard cowboy boots. I’m really pleased with how well this is turning out. Next week when the Agribition is in town I’ll be heading out to get more reference photos with a Western flavour. I think what I’m learning from this piece is that what I really like, no, what I love about this medium isn’t necessarily the subject matter so much as it is the play of light and dark, the illusion of textures and dimension and depth.
