Life has been a little crazy lately between shows, events, work and moving to a new place I have been on the go nonstop. I haven’t had much spare time to focus on my art and I found myself missing it more and more. I am finally settled into my new place enough to unpack my art supplies so this week I made a little temporary art space in my basement. Eventually I plan to finish the basement and have a proper (and sexy) space to create and rehearse…but that may take a bit more time. I may need to brush up on my carpentry skills before that happens. ;)
My temporary space was just what I needed to get back into the swing of things. I hated having all of my treasures and supplies packed but I have to admit it was kind of fun unwrapping everything and rediscovering all of the items I had collected over the years. It immediately inspired me again.
If you haven’t noticed I have an affinity for old things… books, medical/anatomy items, old hardware, Â antique locks, tiny miniatures, dried flowers, old photographs they all just seem to have stories of their own. My imagination runs wild when I wonder where these things started and what sort of lives they lived. There is something oddly romantic about a pile of old rusty keys or letters that have survived decades (or even a century) written by and to people I have never met. These are the things that inspire me and the things I like to incorporate into my work. These items all have a hidden history of their own but when I put them together they begin a new life with a new story. Because I use so many vintage, antique and unique items each piece I create is absolutely one of a kind, there will never be another like it. I feel like each piece has more personality and is a little extra special because of that.
Art is one of my main passions, from the time I was little I always wanted to paint, draw, build, dance…create. And it runs in my family, there are artists on both my mom and my dads side of the family so I was surrounded by art since I was small. When I am doing something artistic whether its making a shadowbox, painting, working on a costume or performing that is when I feel most alive. It fills me with passion and purpose that is hard to describe. And if my work inspires or reaches someone on a personal level that is even better. One of my absolute favorite quotes that I think about often is by Patajali…I think it is the best description of the creative process.
“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.”
I hope the passion, time and love I put into each piece is felt by the viewer and that it leaves an impression. <3
Here are the pieces that I most recently finished:
Black shadow box with vintage book pages, new, vintage and antique hardware, glass and natural elements. 6.5 x 6.5
Double layer, glass front shadow box with vintage mink with monocle, metal Gin tag and pearl and rhinestone accents. 8×8
Vintage Film Negative Glass Front Shadow Box (1 in a series of 10) 6×5
For additional pictures and information visit my Etsy shop where these items are available for purchase. www.etsy.com/shop/misshollyhockvintage
