“The older I get, the simpler I want things to be.” Oh, yes! I want to focus on one thing at a time, and deeply. So much that you said resonates with me. Love this new series you are creating, too, Manuela. The images, the collage, the way you integrate words…. Inspiring!
I think that complexity and simplicity, chaos and stillness can reside together much of the time. Lately I have been thinking about the density and complexity of trees. As living presences, trees might be thought of as pure and simple, a respite from manufactured stressful complexity. But they aren’t all that simple and are embodiments of visual layers upon layers can be seen as a whole.
Visual art can be like that too. Marks placed upon other marks, paper pasted sheet upon sheet, paint mixing and thickening. The visual results aren’t always simple but there is still a singular nature to a work of art no matter how layered and complex it might be.
Manuela, I really love the direction you’re taking these layered images combined with the erasure poetry - so full of emotion.
I’ve always found it rewarding whenever I simplify my life to make more time and space for the things that I truly love. Some of my most meaningful experiences have been when I’ve completely disconnected from the world around me - no phones, internet, news. I think that’s one reason I’m so drawn to traveling in remote places in nature.
I hope you eventually create the life you’ve been wanting with less desire, more presence and meaning.
I am fascinated by your new work and I can't wait to see more. I have been wanting to explore multimedia to allow for some kind of layering and a sense of 3D and I'm not sure where to start. Yesterday, I happened to pull a stack of images of various kinds to play things like creating marks with new ink pens. And when I saw a clear acrylic (acetate??) page on which I had printed a musical score layered over another image, so you could see it, I thought, hmm, maybe there's an opportunity here to approach mixed media. I'm also interested in finding ways to incorporate words. So thank you for sharing your images and your thoughts about this difficult time in our history.
I totally embrace the thoughts of simplicity, Manuela. We grew up in the same era and I can "remember in my day"... :). Regarding your process of unraveling complexities while embracing/craving simplicity, I 100% believe that when we simplify externally, more can surface to the top internally. I'm living it. I am embracing the messy and while it's kind of hard, it feels very natural. Love your work— the mixed media is something you do well.
"The older I get, the simpler I want life to be. More time in nature. Fewer things to manage. More presence, less accumulation." I can wholeheartedly resonate with this Manuela - and the images you create with words as you make sense of it all are just beautiful.
I think our art has more layers, because it reflects on who we are and/or what and how we see and experience the world. The different layers are like fragments of all that. The world (we) are complicated. Composites like collage, multi-exposures and other mixed media art helps to expressive that. That, at least, is how I often feel about multilayered world.
We all want something which is tantalisingly just out of reach. I would love to be able to transport back to the 50s and 60s and shoot endless rolls of K64. I was lucky enough to have been able to have shot K25, K64 and K200 when they were all readily available but you don't realise what you have until you no longer have it.
Love your work, Manuela. Tell your son to go out and create his own "nostalgia-in-waiting" 🙂
I love your thoughts on simplicity and art Manuela. This really resonated with me
Thanks so much, Shital!
“The older I get, the simpler I want things to be.” Oh, yes! I want to focus on one thing at a time, and deeply. So much that you said resonates with me. Love this new series you are creating, too, Manuela. The images, the collage, the way you integrate words…. Inspiring!
Thank you so much!
Love everything about this Manuela. Your beautiful images, your words, your insights. Thank you for sharing! <3
Thanks so much!
I think that complexity and simplicity, chaos and stillness can reside together much of the time. Lately I have been thinking about the density and complexity of trees. As living presences, trees might be thought of as pure and simple, a respite from manufactured stressful complexity. But they aren’t all that simple and are embodiments of visual layers upon layers can be seen as a whole.
Visual art can be like that too. Marks placed upon other marks, paper pasted sheet upon sheet, paint mixing and thickening. The visual results aren’t always simple but there is still a singular nature to a work of art no matter how layered and complex it might be.
Thank you for this! I appreciate it.
Manuela, I really love the direction you’re taking these layered images combined with the erasure poetry - so full of emotion.
I’ve always found it rewarding whenever I simplify my life to make more time and space for the things that I truly love. Some of my most meaningful experiences have been when I’ve completely disconnected from the world around me - no phones, internet, news. I think that’s one reason I’m so drawn to traveling in remote places in nature.
I hope you eventually create the life you’ve been wanting with less desire, more presence and meaning.
Thank you, Todd. Yes, I hope so, too.
I am fascinated by your new work and I can't wait to see more. I have been wanting to explore multimedia to allow for some kind of layering and a sense of 3D and I'm not sure where to start. Yesterday, I happened to pull a stack of images of various kinds to play things like creating marks with new ink pens. And when I saw a clear acrylic (acetate??) page on which I had printed a musical score layered over another image, so you could see it, I thought, hmm, maybe there's an opportunity here to approach mixed media. I'm also interested in finding ways to incorporate words. So thank you for sharing your images and your thoughts about this difficult time in our history.
Thank you so much, Ellen! You are already so good at layering. I think trying mixed media would be so great with your work.
I truly feel all of this! How can I recapture the feelings of those days that are gone, but in a new, exciting way! I love where this is taking you!
Thank you so much!
I totally embrace the thoughts of simplicity, Manuela. We grew up in the same era and I can "remember in my day"... :). Regarding your process of unraveling complexities while embracing/craving simplicity, I 100% believe that when we simplify externally, more can surface to the top internally. I'm living it. I am embracing the messy and while it's kind of hard, it feels very natural. Love your work— the mixed media is something you do well.
Thank you, Juliette!
Really enjoy your work. What a beautiful craft you have developed. Today I used one of your images featured here for my daily sketch routine 🤝
Oh my gosh, that’s nice of you. I love when we can inspire each other. Thank you!
Having found your page earlier in the day, I could not wait to get home and settle in to work on this. Inspired, for certain.
Thank you so much!
"The older I get, the simpler I want life to be. More time in nature. Fewer things to manage. More presence, less accumulation." I can wholeheartedly resonate with this Manuela - and the images you create with words as you make sense of it all are just beautiful.
Thank you so much!
The older I get the simpler I want life to be- I agree!
More experiences, like going to Italy together. :)
I feel the same way about my life, Manuela!
I think our art has more layers, because it reflects on who we are and/or what and how we see and experience the world. The different layers are like fragments of all that. The world (we) are complicated. Composites like collage, multi-exposures and other mixed media art helps to expressive that. That, at least, is how I often feel about multilayered world.
Yes to all of it! Thank you!
So eloquently put… ‘More presence and meaning’ is what I am striving for at present.
Thank you!
We all want something which is tantalisingly just out of reach. I would love to be able to transport back to the 50s and 60s and shoot endless rolls of K64. I was lucky enough to have been able to have shot K25, K64 and K200 when they were all readily available but you don't realise what you have until you no longer have it.
Love your work, Manuela. Tell your son to go out and create his own "nostalgia-in-waiting" 🙂
Thank you so much, Paul!
Airways appreciate your kind comments. And, yes, I will tell them. :)
Love the way the first picture turned out.. reminiscing about a time long gone by peeling the layers.
Thank you so much! It’s my favorite, too.
I can relate to this so much, Manuela. I love the images!! 🤍
Thank you!