Four Elements Art - my recent 30 Day Challenge

For the past 30 days, along with 200 other folk from around the world, I've taken part in my second 30 Day Challenge - run by the fabulous John Williams (Author of Screw work lets play) and coach extraordinaire Selina Barker. Yeah! 

Once again it has been a fantastic experience, and very different to last years - my first ever 30DC - which resulted in my '30 days - 30 bags' project.

This time I wanted to try something different.

Inspired by the recent 'Ice art' that mother nature had herself created (well with the help of cars!) see below:

The wonder of nature

I decided to create my own artworks using the four elements - Air, Water, Fire and Earth. 

I had no real plan and let each idea for how to 'use' each element unfold... which was all part of the enjoyment and the playfulness about it really.

I also had a go at making some short films - a first for me and something I really enjoyed - from the filming to editing and then seeing it all come together. Something I will certainly be doing more of..

So here's a snapshot of what I have created. I took way more photos of each 'element artwork', but have limited the images to three of each here...

Air
Materials: Polystyrene cup, paint, water (to thin the paint down) and paper...

Water

Materials: Water (!) food colouring & ink

Inspired by the work of photographer Mark Mawson who photographs paint in water, I wanted to have a go at creating my own moving water images.  I love the way the picture changes every second creating ever changing patterns, creatures and even numbers that appeared in the images I managed to capture. What can you see?

Fire

Materials: Matches, glue gun, wood

There is something about these images that says to me about 'burn-out' of the human soul when working endlessly in a job that you hate and also about deforestation. What do you think?

And finally..

Earth

Materials: Clay powder - Kaolin, Fullers earth, Arrowroot, Milk powder and coco powder (so I got the benefits of a spa mud bath treatment at the same time!!

This one took me a while (to pluck up the courage) but I'm really pleased with the results (and it was so much fun!)

The film: I ran out of time to finish this one as I would have liked - so I will return to it at some point - but in the spirit of the 30DC and not being over 'perfectionist' here it is!

I've learnt a lot about myself from this years challenge - including asking for help! and have found it an incredibly enriching experience. So I'll be back again for the next one...!