Renee Sugar
Toronto, ON - Canada
Renee Sugar - Fine Artist
Member Since: 12/09/2011
Coming soon...
Renee Sugar is a self-taught visual artist recently departed from a 30 year journey working in watercolor as her medium. She has hung her brushes up to dry, and replaced them with combs, and needles. A coincidental discovery of a marbling kit; has completely transformed her current work, and has opened a doorway into exploring a printing technique which is unpredictable, and mysterious, as the outcome is not known until the paper has been lifted from the surface of the methyl cellulose gel medium. Experimentation is the key to understanding the process. There is no right or wrong way to express one's voice, or to develop a style which is unique and distinctive. There of course is much trial and error throughout the process of learning how to work with combs, and needles, rather than brushes. The satisfaction is born of the curiosity to attempt to work with something so unlike painting with a brush. Courage to make mistakes is a part of a learning process. The earliest origin of marbling dates back to 12th century Japan where in the royal courts; ink was dropped onto the surface of a container of water and the designs were created by blowing onto the surface through a straw. The next stage laying the paper onto the water and creating a print. The number of artists who still practice this lost art form is diminishing due to the labor-intensive process. I attempted to make it a journey of joyful discovery and enjoyed combining a much more vibrant color palette, than was available in 15th century Europe where marbling continued to develop its popularity. The challenge was to unlearn having control of the outcome, because it allowed for a more creative, playful story to unfold.
