Sunday Scribble - At the Writing Desk

#208 - Alchemy

I looked up the word, Alchemy and it's an ancient Greek word meaning "the art of transmuting metals", according to Wikipedia. Many fairy tales deal with alchemy, the changing of straw or lead into gold. It is the basis of modern chemistry, the changing of one element into another or another chemical state. It's also viewed as a psychological, spiritual and metaphysical practice in many cultures around the globe.

As an artist and writer, alchemy is in essence...what I do. I take ideas and visions and transform them into metal masks and sculptures. I take mud and paint open to the mystery and form them into the faces of characters in my story pieces. My eyes may see the landscape around me, but it's the process of alchemy that shows me the spirits of the mountains, trees and clouds that become my copper repousse landscapes.

Magic. Mystery. Discovery. Creativity. All these words describe alchemy to me. Opening to the magic and mystery in the world, and transforming that into a deeper understanding of the spirit and soul. Discovering the answers, solutions and cures transforms the questions, problems and diseases. Taking clay, metal, ink, and paper transforming them into art and stories is, perhaps, the most magical, alchemical process of all.