Being in New Zealand for 6 weeks was a wonderful experience that invigorated my life and art. I’m using the adventure as an opportunity to reflect upon how I express the essentials within my art practice.
For the first week in NZ, I played with serigraphy/silk-screening aided by a previous art student of mine (whom I taught at the University of Wyoming in the late 1990’s). Toni Mosley, graciously invited me to participate in an art residency (BlueBathtubPress) at her home studio in Auckland. It was a fabulous experience, allowing me 
to enjoy a different kind of layering process of art creation. I’d had a little prior experience in silk screening in 1979 during my first pass at a university degree in Biology; but at that time, Serigraphy used oil-based inks and turpentine solvents, all very toxic. I chose then not to pursue the process. Now, it uses water-based inks, and thus a much healthier process to engage… thank goodness.
During that week, I played with some Japanese paper stencil sheets, and silk screens with photos from my previous travels. If you want to see videos and images of the process, the best place is my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/debbiemathewart/ If you hit the follow button, you’ll see what I’m up to there – I always appreciate the interest and support.
Prior to going on this travel adventure, I chose images for exposing on the silk screens from those I’d taken during my travels to Ireland in 2023 (doors, open gateways, iron heart) and during in my 1986-7 travels in Asia (B
uddha & Hindu statues [see image on left], lotus flower, Buddha mudra/open hands) to be exposed onto the silk screens. Toni graciously prepared many of these screens in prep for my residency – thank you Toni!
I’ve been an astrology dilettante for the last decade, which seeded the recognition that the current eclipse cycle we are in this March/April, is the same as that during 1986-7 – so using those images from that prior time frame, affirms the cycles inherent within a lifetime. It pulls in the themes of what continues to inspire me. And what is that?
The Process! I love exploring new processes, and especially those that have a layering dimension to them – whether it be different media or/& collage.
Imagery/Content = How all cultures across our beautiful planet are wise in their universal claims of love/peace being at the intersection of how to live well, which reflects the universal recognition that living and life is difficult. The symbols serve as reminders to focus on what we can control. I’ll show you a few pieces I left behind with Toni at the residency, as a small thank you, as well as pieces in process.
I Left My Heart, Silk Screen Print & Mixed Media, Mar 2024 Process: I started by making a silk screen pass with green ink to lay down the archway image; sourced from a 10th Century building in Ireland, it had a commemorative plate off to the left. This later became a place for an iconic NZ image – a stamp of sheep in a pasture. The central heart images were then silk-screened on, as well as the flowery patterning within the arch. Then the irregular hatched ground… all in different colored inks. The image on the right is of this stage when all silk screening is complete. I then added color with water based inks, pencil crayon and acrylic washes. The final touch was to add the New Zealand stamp. 
The heart image was sourced from a photo I took at the Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. The famed Saint Laurence O’Toole was named Archbishop in 1150’s; his heart was preserved in this heart-shaped iron container, wrapped with iron strapping. As an icon, a preserved heart is both to memorialize one’s passions, as well as safeguard it for posterity. When represented here in 2 dimensions (flat), the iron binding looks like a cross. To cross one’s heart, is to affirm a promise. The archway is like a portal between the worlds, visible and invisible.
I left a piece of my heart in New Zealand; I’m sure I lived there in prior lifetimes, and it was a kind of homecoming.
Piercing the Essence, Silk Screen Print & Mixed Media, March 2024
Some of the layers of this art piece involves the use of the Japanese paper stencil prints; the printing sheet I used is shown below; the multiple layers of paper in the stencil are reinforced with persimmon tannin and the patterns are hand cut.The printed crescents are vis
ible on the dark blue edges and within the central arch of the art work.
The additional image at the bottom of this artwork is of a portion of the 12-armed Hindu deity shown above; the energy is of mastering the inner demons that arise when life is challenging. All spiritual traditions provide tools to evolve human consciousness from fear-based instincts (retaliation, greed…) to elevated noble qualities (compassion, kindness…). Breathing, following a code of conduct, praying/chanting, yoga, etc., can rewire our neuro-circuitry and become compassionate, peaceful, loving beings. The presence of the heart positioned above the deity, suggests the central focus is the heart. Moving from choices based upon rational, detached thought, to heart-centered communication, is key to evolving this world, one person at a time.
What did I bring home to work on? 
Left: 4 pieces in process.
Right: Lotus image + tightrope walker – growing lotus wings, amidst a jungle.
Left: Here you see the buddha hands in a giving/receiving mudra. The lotus and archway are paper cut-outs, used to mask where I don’t want 
the ink to be laid down, when adding another printed layer (using a silk-screen or stencil sheet).
Right: As with all these works, I will add more color in layers using water color, pencil crayon, and likely collage… following the muses’ promptings.
So, new processes/media, combined with the integration of past images, contributed to kick-starting a more nuanced iconography promoting a long-held theme of my art – that of wisdom symbols for an evolved humanity.
Let me know if and what you enjoyed about this update… I always love to connect with you!
Please see smaller, more frequent updates by following me on Instagram… I gave the link above.
Thank you for your presence!
Debbie Mathew