Love This! Woodland Portraits That Embrace Impermanence

I am always amazed by artists who create work with the knowledge that it won't last. Artists who draw incredible chalk murals on city streets, artists who create sculptures out of natural elements in nature--those who create simply for joy of the process, and who seem to have very little attachment to the final product.

That is so not me, therefore I really envy those who can let go so easily.

This ability to detach from her work is one of the many reasons that I enjoy Claudia Bicen's series from Project 387, a two-week artist residency in California that she attended in 2013. 

During this residency, Bicen "interviewed six individuals most connected with Project 387’s landscape, found sites in the woods, and created studies in pastels on natural, immovable material." She left the portraits "untreated and vulnerable to the elements—allowing for a delicate process of decay and eventual absorption into the earth. The placement of these works, on the far reaches of the landscape, create an intentional path for meditation. Setting out to see this series requires a conscious choice—a planned pilgrimage."

Not only is this an interesting concept--an interesting way to present your art--but the portraits that she created are pretty fantastic and very creative. 

Let's take a look...

Very unique, huh? And do you see all of the details in these portraits? The wrinkles around the eyes, the individual hairs, the glow of the skin? Portraits are challenging enough without all of the cracks and bumps of natural wood, so I'm extremely impressed with what she put together. I especially love the woodpile portraits ;) 

You can view more work by Claudia Bicen on her website. 

Here's to embracing the transience of both life + art!

PS. My BFF (since 5th Grade), Kelly, is coming in town to visit today (yahoo!), so my posts may or may not be slightly delayed over the next couple of days..