Ichthyic Biosphere: Judith Panson, Kathleen Hamann Buckoski

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Ichthyic Biosphere

‘Save Our Oceans - Save Our Planet’

Representative

Judith Panson

I used my whimsical fish, based on drawings and photographs of real fish, shells, coral, seaweeds, jelly fish and sea horses, to try to show the immense variety of wonder and wild life that lives beneath our oceans.  All these creatures, because we depend on each other, rely on us to keep it a living breathing biosphere.  As we continue to destroy our environment so we will continue to destroy this abundance and in turn our own destiny.

Process:

First sketch

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Theme: Ichthyic Biosphere  ‘Dead Oceans Dead Planets’

Kathleen Hamann Buckoski

Abstract

I abstracted the seaweed and seashells into more geometric shapes and used colours that I thought represented dying oceans better.  I used fish skeletons to represent the “dead zones” in the oceans caused by pollution from disposal of garbage and untreated sewage.  Without adequate protection of our oceans we will lose our oceans rich diversity and their ability to sustain life.

Techniques: The background is wet felted pieces and some fabric which was attached to commercial felt by hand and machine needle felting.  The small fish skeletons were embroidered by hand and the larger skeletons needle felted by hand.  Some seaweed and seashells were cut from wet felting and attached by needle felting and some were bits of wool and threads needle felted by hand.

Process:

 Working with Judith Panson is really no different than working alone.  We taught art together and have had shows (mainly of paintings and prints), together for over twenty – five years, so we are very comfortable working together.  We often email each other pictures of projects both in progress and finished.  We often express to each other any problems we are having or ask for advice.  As I have only been felting for a few years and shown few pieces, I often get advice from Judith in finishing pieces ready for hanging.  She is a great mentor.

 With ‘Ichthyic Biosphere’ we decided on the subject matter and that I would do abstract and Judith realistic.  Judith started roughs for the representative piece and after looking at hers I started roughs for mine.  When we both started building we sent each other pictures of our progress and we met several times to see how well the two pieces complimented each other.