From Green to Purple: Reflection on Art and Inspiration (August 22, 2012)

When Brother Llewellyn came up to me in the dining hall and asked me if I was the potter from Boston, I felt an immediate connection to him as an artist.  (It has been a while since I have done pottery as I don’t currently have a space to accommodate that medium, but I love it and hope someday to get back to it.)  I responded by asking him if he was the man who painted the picture on the wall.  He confirmed that this was so.  Thus began the evening of artistic journey and inspiration with Brother Llewellyn.

Masterpiece (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn) two years in the making. Hanging in the dining hall of Assumption Abbey.

Panel  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn) of the above artwork.

Another panel  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn).

Yet another panel, just magnificent  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn).

Pata and Br. Llewellyn, the artist who creates beauty. 

Although Brother Louis had explained some of the imagery of the painting at lunch, Brother Llewellyn shared some of what went into the creation of the icon.  I was especially interested in the way the gold leaf was applied with the use of a clay under it which is burnished to create the sheen.

Pottery piece  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn) in the garden outside.

Exotic plant outside Br. Llewellyn's studio. 

We had the pleasure of sharing dinner with Brothers Llewellyn and Louis before we got a tour of Llewellyn’s studio after dinner.  Brother Llewellyn came and picked us up and we walked to the studio.  Before we even entered the building we were greeted with art he had created and the flower gardens he grows.  There was a walkway with tiles that he had made that were one inch thick with a pattern on the top.  They created a lovely entrance to such a creative place.  There were flower in pots he had made and a fence garden with plants on both sides of it.  Much of it was past prime, but it was still quite beautiful with roses still hanging on in the late summer.

We are given the grand tour of Br. Llewellyn's studio.

Br. Llewellyn's pottery pieces are amazing and beautiful.

Pata is all ears as Br. Llewellyn discusses art.

Art created by Br. Llewellyn on display in his studio.

The studio itself was upstairs from the laundry room.  It was a large space loosely divided into the different project on which Brother Llewellyn was working.  He had pieces of his work on shelves, tubs of glazes and bisque ware ready to be glazed.  (The Abbey sells his work in the gift shop.  If I were not on a bicycle we would have taken home a piece.)  There was a table that had a pattern for a new hook rug his going to make. 

He makes traditional hooked rugs.  He designs the pattern, dyes the wool, cuts it into different sized strands, hooks it, and finishes it with his own fringe.  He is very exacting and particular about his vision.  He told the story about how he was working on a large rug and he wanted to the colors to go from green to purple.  (I believe it was a workshop setting.)  Anyway, he tried a number of times to dye the wool from green to purple and would always get green to various shades of blue.  This was not what he wanted.  The teacher tried the dying and also got blue.  Finally they figured out that there was an error in the dye book they were using.  What struck me was the Brother Llewellyn had an idea and a vision and would not compromise it.  He (and his teacher) persisted and finally figured out how to create the colors for his piece.  I am sure it was frustrating to try time and again only to get blue; but how satisfying it must be to hold true to ones vision and finally achieve it. 

Native American dream catcher given to Br. Llewellyn.

Wood block hanging in the studio - also given to Br. Llewellyn.

Stained glass hanging in the studio.

Grant Wood in the studio.

Nice wooden/glass cabinent in Br. Llewellyn's office.

His studio walls were covered with his artwork as well as that of others.  Some of which he inherited with he took over the studio.  I find it interesting to see the art that artists choose to display – especially that of other people.  He had a dream-catcher and a piece of stained glass in the window for which he had traded his pottery with another artist. 

Quite beautiful watercolor of Yellowstone done by Br. Llewellyn (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn).

Br Llewellyn shows us an icon he did. It is exquisite!  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn)

Another iconography done by the master,  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn)

He is an exceptional two-dimensional and three-dimensional artist which impressed me greatly.  (I do much better in three-dimensions.  I really can’t draw at all.)  His paintings were just as stunning as his pottery.  He is such an accomplished and inspired artist!

Beautiful pottery plate by Br. Llewellyn.  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn)

This peacock pottery is amazing.  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn)

A vase of beauty and grace.  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn)

A sea turtle ceramic canteen. Fantastic!  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn)

More pottery from the resident art genius Br Llewellyn.  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn)

Pata and Br. Llewellyn pose with another ceramic piece.  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn)

After awhile, it's hard to stop saying "wow."

The shelves hold treasures.

The leaf is 3d raised and wonderfully done.  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn)

During the whole visit we talked “shop.”  It was great fun to hear about the various glaze techniques he had used to achieve different results.  I have experience in raku and pit-firing and we shared our experiences.  We talked about glazes and slip techniques and kilns and high fire techniques and low fire ones.  (I would love to spend two weeks with him in the studio to learn some of what he knows!) 

The kiln in Br. Llewellyn's studio.

He talked about how he loves the Asian aesthetic and how it influences his work.  He has such an affinity with flowers and uses their images often in his work.  He even grows amazing orchids inside the studio.

An exquisite orchid in one corner of the studio.

A whole array of orchids!

An artist’s workspace reflects aspects of the artist.  Even my small table in my apartment reveals aspects of my personality and artistic vision and inspiration.  So it was with Brother Llewellyn’s studio.  I could relate to the way that he had many projects going at the same time and was clearly always on a learning curve for new techniques and ideas.  He was not the type of artist that would do the same thing over and over and over.  He built on his skills ever expanding and exploring new artistic terrain.  I loved that about him! 

After the studio tour, I asked him if his rugs were on display.  He said that he could bring them down to the guest parlor for us to see them.  The rugs are incredible pieces of art, rich with color, texture, and composition. 

Br. Llewellyn and Pata hold up a hand made, hand dyed prayer rug done by Br. Llewellyn...It is gorgeous !!  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn)

This prayer rug took Br. Llewellyn 2 years to make. Hand dyed and one of its kind in the world.  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn)

Another view.  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn)

Close up of the center. Truly divinely inspired art.  (copyrighted by Br. Llewellyn)

Br. Llewellyn, Pata, Br. Louie and a visiting monk from another monastery.

Talking to Brother Llewellyn and seeing his space made me long to get back to my own art.  It made me realize how important art and creativity is to me.  I too have many media which I used to express myself.  Being on the road limits me to writing as I don’t really paint or draw and it is hard to carry other art supplies on the bike.  However, I know when I get back my art, like a good friend, is waiting for me.  Thank you Brother Llewellyn for sharing so much with us and for rekindling the fire of inspiration in me!