Reviewed by Cecily Bisshop
from the smallest particle to the largest celestial body, I keep coming back to the sphere.
Abstract art exploring celestial and natural forms — printmaking and mixed mediums by Cecily Bisshop, Prism Joy Creatives.
I have always been interested in planets, universes, clouds, bubbles, ethereal space, atoms. From the smallest particles to the largest celestial bodies, the same fascination pulls at me.
This body of work grows out of that pull. I explore colour, shape and space using the infinite world of printmaking and various other mediums, letting the forms find their own weight on the page.
My inspirations sit in landscape, cloudscape and seascape — the natural ecosystems imbued with life and the presence of interconnected energy. Our own interior life merges with the place we inhabit, creating a multitude of overlays. These pieces are the record of that, made slowly and one at a time.
how a planet holds itself together
I love the inherent energy in matter over the vast spaces of atoms and galaxies. The way planets are made stays with me — gasses of chemical matter attracted to each other, accretions slowly forming until there is mass enough to hold itself together, spinning.
That gathering, that gravity, is what I try to catch. Something building quietly out of scattered stuff until it becomes whole. I work in layers to get there, one impression sitting over another, the way accretion adds and adds until a body appears.
Being a member of Saturday Printmakers in Toowoomba keeps pushing me at this from unfamiliar directions. The warm support and varied knowledge of the other members means a piece rarely ends up where I first imagined it.
the strongest shape
Spherical and ovoid shapes are the strongest shape in nature. Eggs, the womb — evolved to keep the young safe. There is a reason that curve turns up wherever life needs protecting.
I use that shape again and again. It carries something ancient and protective without me having to explain it, so the print can say the thing before a single word is read.
gravitas and lightness
I try to capture the precious nature of it, imbued with dense meaning and gravitas, yet also the lightness of joy and freedom.
The sphere can hold both at once. That tension is most of the work — the yearning for protection sitting right alongside a vast freedom, neither one winning.
The way planets are made, gasses of chemical matter attracted to each other, accretions slowly forming until mass enough to hold itself together, spinning.
what to expect
Each work is made by hand, so no two are quite the same. Printmaking builds a piece in stages — the plate is prepared, inked and pulled, often more than once, and I let the colour and space settle between passes rather than rushing an image to finish.
If you want something made, or a piece feels like it belongs with you, send me a note about what draws you to it and where it might live. I'll talk you through what's available, what a commission could look like, and rough timing — hand-pulled work takes time, and I'd rather be honest about that than promise a rush.
Frequently Asked Questions
- what is this body of work about?
- It grows out of a lifelong fascination with planets, universes, clouds, bubbles, ethereal space and atoms — from the smallest particles to the largest celestial bodies. The recurring spherical and ovoid form holds the idea of a precious self, kept safe and free. Each piece is a way of exploring that personal iconography.
- what mediums do you use?
- I work mostly in printmaking, alongside various other mediums, exploring colour, shape and space. Printmaking lets me build an image in layers, which suits the way I think about accretion and gathering. You can read more on the printmaking page.
- can I commission a piece?
- Yes. If a work speaks to you or you'd like something made for a particular space, get in touch and tell me a little about what you have in mind. Hand-pulled work takes time, so we'll talk through what's possible and rough timing before anything begins.
- how do I buy or enquire about available work?
- Send me an email or use the contact page with the title or a description of the piece you're interested in. I'll let you know whether it's still available and how it can be delivered or collected. I'm always happy to answer questions about the work itself.
I explore this limitless concept of personal iconography with elation. Each piece is a way of holding the precious self — golden, spherical, prismatic — safe and free at once.
If a work speaks to you, or you'd like something made, I'd love to hear from you.