It was another busy month at Steve Campbell Creations. Besides working on my upcoming book releases, I have been busy planning the 2027 spring art show for the Corry Artists Guild. Our theme is “Echoes of Earth” for members to create themed pieces for the show. Of course, our members can enter work without the theme.
Things I Have Learned About Art and Echoes
The phrase “Echoes of Earth” conjures the idea of the planet’s lingering voice or memory reverberating through time — ancient geological layers, the resonance of nature, and the traces our world leaves behind. It evokes a sense of reverberation across deep time, as though the Earth itself is speaking, and we are hearing its distant, fading signal.
I spent a lot of time reading about echoes and found a lot of information that piqued my interest as an abstract artist. From showing the Earth’s “echo” not as sound, but as mass, to biological motifs rendered abstractly, ideas percolated in my head of turning echoes into visual pieces of art.
I also considered echoes as concrete art. This led to a series of ideas of echoing the past by using a style developed by an old master artist, or a school. This adds a layer of lineage to the visual echo. When an artist adopts the style of an Old Master or a specific school, they are not merely copying; they are engaging in a dialogue across centuries. The “echo” becomes a vehicle for cultural memory and technical reverence.
The thick, impasto strokes of Rembrandt or the delicate, translucent glazes of Vermeer are visual signatures. When a contemporary artist uses similar techniques, the “echo” is in the texture. The eye feels the weight of the brush, hearing the “sound” of the master’s hand through the new artist’s tool.
Or consider the dramatic play of light and shadow (chiaroscuro) used by Caravaggio to create a specific mood. A modern artist using this palette is echoing that theatrical tension, bathing their new subject in the same spiritual or psychological shadows.
Even using the limited, earthy palettes of the Renaissance (ochres, umbers, lead white) creates a visual warmth that immediately connects the viewer to that historical era. The color itself becomes the echo.
As I went through my art history library, I wondered if more interesting “visual repetitions” could happen if an artist distorted or contextualized the echo. For example, imagine a portrait painted in the style of Velázquez, but the subject is wearing modern clothing or holding a smartphone. The style (the echo) clashes with the subject, creating a jarring but powerful commentary on time.
The more books I read and the more I imagined turning echoes into visual representations, the more excited I became to create a themed piece of art for the show. I have six months to do it in between writing and publishing my next books and preparing the Corry Artists Guild’s 30th anniversary in 2027.
Halloween
Halloween is a favorite time of year because it still brings out the kid in me. From wearing costumes and hanging out with friends to reading, watching, and creating my own spooky stories.
If you are new to this site, I have authored several spooky short stories over the past 50 years of my writing career. Below are links to a handful I have published here at Steve Campbell Creations.
Enjoy reading. And have a wonderful Halloween this year.
Thanks for stopping by. Peace and love to you all.
Steve, 10/31/2026
This post “October 2026 Review” copyright © 2026 Steven Leo Campbell at stevecampbellcreations.com – All rights reserved.
