May Flowers shows the emergence of Spring. It made me very happy to break loose and paint flowers with bright happy colors. View the photo album to see the painting in progress.
April 07, 2009
Waiting For THe Music to Begin
I don't really think this is finished yet but I am REALLY tired of working on it. For one thing I do not know anything about music or how to paint instruments. If you are musically inclined please don't ask me what type of instruments these are because I do not know.
The figures never really came together like the usually do-there is no unity. That may change if I put it aside for awhile. If I make significant changes later I will repost.
The feeling is one of assembly and it feels a little and waiting-hence the name. To see the picture developing I have posted an album to the right,
March 02, 2009
Awakening
This piece began as a collage. It was one of the most difficult I have done recently. It seemed so empty and placid, although beautiful. There are layers and layers of tiny bits of color covering the collage.
I almost gave up on it until the very end when I saw the eye. It happened so suddenly that it was like seeing it open up. I had painted eyelid, hair and even part of a nose subconsciously. Then I knew it was finished. The floating specks of copper and topaz in the water confused me until a friend told me that in a part of Hawaii where he had lived for many years there were tiny copper fish. He said the painting looked like that place.
Arresting
This piece began in August while I was working with my friend, Candace. She did a lot of work on the very first layer and it had a lot of energy. It is interesting that it ended up with such a peaceful image and yet there is a lot more stored energy here. It seems that the energy is being held in check-waiting to explode.
I named the painting "Arresting" because of the resting poses and because it is action that is momentarily stopped. During the course of the work many images appeared and disappeared. For more detail you can look at the photo album.
February 11, 2009
Preparing The Bride 24x36
To view the process behind the creation of this Piece view the photo album on the right
SATORI 36x36
Beginning with a random pattern of lines and colors I began to "see" the images one by one and to draw them out rather than paint them in. There seem to be several cultures represented by the dancers. The term "Satori" means instant enlightenment or awakening.
CELESTIAL BODIES 24x36
This image began with a multi-layered collage of fine art papers
Drawing
This drawing was completed during a meditation with my eyes closed. I almost passed out when I saw what I had done. The line down the center of the head may represent the joining of the left and right sides of the brain.
February 09, 2009
My Painting Process
The purpose of this blog is to show my paintings as they progress during the painting process.
My painting style has become almost completely an intuitive one. This can best be described as a stream of consciousness method from which comes inner landscapes.This process merges the creation process with spirituality. Through painting an artist connect with your soul and the creative source. Intuitive painting can be used as a tool of self discovery. When the painting is done intuitively it becomes an active meditation.
I approach a painting spontaneously, beginning with color & texture but without a subject. I use many different techniques –sponges, pallet knives, spattering, collage and imprinting along with pouring layers of thinned colors onto the canvas.I create a loose unstructured background and then step back & look at it. I’ll see something that needs to be done and I’ll do that. Then I’ll see something else that needs to be done and I’ll do that. I layer transparent colors and textures, a form of veil painting.
The most amazing thing to me is that the paintings end up not only being very subjective but with images that I can relate to strongly and identify with. They often mirror my life in a spiritual metaphor. In effect the painting seems to create itself with me as an intermediary. I love the process although it is exhausting. Painting this way has pushed my patience and my faith and enlarged both. I am just allowing it to happen. It’s a very slow process and it requires a tremendous amount of faith. I have to get my ego out of the way. But it’s been very exciting and interesting and I love working this way. My work often surprises and delights me as much as my clients.
After over 10 years working with watercolors I transitioned to painting in acrylics and oils. This was a result of becoming interested in layering colors to create more complex effects with texture and colors. I loved watercolor but could not achieve the effects I wanted without switching medium. By combining the fluidity and lightness learned through my years as a watercolorist with the ability of acrylics and oils to be layered I have created a unique painting style. I use extremely thin washes of paint with as many as 15 to 20 layers of transparent color in each piece. The light shimmering through the many layers of colors and textures makes these complex paintings shimmer and glow.
