Between the Breaths of Spring

With my morning Starbucks Chai Tea Latte safely secured in my cup holder,  I glanced in my rear view mirror.  Across the parking lot and lining the roadway just beyond was (and still is) a row of bushes.  They were nicely trimmed and lined up - tops the same height - residing in new mulch.  Aha, the artist's eyes opened wide - just loved those branches - the shapes between, below, next to.  Nope, didn't take a photo (oh, there's always time).  But here's today's photos.

Today looking back

Imagine the branches, with the grass very low, etc.

I am very fond of roots and crooked branches.  This area where the branches are is very smooth.  I applied a heavy gel to the canvas which created a skin-like ground.

"Between the Breaths of Spring"
My prayer plant decided to bloom so it became the perfect focal point to light her face and adorn her third eye.  The trees on the right are dimensional (again, a thicker use of a gel medium).  Little orbs of gold paint adorn the tips of the flowers' leaves as well as the edges of her mantle.
Here she resides resplendent in coppers and golds.  She is every color, enhanced in light and surrounded by textural elements.  May you join her in serenity and rejoice in the earth.

Immortalizing a Baby Rabbit

It was Sunday morning, I walked down the steps of our townhouse to go to the car.  There, several houses down lay something on the walk.  It was early and my eyes were not yet adjusted to the bright light, but even so, I knew what it was.

I quietly approached and there he/she lay - a perfect, tiny bunny.  I thought he was alive because his eyes were open and at first I couldn't see if there was anything wrong with him.  But then I saw something had bitten him on the back of his neck - not badly though.

I am terrible with hurt or dead animals.  Without going into a psychological harrang here, there is something deep inside me that identifies with small and innocent beings who are hurt.

Of course, he was dead.  I brought him inside and showed my husband.  I took the bunny upstairs with me and sat in my grandmother's rocker.  I rocked and held him and wept deep tears which lasted much longer than they should have.  My husband checked on me and of course saw the whole day going down the drain.  It didn't.

It was as if the bunny was still alive, because he was warm and his demise must have happened not too long ago.  If only he would come back to life.  (tearing as I'm writing this).  Today is Tuesday and he is still here with me, lying on a felted mat, I made some years ago, in a large antique hutch.  He is near other keepsakes.  I don't know what to do with him because he is still soft.  I will have to bury him somewhere safe soon.  It is very difficult for me to let him go - he must be a part of me.

I did take pictures of him outside and on my lap last Sunday.  See what I mean?

Yesterday, I took him down to my studio and placed him on a small canvas.  I traced around him and then moved him to the left so I could paint him.  But I can't replicate him as he should be nor do I really want to.  I don't believe a painting should be exact - there are photographs and real life for that - but I have to capture him somehow.  I shed tears as I painted him but soon got lost in trying to capture him in paint.

Some would say, how can you keep him, how can you even hold him?  Because in some way I feel I was there at the right time.  His life was gone but at least I could and can (for as long as is possible) marvel at his beauty.  How often do we get to hold something so young and wild?  He is very soft with a dark underlay of hair dappled in shades of brown, gray and white.

Here he is painted - what I will do next, I'm not sure.  There is more work to be done on him and I have no idea about the background.  Will I try to sell him?  I will keep him for me, but there are always  prints and who knows what else but that is of no value to me now.

For now, he is still mine and I am very blessed to have this opportunity to be with him.

As you read this, please respect my emotions.  I choose to share this because it should be shared.  Life is precious and we have lost respect for it in all it's forms....perhaps this will change.  Thank you.

Fascia

She Who Creates the Tides

Interesting how things evolve - or how art evolves.  My last post featured work on a wood panel and a small canvas using crackle and self-levelling gel.

It proved to be a good break from my "Ladies of a Certain Era".  Over the past month or so I've produced two paintings which combine faces and different mediums.

A visionary artist, Shiloh Sophia has been an inspiration for me for over a year.  Her work focuses on  women and spirituality, but I am being simplistic here as her work is so much more.  To learn about her, please visit http://www.shilohsophiastudios.com/.

I pushed myself into the unknown to put colors onto a face, to go to Madonna/Buddha influenced features.  Once again, Shiloh helped me to establish the look below.  The Byzantine era, icons, statues, and saints can be embodied in one face.  Interesting too that she emerged so strong.  Was this my intent?  I really had none beyond using color.  But she evolved as the background did.  Towards the end of the process, she took hold and commanded a certain integrity.

So from this place, came "She Who Creates the Tides".

I particularly enjoyed painting the fish who fashion her collar.  Here I used a bead gel - a lovely gloppy white gel with tiny bits in it.

I also applied the gel to the right side of the painting to give a sand quality.

Which brings me to the poem,

The frond I lichen

to the currents

of the sea,

to all things green and moist

I wear them proudly

as part of the "I"

of the fish who adorn me.

Her hair evolved starting with waves on the left to lily pads on the top and small fronds on the right.  I applied thick lines of gold paint to accent the pads.

The colors in her face built up quite slowly.  I started with a yellowish tone and added layers of white, ivory, orange and finally, green.  This was a true test of my "faith".  My "faith" that she would come through all the changes (ah, a life test) and be content with the final result.

The left of the painting was a challenge, what to put there.  I always start with the face and a vague idea of the rest.  I created the water by applying a heavy gel, then running a comb through it.  This area also has layers of paint to get the right color.  Next came the huge green frond and round circles.

Finally, her title, "She Who Creates the Tides".  

Thank you for coming with me through this painting (on many levels and layers).

It all Gelled together

My new direction comes from an intermediate place of experimentation.  It's time once again to re-invent adding to what I feel comfortable with and inspired by as a creator.  After doing many, "Ladies of a Certain Era" then three paintings about "Al Denti's Den of Linguini",  I started to experiment with different mediums.....gels, mmmmmm.

wood panel, crackle paste, self-leveling gel, bits of embroidery thread

I bought a wood panel.  The crackle paste was put on first, very thick and left to dry.  After about 12 to 24 hours, it cracked.  I then painted using my acrylics.  I didn't want to overdue the painting so the cracks would stand out.

After this dried, I added a self-leveling gel by pouring it over the painting and tilting the panel back and forth.  I did make a mess for sure.  I laid strands of embroidery thread down knowing they would stick (as per a video I watched).  You can add anything like beads, shells....The outcome is a mixed media  piece ready to hang.

Small canvas with crackle paste, acrylic paints and self-leveling gel

This small canvas had a wooden support underneath so it could hold the paste.  I put the crackle all over.  In the center, the paste is thin.  I pushed some of the paste to the sides to make a frame-nice and thick.  When it dried, the center was too thin to crackle but the sides did pretty well.  I built up layers and layers of paint.  I like the middle because it has a milky quality.  I finished the rest with the self-leveling gel but I painted it on instead of pouring (much neater).

After experimenting and liking the end results, I was ready to go onto the next BIG project which I will talk about next and my inspiration for it.