December 2015
I have begun my annual painting hibernation season.
It is a seasonal tradition for me.
As much as I say the cold is no longer my friend,
I feel I am lying.
I produce more work in the dark winter months.
I turn down parties and dinner dates, so I can stay in my studio and paint
in the dark night hours.
This December is strangely mild, yet I carry on my hibernation
joyfully.
I have to remind myself who my friends really are.
My art continues to evolve.
I am still most interested in the process, more than the product.
Abstraction has a hold on my attention.
It allows me such freedom that I have not felt in a long time.
I feel as though I was a kept woman.
So stuck, so tight.
Painting with little brushes, and little canvasses.
Now I am bold, bright and big.
Big color, big texture, big inspiration.
I am painting with my hands, cardboard, knives..what ever grabs my attention.
I am hungry for creation and discovery.
I am thankful that I shed my old painting layer.
How my art evolves is always a learning experience to me.
I am not the type of artist who decides to illustrate my mood intentionally.
I am the type of artist who paints from the heart.
I let my brush guide me – instinctually.
When I am done creating I view my canvas,
it is as though I am looking in a mirror.
This image is a reflection of what is going on in my life
good or bad.
All my creations reflect my moment, my time, my life.
I have started painting very geometrically,
unintentionally.
I was trained as a graphic designer in college.
It is interesting to me that my designer has returned.
I have always loved the tools,
the t-square, the triangle the templates.
Like my paintings,
I have come full circle.
I like where I am in my painting life
I feel a sense of maturity
I have embraced abstraction
Which I find common with mature painters
I no longer strive for the perfect still life
I no longer strive for the balanced shading
I seek experimentation and complexity without thought
Here is where I paint instinctively
I let my hand and my heart guide me
I paint with Oils – I get texture
I paint with Acrylic – I get pattern
I no longer worry what people will say
I embrace the collection of styles and techniques
When I was starting I was told to latch on to a style – Why?
Isn’t it my purpose as an artist to seek creativeness?
I no longer worry
I just paint from my soul….
the true open canvas
is allowing the creative process take its own pace
it can not be rushed
rushing will only set you further back
the creative process mimics the life experience
the steps must be taken
there is no getting around it
you love
you dislike
you may mourn
each emotion leading you to the next
the true artist lets their soul guide the creativity
the best life experiences are when you allow your self to feel
the best creative experiences?
allowing your life to guide your creative process
La Boheme
My Mother, the Opera singer’s favorite opera..
so crazy fitting to see it on Mothers Day
with Piera..
I have been without inspiration lately..
not today
Puccini gives opera meaning
Opera now makes full sense
To me , Opera is Puccini
Passion only our souls could dream of
La Boheme, love and spring
I am with both
Today was a full circle
I grew up with La Boheme in my home
I have seen many operas, never La Boheme
I have been to La Scala
the Met
And never saw La Boheme..
I was moved in ways I had forgotten..
What a perfect Mothers Day..
Thank you mom for putting La Boheme in my soul
You were right.. the best Opera out there…
Happy Mothers Day Mom
Thank you Puccini!
2014 began with a much needed blessing.
It came in the form of 775 pairs of hands.
The hands of the elementary students at
Richards School in Whitefish Bay, 3K – 5th grade.
I went there to teach and work with them,
but the blessings they awarded me out
weighed any dreams I had.
Thank you all.
I