As I delve into this small jewel of a painting to better understand it, the word SOLACE appears in my mind. But why? Perhaps because this woman has her eyes closed in ecstasy or peace or an imaginary world. She wears feathers of fire and her spirit animal is bright too. She is a mystery encompassing light and dark symbolized by warm and cool colors. To view more paintings from my Spirit Animal Series please click here.
Feeling Hope in the Darkness...A Painting Explained
I decided I needed to start writing about the deeper meaning behind my paintings and I'm going to start with today's painting "PoP".
I've been feeling such deep sadness about our world since visiting my mom last weekend in Calgary, Alberta and one of the ways I process feelings and get them out is by painting them.
Before beginning this painting all I could envision was darkness and spikes plus I wanted to tie it in with my recent Spirit Animal Series. So I started, as usual with a face and drew it with a bamboo sketch pen that creates a nice, scratchy line. (Oh ya, and by the way I'm also painting with my non-dominant hand). The darkness I felt inside got expressed in the dark, flowing paint outlining her body. Yet in this darkness is light and hope as expressed in the yellow rays extending out from her head. From there I tapped into her spirit animal which turned out to be a red and purple bird. But this bird wanted company. (And it's good feng shui ya know, if you have a painting in your home that depicts a couple...it creates good energy for couples), From there I could see a moon/circle in the sky but when I finished painting it I see that it wants to become a moon-flower so I add petals or rays extending out from it.
In the end, this painting expresses the dark AND the light which is appropriate for this time of year as we are entering the dark time of year (in the Northern Hemisphere) at Hallow's Eve or Samhain, also known as the Celtic New Year.
You can purchase PoP below!
My Watercolor Trois Soeurs Appears in the NZ 2016 Moon Calendar
My painting "Trois Soeurs" (Three Sisters) appears in the 2016 Moon Calendar along with 5 other paintings. I also have several other paintings featured in the 2015 Calendar - woohoo!
This is a New Zealand publication by the Creative Cronies, 2 of whom (Arafelle & Minerva) live on cooperatively owned land in the far North and offer astrological services, the 3rd, Robyn administrates and distributes the calendar and is celebrating their 35th year of production.
In their own words: "We feel it is a gift from the Goddess and our privilege to have an avenue to present some understanding and astrological guidance in these tumultuous and transformative times. For us, important anchors now are our friends, our families and our communities. Art, music and meditation are our soul food, helping us to experience the new energies coming in and to evolve new ways of being".
Purchase Trois Soeurs Original here.
Lefty Oracle Deck Originals at Riverside Art Museum
I just finished exhibiting all 52 originals from my soon-to-be-published Lefty Oracle Deck at Riverside Art Museum. Here's a bunch of fun photos of folks trying out non-dominant hand drawing, being brave and getting up on stage to pose as a lefty...you'll find collaborating couples, moms and daughters, best friends, solo artists and more. Click here to read about my show in the Valley News.
Merry Mabon/Ostara!
Equinox reminder...merry meet and merry part...change is constant, be still and remember who u are. Painted by moi on the Fall Equinox in my Temecula, California studio.
