Going Within

Going within.

Getting inside the canvas - like getting inside my soul.

Feeling so bland, as if numbers mattered - the definition of bland! Seeking passion instead - the heat within the veins: blood, pulse, heart, guts, visceral, pumping, raw.

(One day later) Back to the silence.

I can feel more here.

I can feel my heart
returning, warming
slowly
slow
ly.
My insides coming to life
slowly
so,
slowly

soft and warm and fluttering (and French!)

Going Within - 3.5' x 3.5' - acrylic & pastel on silk

Musical Ambience: Jorane - "Vent Fou", Putumayo presents "French Caribbean".

Sam Maloof Home & Garden Tour

I recently took a guided tour of Sam & Alfreda Maloof's home and gardens in Alta Loma, California and was greatly inspired by their art and craft collection; everything from a 5.00 painting he had bought at a street show, ceramic bowls from all over (especially indigenous collections), a large doll collection, plenty of student artwork, a hand made canoe, actual carousel horses, brightly painted orange and pink walls (originally done in the 1950's) to large original paintings by well known artists - definitely worth a visit, if you're in the area!

Sam Maloof is acknowledged as one of the finest woodworkers of our time. As a leader of the California modern arts movement, he designed and produced furniture infused with profound artistic vision for more than half a century until his death in 2009.

Loads of art was sprinkled throughout the grounds.

He had carousel horses both inside and outside his home - so whimsical - I wonder if he carved these ones?

A persimmon tree bearing fall colours - I'd never seen one before!

I like how the plants were all labeled and there are plenty of garden events to participate in too.

At the end of the tour there is a chance to sit in one of Sam's chairs and yes, it does feel like a mother with her arms wrapped around you (we secretly took a photo of me in the chair - to be posted soon!)

Home

I started this painting on Friday the 13th.

Time to move on.

Leave this country, this home, this town, this space, this emotion.

I just want to go home. Is that why I do what I do? Painting, soul reading? To find home, to make home?

The only true home I have is within myself and my connection with the Divine.

We find our way by being the way.

I came back to this painting on Nov. 16 - not finished yet.

One last kiss before the void.

Self. Contained.

There is so much more.

Home - acrylic & pastel on silk - 3.5' x 3.5'

"We'll keep on whispering our mantras" (from the song "Slow Moves" by Jose Gonzalez).

Musical Inspiration: Putamayo presents "Women of the World Celtic I & II". Booth - "Carbon" and Jose Gonzalez - "Veneer".

Poem of Longing

Passion, angst, intimacy, fulfillment. When we get what we want do we stop trying? Become complacent? Where to go next?

"Love Yourself" TC told me. What does that look like? Feel like? It feels fuller, not empty at the core. 'Happy' sounds so frivolous - 'soul peace' sounds better.

All I want is to be immersed in the paint, to forget everything else - lost in creating - at one with the ALL.

"I will not forget you". Sarah McLachlan

It's like painting on skin (the silk surface): supple, moving, drapey, crepey-wrinkley, soft, scratcheable.

"Poem of Longing" - acrylic & pastel on silk - 4' x 5'

Musical Inspiration: Todd Rundgren - "Something, Anything", Sarah McLachlan - "Solace", Sugarcubes, Sade, Crazy Beautiful Movie Soundtrack and esp. the song "Serralde" by La Reina Del Lugar