Tidal, 2014

The rise and fall of combined layers, made full by rotation.  When I work on a painting I feel it has to read full circle, just as the tide.

This tidal effect in painting is important for balance and composition.  It helps the eye move with grace and texture.  It can be complicated to do, which is why some of my paintings can stay incomplete for so long.

"When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on one minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn"

Eggshells, 2014 

                                                                    Sugar and Spice, 2014

Rain drips

When the rain hits the ground running there is no problem stopping to play. It can make you see reflections of yourself, and puddles over what you have grown.  Kill the old and grow new.  When the new grows, the cycle starts again.

This is how I view painting, it's a rainstorm. When ideas flow it can start slow then build to something intense with surprises. It holds outside meaning that you are unsure where it came from. When you play in it, you feel free.  It becomes addictive.  Makes me want to stay in and hibernate for awhile.

Below is a painting that accumulated the rain drips for my November.

Cycles, 2014 

Parachutes over a strawberry orchard

When creating art and walking through life, I feel there is a space between my goals and reality of what I know is true.  I see big pictures and experience many things, different and disturbing, that brings me back to ground. I'd like to believe in the end of a rainbow, but also know that the truth is what happens in-between.

It can be a hard balance to juggle. My art lets me explore both. Below is a contrast, a photo taken of reality and an emotion felt from this experience.  Painting can bring it back full circle.

It's all about jumping, taking the leap and landing into something beautiful + meaningful.

Brothers, Honduras 

Parachutes, 2014

Seasons, 2014

"Matter is to us as a shadow of a tree is to a tree. Matter looks like the shadow of something real, and for the indigenous mind, the thing from which the shadow originates is more interesting than the shadow itself. I cannot look at myself and think that I am seeing the real thing, for a shadow cannot be the source of itself. " 

Chain Reaction

Painting again recently, I'm tempted to write about my Vikki as it is what spurs my inspiration to do what I do in painting and in life.  Many times people ask for what is behind my paintings and work I do with others. It's a lot of life experiences, but I feel like Vikki is the rock and my long term reaction. 

Vikki and I met when I was in northern Guatemala. Strong girl, happy spirit and wonderful being.  She was at an orphanage medical clinic where I was working when I met her. Abandoned and abused, I took care of her the best I could. Her 3 year old body was a mess, her back she could barely move. Every morning I would wake up and take the bus ride to see her and others. Her and I had a special connection that I will never forget. When I arrived it was heartwarming the big hugs she gave and how happy she was.  She was very sick and I knew she did not have long.  We still managed to have a lot of fun. 

She passed a little after I left that trip. This experience spearheaded my life goals and mission. It has made me the strongest person I can be. I believe we have angels, and she's my heaven in this wild place.  

Never forget- Do work that you love, and you will never work another day in your life. 

Telling stories

Fables, 2014

In abstract paintings there is not much story to see but it is to be felt. As the artist I believe it's fun to let the viewer create their own meaning- leave it to faith they leave feeling something and thinking something new. Questioning. Always have more questions than answers. A world with all answers is a world not explored. Always question what you know for sure.

Id like to believe I could produce something useful for this world to see, like how others have children.

As Richter says, " It's an attempt at self- protection- saying that I was indifferent, that I didn't care. I was afraid my pictures would be too sentimental. But I don't mind admitting that I paint pictures of my failures. "

Daydream, 2014

Pretty in Pink  2014

Beginning Painting lessons

I began painting again this weekend and how I have missed it. Staying up late, working all day... it becomes a fever. It is something I believe that comes natural but necessary. Something that we draw inspirations from that we cannot express unless tempted with a palette. 

I worked combining oils and house paint.  Soon I will hope to incorporate figures. 

Razor Without, 2014

 Playing with light

I painted today using chance as a theme and method. I have this large piece of wood I recently found and Ive also been utilizing some old house paint- I like it. Using discarded objects to give them new purpose I enjoy. 

Im almost finished with Richters book, September.  In it regarding painting he writes "Above all, its never a blind chance. Its a chance that is always planned, but also always surprising. And I need it in order to carry on, in order to eradicate my mistakes, to destroy what Ive worked out wrong, to introduce something different and disruptive. Im often astonished to find how much better chance is than I."

Sumersault, 2014

                                                           

It flew, as I slept  2014

childs play

One of my favorite artists, and best exhibits I have yet seen, was a Damien Hirst exhibit at the Tate in London a few years ago.  The space he created was tangible, and the ideas drew an emotional response from the crowd. It created questions that you didnt know could exist, I enjoyed and appreciated that. A tactile environment where we become the subjects ourselves draws the term art of participation. 

I came across this article on him today here.   I agree at the end how he talked about how adults are more timid and kids will just throw the paint around. I think in my painting  I used to be an adult and now became a big kid. I look forward to the day I have a room to fill and install something that can create more questions than answers. 

I enjoy the way he thinks like a child, explores and creates the absurd. Below is a photo I snuck at his exhibit of a cow head being eaten by flies, along with a first layer of new work I am creating with no restrictions.

             Damien Hirst Exhibit, 2013

Trampoline,  2014 

Queen of Hearts

Tonight I enjoyed looking out the window at nature growing. Something small, to take and disappear into. Wonderland. This idea was quickly captured, but made me think of a series that would be fun to do on my surroundings and the contrast we have. 

Tonight I resurfaced some old travel photos. I've been thinking a lot lately how I miss the dirt on the road. Below are some captures of central america. 

Tonight I started a new series, I will be documenting the layers on different canvases that I create.  Over the last few years I've been drawn to express myself through abstraction, and I am now looking to combine this with storytelling.  I've always left it up to the viewer to convey their own emotion, and in a sense, improvisation.  But now I'm going to go back to figures to tell the storyline. I see it as theater and creating a set to be played. 

These are my beginnings that will encompass my story. Once dried, and many new layers applied, Ill start to incorporate some figurative work to set the stage for the desired outcome.

I was inspired by reading some of William Kentridges work and his plays he did, plus I need to reroute back to some of my drawing days. I miss those days of shading and pen and ink.