Time

Forms
Oil and Cold Wax on Canvas
18" x 24"




















Final Splash

This was the first abstract painting. It has been being reworked for that long. I have broken all my previous unkept records for length of time staying with a painting.

What is missing?



The "ball" was really bothering me - so ultimately, it had to go.

Ok, so I had yet another inspiring meeting with Helen, and the exploration feels so vast as things change and then change again. An idea that came up in our meeting that is completely taking over my internal mechanisms is the body as landscape. Wow. SO much to say there. Time will unfold and reveal it all for me.

There is no linear movement

"Splash (3)"
Acrylic and Oil on Paper
38" x 48"

This is one of those pieces that I put aside, and recently pulled out again and reworked. I am much happier with the areas of atmospheric transition in this piece, as well as the serendipitous little areas of under-painting peeking through. There are areas of heavy texture that may be tough to pick up in this image, that also give the piece a satisfying feeling of weight and movement for me. I am also happy with the way the texture contrasts with the thinner areas where depth is apparent. The sphere may need to be softened and modeled, but I am letting it rest and dry for now.

I have many other pieces going in the studio and am noticing that form and depth, as defined by edges and temperature, are becoming my consistent distractions. This feels good and I believe it will make a nice bridge to bringing imagery back in eventually. The focus is shifting. It is also becoming easier for me to work with smaller formats and tune in to a more intimate scale.

On a parallel personal note that I believe reflects the ever present art/life connection, I noticed something interesting on my run yesterday. I often use visualization to help me get through a tough part of a run. As I was heading up an enormous hill yesterday the visual aids began, but instead of giant eagles surrounding me, throwing their magic lassos around me and pulling me up the hill, a stronger version of myself leaped from my heart to dance and skip around me, beaming and encouraging - guiding me up and up. Forms are changing. Work is changing. It is all beautiful and I am listening.

Right down the middle.

Sometimes you just have to slice a painting in half.

Listen

Listen Form 2
Oil and Cold Wax on Paper
18 x 24





















Listen Form
Oil and Cold Wax on Paper
18 x 24



















Today marks the half-way point of my first semester of graduate school, and my Mother's 87th birthday. It is also the first day of a new chapter of my life.

I had another really good meeting with Helen today, that filled me with renewed inspiration.
These two pieces represent my continuing experiments with abstraction. As I strive to create form, depth, atmosphere, emotion and resonating color that communicates, within a work without pictures, I meet questions of time, materials and scale. I sit with these questions and they bring their friends along. I will hold the intention of energy, gesture, radical honesty, and spontaneous response throughout the journey of each piece. I will let the painting take as long as it needs to. I will keep looking. I will listen.

My Practice, My Life.