Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!  

Kids with mixed media.....they really LOVE it!  The first picture is a 6x6 canvas board done by a 13 year old. It was so fun to see no expectations, no limitations....just exploring with color, drips, doodles, spray ink and a lastly a paintbrush.

This next one is done by a 9 year old.  Simple....and he didn't spend too much time on it but was satisfied with the final look.  It reminded me that one doesn't have to spend a lot of time layering the paint.  If it's done... it's done.

It's October 31st and since my last post I have been wondering...what's my next step in manifesting artful expressions in my daily life?  This mantra, Break Open to Love is staying with me.  There lingers a longing and a question... so it begs some artful exploration.  I think there is an  alchemical process that takes place when combining Self-Healing with Radical Acceptance that breaks us open to Love.  And I have an idea that they both can be found in the color wheel.  I can't remember who said 'Color is the Soul of Nature' and 'Color is the Substance of the Human Soul' but I'm thinking that nature and color offer something of a healing quality to our soul.  So I'd like to explore it further through the color wheel.  For the next several months I will take a color a week and research its soul relationship to the world we live in as an exploration into Breaking Open to Love.

40 days complete

40 Days ago I decided to make a commitment to do some kind of art every day.  I found that on some days I did several pieces and there were only 2 days where it just didn't happen.  Not bad.  Today I finish the 40 days with an acrylic painting of the color circle.

And this veil painting is close to being finished.  I loved seeing the dove complete the circle of women.  A few finishing touches and it's the perfect completion to a 40 day journey.

Soul Collage

I attended a Soul Collage retreat yesterday and came up with the following two pieces.  This type of soul collage can be found at soulcollage.com   It was a great day and I highly recommend the process.  The third picture is continued work on my veil painting.  I wonder what else will emerge?

Break Open to Love

I am really loving this soul mantra- Break Open to Love  In a modern world full of to do's, get it done, gotta go, the illusion of multi-tasking and grabbing food on the run....it is making me come to an almost full stop.  I am asking deeper questions about connecting to meaning whether it is with family, friends, food or the planet!  This mantra is definitely worthy of exploration.

 This veil painting is ongoing.  You can tell from the last post that the changes are subtle.  I also included a new mixed media that is ongoing and a bit of abstract art which started out as my horizon line outside my window.  I am nearing my 40 day finish line where I have worked on some art every single day.  It's not a finished piece every day but rather a 'showing up' to the page or canvas with medium in hand and just doing it.  So far I have loved it.  I am in the process of making this a priority in my daily life:)

New Veil Painting

I began a new veil painting using Sleeping Beauty Turquoise (which in the first picture looks green due to the lighting when I took the picture)and Rhodonite Genuine from Daniel Smith as well as Windor Orange.  Watery veils with very light color is where I begin.  As mentioned before....when veils begin to overlap, edges appear.  Initially I make an effort not to get attached to the first image or images that begin to appear.  It is so easy to grab onto the first motif I see and say "That's it!"Rather, I practice letting go and placing another veil and another to see what metamorphoses, what stays the same, what needs attention, what area have I left alone for a while.

I added more color on the second day (better lighting as the turquoise shows more genuinely) and the layers begin to show more depth with the transparent color.  Before I begin painting I meditate for a few minutes to see what might be arising out of the color that wants to speak...

And just for fun... here's my playground in mixed media.

Painting in dialogue

This study began with very light watercolor veils of quinacridone magenta, vermillion and indigo.  Before I began painting I had no idea what was going to come forth from the painting.  In other words I had no image or motif in mind.  As the layers developed, they began overlapping one another.  When veils of paint overlap they begin to form edges.... in studying the edges and the spaces a motif began to emerge as if I were having a dialogue with the color.  

A story began to appear... not right away, of course, but each veil of color brought another possibility and another question.  Here, in this painting,  a young man with strong will forces gently releases a butterfly to the light. 

I think it would be appropriate to ask: What fears need to be released for inner transformation to occur?  My choices and how I connect them with my will forces can be a powerful catalyst for change and growth.  What choices can I make this week that can bring beauty and transformation in a humble and light filled manner?

Painting for the bin and layering layers

The watercolor artist, Jean Haines,  who I greatly admire said sometimes you just have to paint for the bin!  This was a perfect week to do that.  On Tuesday I went outside and and sketched a rapid contour drawing of trees in pencil.  Then I added brown and green ink to give the gesture of the trunk and leaves.

With a bit of vermillion to the center....

On Wednesday I added indigo to the sides.  With a sunflower in the center.  I don't feel satisfied with the process so I will keep layering until something emerges that I can get some connection to. This layering process is absolutely wonderful.  I can paint 'for the bin' without having to throw away canvas.  Layer after layer builds as if a story is being told with a kind of mystery held beneath the visual layer on top.  I find 'layering' in art to potentially be a deep healing process.  More on that topic when I can speak more to my own experience of it.

Today, October 9th I am switching gears  from the mixed media and watercolor to pastels.  There is an art to putting down color that has no edges, no lines.  While I was painting in pastel I could viscerally feel my breath relax and deepen....as if the soft sides of the sphere were allowing breath to inhale and exhale with ease after a stressful day of busyness.  This was an experience of relaxation, allowing, softness and ease.  Good stuff!  Love, love, love the artful expressions in life:) 

Exploring Artistic Style

For 20 days I have been committed to playing with art every day.  It's the half way mark and I am noticing questions I ask myself like:  What do you love the most about the time you spend painting?  What has been your favorite environment to paint in?  What colors are you inclined towards....or are you still exploring combinations?  What subjects, inspirations, ideas are you frequently drawn to as you sit down to paint?  Can you hear that still, small voice speaking to your soul's longing for expression?  Can you balance artistic self-expression with nature's objective but often hidden wisdom of life's truths?

I'm exploring styles that reveal connection with nature, connection with self and connection with others. In some way we all are seeking meaning and connection in our daily lives on very practical levels as well as  in soul fulfilling ways on a spiritual level.  I sense that the next 20 days will be a deeper exploration into nature, self and other. I'm looking forward to it:)

#19

#20

Catching Up

A fast week but still played with color and medium every day!

Here's Monday Sept. 29th

Tuesday September 30

Wednesday October 1

Created a background that looks like peeling paint much like an old red barn.

Thursday October 2

Added a few things...

Friday October 3

A finished piece:)  Well this takes me to day #18 of my art challenge and it feels pretty good!