Birth of a trio

In various stages of development, these three paintings are the beginning of a new series. Still no tiltes yet. I envision this to be more than just these three paintings. It is my "Plan" to combine these with some other 2D and 3D mixed media and photography to create a full show. Of course, all the senses must be involved. The inclusion of good music, good writing or conversation, great smells and delightful dishes and you have the makings of a grand exhibition.

Faces from below

NO TITLE yet but more faces are begining to emerge from the back ground swirl. As I see things I sketch them in chalk to see if that mass really wants to evolve. I thought I saw and arm and sketched it with chalk, but I don't know if I like it. This painting is getting hotter with only a few cool colours popping through to half separate images. Some viewers have asked if the figures were falling or emerging. I think a bit of both.








In the bottom three faces are begining to come forth. All women, all with questioning expressions. What are they questioning? What are they searching for? What are they reaching for? I don'y knoe yet. Guess maybe we'll figure it out when the painting is all done. True exploration and beauty in creation takes time. I am taking my time. Remeber... It's about the process!

Meet Fred

Fred

Well, I call him Fred. This little toad has decided to keep me company each night when I am painting. He sits and just watches as I enter and exit the exterior studio doors. Every once in a while he hops over in sight of the painting, but mostly, he sits by the door. My first fan.

More Figures Emerge

Today's painting was back on the smaller canvas. (I say canvas as a universal surface event's this is actually a Burgundy sheet that was attacked by diluted bleach for the starting point) I had previously sketched in some figures I had seen appear. Now in order to make them grow I realized I needed to work in the negative space around them. IN doing so so an eye, upper arm and torso came to life. While there is still much work to be done, nine figures are evident. Not all are shown fully. There was/is a choice being made here. One does not always have to give all the details to understand or recognize the point. AS an artist I feel I must put out enough information to realize my own objective for my artwork to be successful. In doing that it is still in the forefront of my mind to only make suggestions while ultimately, leaving the viewer to derive their own conclusion as to the purpose and meaning in any particular artwork.

From Sheet to Frame

The sheet has finaly made it to stretcher strips. In the begining I just needed a surface to fling paint at and release some energy. As images began to emerge I quickly realized the sheet was becoming a painting with a life of its own. So off to the hardware store it was to gather the supplies I would need.

Now, picture this... Me, accadent prone and just plain clumsy, opperating power saws to make this frame. Nope, not me. My ever so loving husband and our very own Bob the Builder friend constructed the frame according to my instructions. Now, that's delegation. My talents rest in the conceptual zone, not the power saws.

I have never painted backwards like this. When I say backwards, I mean, Painting the canvas before it was stretched. Stretching partially painted canvas (in this case a sheet) can be a bit of a challenge.

About a million staples and a blister later I have a 6ft x 8ft painting in progress.
The painting has taken on a different life now that it is stretched. I see more things popping out and more possibilites for better design. This is a fun one.

Parts and Pieces

There are many different parts to this painting. Her 3 figures are begining to emerge. A strong woman reaching out, A timid woman stretching and a woman in surender.






From the bottom come the hands. Various hands in different grasping states will continue to grow from the base of this composition.

Slow Process

Figures have to evolve from the background. I have the unique oppertunity to help them emerge. To break free from the background. As each figure comes into focus I am left to wonder what is it that is coming into sight? Who are these people and what is their purpose. What kind of energy is waking up here? It make me want to continue to paint. Even when it's 2 am and I know I must sleep if I am going to be worth a damn tomorrow. When I can't paint, pastels so as not to forget the position and color when I can get back to paint. Then again....that figure may not get painted. That figure may always remain in sketch. Often, it is what I see in the negative space that allows for something to emerge. By working from the outside in, in some areas, one is not forced to "draw the form with line". Rather one gets to mold the figure into exhistance.

Life molds us into exhistance. From the outside in, we are shaped and colored. So which is more influential.... nature or nurture?

The process of creating a complete artwork is, for me, rather long. Anything rushed usually is unsatisfactory, and therefore a waste of time. I do not have time to waste. I have way to many paths to explore.

In creating this series of paintings, I am focusing on the process of creating rather than what is the purpose of the final product and will it bring money in. If I can complete this all to my own high standards, then I will think about what to do with it. Now is not the time. Now, I must sleep.

The Process of Painting

Another day, another figue becomes more alive. What started out as just a need to put color on canvas; to just emerse myself in the process, has evolved into a massive, multi layered artwork. It is still evolving. Each time I begin to paint I discover something new to focus on. Who knows when I'll be done. It's about the process. Eventually I till actually stretch the piece onto a permanent frame.

Images Emerge

What was once a bed sheet, is now turning into a painting. I first stretched the sheet and randomly applied diluted bleach. After allowing the bleach time to works it's magic, I cut the out a section that had interesting bleach designs. From there I streatched on a canvas strips and began to allow the images to emerge.

The Process

Knowing that I wanted to create more than one painting

I started with the colored sheet. I then attacked the sheet with a brush and diluted bleack. With nothing particular in mind I used full body movements to splatter and brush the diluted bleach onto the sheet. I only

allowed myself the length of one Mozart movement to apply the bleach. While I could not see

the emediate effects of the bleach, it was the act of appling it that was liberating. I know it would be some time befor the effects of the bleach would show. With that in mind, I continued to the next paiting process.... the warm up for the big painting.

Painting Materials

When I stopped painting to take a look at what I was actually creating I stepped back and looked and everthing around me. One of the best things about summer is the ability to get outside to paint. On the ground I set my pallet and brushes down and grabbed my camera. It seemed that teh painting was not the only artwork I was creating that day.

getting started

In the begining there was a sheet and an energy that had to be expressed. A bed sheet that had no bed and a cabinent full of paint that had been neglected for way to long. No preconcieved idea. NO preliminary drawing. NO plan. Just a feeling. The need for movement in my search for silence. AS the day progressed more color was added and images began to emerge from the mass of color. My 4 year old daughter came out to "help" me and began a painting of her own.