Heart Like a River
Small, Mindfulness practice nourishes happiness and love. Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh brings clarity to this artform with his meditation writings. 'How to Love" is a small, beautiful book helping to unlock our capacity to love. It has inspired this series of paintings 'River of Love'. His short and concise writings are often thoughtful jumping points for my visual artworks.
Painting with oil has brought a delightful, meditative surprise to my art practice. This series is created exclusively in oils. The slow, deliberate drying of the paint leads me further on the path of thoughtfulness. The process wins.
The fish I paint are symbolic of the inward journey we take, and the gold leaf representing how beautiful we all are. Some of the pieces veer more abstract. I like to think of it as painting or living life without a map or blueprint. Challenging. Isn't that how it is?
This series explores the big question: How do make our hearts grow?
Painting with oil has brought a delightful, meditative surprise to my art practice. This series is created exclusively in oils. The slow, deliberate drying of the paint leads me further on the path of thoughtfulness. The process wins.
The fish I paint are symbolic of the inward journey we take, and the gold leaf representing how beautiful we all are. Some of the pieces veer more abstract. I like to think of it as painting or living life without a map or blueprint. Challenging. Isn't that how it is?
This series explores the big question: How do make our hearts grow?
Alchemy River Triptych. Acrylic, gold leaf, patina, labyrinth impression venitian plaster, glazed. Birch support, 10"x10"x2.5" each.
Alchemy River
THE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGIN'
Acrylic, gold leaf, patina, glazed. Two pieces, birch support 12"x36"x2.5" each.
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Bob Dylan's classic The Times They Are A Changin' titles this dyptich The young, inspirational founders of MARCH FOR OUR LIVES movement gave inspiration to these art pieces.
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SOLD Deep Spring, Pure Water
SOLD
The End is the Beginning I
Acrylic, gold leaf, glazed. Labyrinth impression venitian plaster. Cradled Birch support.24"x24"x2.5"
The End is the Beginning I
Acrylic, gold leaf, glazed. Labyrinth impression venitian plaster. Cradled Birch support.24"x24"x2.5"
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SOLS, SOLD Companionship in Solitude
Oil, gold/silver leaf, glazed. Labyrinth embedded, 24"x24"x2", diptych.
'Companions in Solitude'
I often burn incense in my studio, it is a habit from my childhood. I don't know if it was because of being raised catholic or what, but I enjoy the ritual. I had used up my wonderful stash of incense from my trip to Japan. When I bought some new replacements downtown at Barjon's, I picked up a card listing the ten virtues of burning incense. 'A Companion in Solitude' was number three. Serendipity. Perfect title!
I left as negative space where the fish overlapped. Can you spot those sections?
I often burn incense in my studio, it is a habit from my childhood. I don't know if it was because of being raised catholic or what, but I enjoy the ritual. I had used up my wonderful stash of incense from my trip to Japan. When I bought some new replacements downtown at Barjon's, I picked up a card listing the ten virtues of burning incense. 'A Companion in Solitude' was number three. Serendipity. Perfect title!
I left as negative space where the fish overlapped. Can you spot those sections?
SOLD Tarnished Reflection Oil, gold leaf, glazed. 20"x20", birch substrate, labrynth impression.
Closeup:Tarnished Reflection labyrinth
Close up: Tarnished Reflection
SOLD SEEK Oil, gold leaf, glazed. 48"x24"x2", birch substrate. Labrynth impression.
This piece was really enticing to paint-just a lot of enjoyment in the process. The base layers brought the piece forward, and I kept in mind 'The Honorable Harvest': Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer, a Potawatomi scientist, articulates it best: "The Honorable Harvest, a practice both ancient and urgent, applies to every exchange between people and the Earth. Its protocol is not written down, but if it were, it would look something like this:
Ask permission of the ones whose lives you seek. Abide by the answer.
Never take the first. Never take the last.
Harvest in a way that minimizes harm.
Take only what you need and leave some for others.
Use everything that you take.
Take only that which is given to you.
Share it, as the Earth has shared with you.
Be grateful.
Reciprocate the gift.
Sustain the ones who sustain you, and the Earth will last forever.
Though we live in a world made of gifts, we find ourselves harnessed to institutions and an economy that relentlessly ask, 'What more can we take from the Earth?' In order for balance to occur, we cannot keep taking without replenishing. Don’t we need to ask, 'What can we give?’ "
Ask permission of the ones whose lives you seek. Abide by the answer.
Never take the first. Never take the last.
Harvest in a way that minimizes harm.
Take only what you need and leave some for others.
Use everything that you take.
Take only that which is given to you.
Share it, as the Earth has shared with you.
Be grateful.
Reciprocate the gift.
Sustain the ones who sustain you, and the Earth will last forever.
Though we live in a world made of gifts, we find ourselves harnessed to institutions and an economy that relentlessly ask, 'What more can we take from the Earth?' In order for balance to occur, we cannot keep taking without replenishing. Don’t we need to ask, 'What can we give?’ "
ACTIVATE Oil, gold leaf. 32"x32"x2". Glazed
ACTIVATE Closeup, 2017
SOLD Divisive Waters, Oil gold leaf, 24"x48"x2, birch support, glazed. 2017
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'Make New Friends'
Oil, metallic leaf, Renaissance wax. 12"x16". Watercolor paper/gesso.
SOLD Uphill Battle
Oil, gold leaf. 20"x8"x2". Cradled birch
The battle of life is, in most cases, fought uphill;
and to win it without a struggle
were perhaps to win it without honor.
If there were no difficulties
there would be no success;
if there were nothing to struggle for,
there would be nothing to be achieved.
-Samuel Smiles
and to win it without a struggle
were perhaps to win it without honor.
If there were no difficulties
there would be no success;
if there were nothing to struggle for,
there would be nothing to be achieved.
-Samuel Smiles