click image to visit my website
Here is a photo of the Wallace commission piece I completed in July. It is mixed media with acrylic and glass stain on a salvaged window approx. 23 by 36 inches. I am really inspired to be working on the glass again!
This window came from a friend’s home.
I have just finished a commission piece–a diptych on two old windows! I haven’t worked on the windows for over 2 years, but here I go again. I am totally inspired and getting ready to paint a whole series for a show in the Fall at a location TBA. I have painted and sold about 200 windows and my style and technique has evolved through this medium over several years. It feels like home. Funny. I had issues with the glass off and on–mainly that it is breakable–but people own glass things and buy stained glass and glass vases and glass birds and whatever–you just have to be careful and cautious when handling glass. The windows I work on are usually very old–50 to 100 years old and they survived weather and wear and living on a home for years and even extraction and transportation to my studio and beyond (Hawaii, DC, Cali…). So it takes a little caution and mindfulness. So what? Anyway, I will post photos of the newest work soon. Here is a flik of a work from a couple years back…
I will be showing my work at Cafe Calore May thru August. So if you haven’t had a chance to see my new works, get on down there. The little yummy Italian restaurant is in Writer’s Square at 15th and Larimer downtown. Their bread pudding is the best in the universe. Tons of creamy caramel sauce. Yum!
Next show should be in Aug or Sept at a venue TBA.
I am moving into a new studio! It’s a commitment, yea? Now I gotta put my money where my mouth is or has been or whatever. I am pretty stoked to have a space outside of my home. It’s a great price, free wi-fi, great location…now what! shit! Now I have to make things with things. Going to the studio can be such a weird lonely experience. I know it’s not really loneliness, though. The truth is–and this is deep–that having a studio is like having my own private space for meeting with the divine. Communion with that most sacred, golden nectar. Phew. Reminding myself of this makes it easier to contemplate going into the space. Geez, a blank canvas is intimidating–but an empty studio is even more so. My own life unfolding, these little dramas are sweet and easy.
So, my art opening was a success. Many amazing people were there, I sold a couple pieces, got good feedback and compliments and generally think it was cool–BUT I feel like crap…and after talking to friends about it, realize that this Letdown after the event is normal, even though it sucks. I feel like a failure and shitty and that art is stupid and that I didn’t sell enough and all this crap…
Which leads me to ask myself, What is Success? And how do I know if I am successful? what I do know is success is getting into the studio, it is creating, it is staying open to inspiration, it is working hard to complete a series and fork over the money for the frames in faith that you might make it back. And then hanging it in a beautiful space, inviting tons of people to come see it and the rest is up to the world. Success is doing what you love. Success is continuing to find yourself in your work day after day. Success is presenting it to the world just because you know it is important to share what you do.
I am thankful to other artists and people who share who they are and what they do. It keeps me inspired and interested and adds to my knowledge and enhances my courage to exhibit. thanks.
Gather Assemble Nest Depart
The body of work included in this show was created over the past year and a half and follows a natural process. The earlier works were a gathering of shapes–circles, petals, arches, hearts–then the shapes were assembled into towers and machines, then little birds nested within the assemblages, and finally, the birds were ready to fly away or depart.
This process also unfolds with life-and is the same with anything. We are always gathering ideas or things or ways of being, building upon this state, arranging and rearranging, nesting and getting comfy for a while, and then we get restless and depart. It is natural, unfolding and always present.
The title of my next show is Gather Assemble Nest Depart. While I was looking at the body of work included, I realized that the earlier works were a gathering of shapes, the next were assemblages–towers and machines, then nests were introduced with little birds, and finally, the birds were flying or departing.
This process unfolds with my art–the gathering of images or shapes, the assembling of the pieces, the building of the works and then it gets to a point where I am ready to depart. Where will it go next? I only know in an abstract way that the work is unfolding and comes in inspiration.
The space between bodies of work is uncomfortable sometimes in its emptiness. But in the vastness is unlimited potential. The important thing to keep in mind during this phase of the creative process, it to be open to inspiration and still step into the studio regularly. Otherwise it becomes scary.
Ok. Thanks.
I meditate everyday. Sometimes this seems nerdy. I don’t care. I used to be shy about meditating, but I’m not anymore. It’s my fix. My vice. And it keeps me where I need to be–centered, clear, aware, buzzing. I also drink tea–but that’s another post altogether.
The meditative space is similar or even the same as the creative space. I am not sure if I could just be in the studio and get the same benefits of meditation. I might experiment in the future. But for now, I meditate everyday because I go into a space that is mine, I am sitting, I have candles and incense and I just let everything go.
I really believe that getting into this space helps clear the channel for inspiration to come into my mind. I think inspiration and intuition are linked. Anges Martin wrote in her book, Writings, “All your inspirations will be directly related to your particular potential.” If you can know your potential and recognize it in your inspirations, your intuition will tell you how to apply the inspiration in getting closer to your potential.
Another reason I meditate is to strengthen my ability to focus my mind. It is important no matter who you are to be able to focus. It keeps me on track when distracting thoughts or critical crap or whatever comes into my mind. Having a focused mind is important for getting things done…ie. finishing a piece and getting it to the frame shop…and emailing people about shows and whatnot.
I know these things to be true.
**The image here, “Grass Harmonica” is from a series called, “InnerSpace Gardens” translucent stain on salvaged windows from 2004.
This is one of my newest pieces. I love it. This is the departure from the stillness…there is much more movement going on. I finally stuck to the nearly monochrome colors over the complimentary background.
This piece will be in the show I have coming up next month at VAIN Salon. I did some commission pieces for Tina, the owner, three years ago. The salon is so beautiful and inspiring. I am siked to be doing another show there.
I am starting to work bigger and bigger with the collage. The smaller dimensions are feeling too confining. There needs to be more expansiveness. Who knows what is next? I only know it will be larger and incorporate some new materials–maybe contact paper or wallpaper and maybe even a return to glass and light…we will see…
Here is a photo of two of the pieces I created for VAIN Salon in the reception area. They are painted on two big salvaged windows.
