Greetings Art Fans,
This has been a wonderful and prolific week. First, an announcement. Harmony Works in Redondo Beach is now featuring my “Emotional Flowers” series. 8 of my paintings are now available. I’m especially excited about this venue, as Royce Morales, the owner, really ‘gets’ my work and has a wonderful selection of artists as well as handmade gifts and great music. Check it out, 1705 South Catalina Avenue, Redondo Beach. She also has some great art classes for you aspiring artists.
Emotional Flowers continue to bloom in my world. Two more paintings this week, both more abstract and evolved from their original sources. Enough gobble-de-gook.. I will be more specific… First one– “Unfurling 1″, oil, 24″x30″. It began with photos taken on my recent trip to Hawaii. From looking at my work or speaking with me, you’ll know how much I love the Hibiscus flower. How lucky I was to have a hibiscus garden where I stayed. I was able to really observe and capture the flowers at different times of day and different lighting conditions. What really fascinated me is how they close up at night and then re-open each day. The idea of being closed-up and then unfurling evolved into a metaphor for how we open to each other, unfurl, and then close up, depending on how we feel. In this painting, I paid much less attention to the actual color of the flowers, and let the palette of soft pastel colors speak of feminine nature. You’ll also notice that the unfurled petals are much richer and deeper in color– that’s allowing emotions to really sing and come out.. As I get to know someone, I feel more comfortable allowing my colors to show.. You may also see how the inner bud is shell-like in color and form. No accident– we typically hold that inner core of our true selves under many shells.. the most tender and vulnerable parts of ourselves are the ones that are most difficult to reveal, even to our loved ones. For me, recent events in my life have made me realize that not everyone will understand me, and that I am obligated no matter what to be authentic and reveal who I am, even at the risk of rejection. I hope you can relate. How do you reveal your true self? Do you feel fear about being vulnerable? I know I do. I feel vulnerable just putting this out there.. but I feel I have to do it. When I share my emotions like this, I hope to inspire you as the viewer to do the same in your life.
Painting #2.. “Shadow Poppy”, oil, 16″x20″.. Truly a happy accident! When we allow inspiration to come up all around and not work so hard to find it or force it, it shows up everywhere. In this case, I was preparing an updated bio for Harmony Works, and in the process, was highlighting a photo and some text using Open Office. All of a sudden, I gasped out loud. The highlight ended up reversing all the colors, so I ended up with a blue and green and violet version of my “Esalen Poppy” painting. I realized I needed to paint it immediately.. It made so much sense.. The title, “Shadow Poppy”, is another metaphor.. this painting is about recognizing and embracing the beauty of our shadow selves, what we think of as the negative parts of our personalities. That is a very difficult process, yet the result is seeing how the shadow balances the light, our higher sevles. You can’t have light without shadow or happiness without sadness! It’s all a yin-yang balancing act. There are also some shadow figures in this painting, see if you can find them or figure out what they are. No clues! What shadows do you have? How do you recognize them?
Last but definitely not least, I am so very excited about my upcoming painting excursion on Friday to paint the Channel Islands for 5 days with David Gallup and Stephen Mirich along with 20 other artistic souls. It’s been a while since I painted out in the plain air (i.e. plein air).. and this is going to be anything but plain! I will have the opportunity to do more Extreme Painting such as painting from a kayak as well as moonlight painting using a headlamp. What I end up with is anyone’s guess. I know I won’t be bored! Until then, I wish you joy and inspiration.
…. Cindy
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