Thank Gerard Its Friday!

I didn't know that was going to happen

I didn't know it was going to happen. I was completely preparing the canvas for another technique and image. I just thought I would put some color underneath the black.

"Put a keyhole there"

Thats what happened. So I did.

I have the key too.

And you do too, to your own key holes.

Its interesting, they can be anywhere. Know where you want to go? Just open one up and jump, hop, leap, step, or walk on through. Love those keyholes :-)

Fascinating little creatures.
p.s. its acrylic

This May Be Because I'm an Art Geek

This may be because I'm an art geek. I am utterly fascinated by what medium will do, how the paint will interact with the water and other colors. I think when one allows the paint to simply be and do its work, he/she/it/person/conglomerate of cells/thinking thing/moving thing are getting out of the way of nature.

And if you're going to paint, paint it, don't draw it, as I have learned today. The image above is reminiscent of underwater in the sea. The one below is reminiscent of "oh well". They, together are really about balance, refraining from overworking, finding a natural rhythmic flow, and the freedom of learning through play:-) Cheers to you!

Two Islands of Happenstance

Paint is always the beginning of an adventure, or a happenstance. Today's quest brought a small watercolor titled "Two Islands of Happenstance". The two islands mimic, relate, and/or mirror each other and the viewer spies on them through far away bushes, so as not to be seen.

Its not like anything would happen if he were seen, just an "oh" and the communion between the two islands would stop to allow the passing stranger into their conversation to say "Hello!'.

What's your happenstance?

Enjoying the Subtleties In Life

And the voyage continues in watercolor. E"njoying tHe SubTitles in Life" is the name of today's art adventure.

The slow, quick, and gentle gradations of a soft slight spring snow. Why should we think of spring now? Because everyday is a spring for cells, atoms, thoughts, and life. And everyday is a great day to notice the subtleties, the small differences and similarities. It will brighten your day to notice the small things. A hand shake, a greeter

Mahalo!

Into Your Dreams

In high school, my art teacher had us draw upside down so we would see shapes and shadows instead of objects. It was a fun assignment that made our brains flexible. In regards to abstract art, one often hears "oh that's so cool, it could go any direction". In some instances its true, and other times, a painting just has to go a certain way. I suppose it also depends on the reader. Some people read right to left, and down to up, and here to there, or from over there to over there.

And the point of all this? Stories, puzzles, collages, music, and paintings, can be created in one direction and then one finds it is supposed to go another way. Its like opening a box of cereal and finding the prize in the bottom of the box. Its a discovery, and those are always wicked fun.

This was the case for "It Will Lead You Into Your Dreams", the painting adventure for Sunday. Looking at things in a new way, and angle yet to be tired, can lead you to your dreams. Transformation into a heart of light and gratitude.

P.S. "Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly."

The Days of Heaven Transitions

This weekend was travel busy so I am posting Saturday and Sunday's paint adventures along with today's. Let's begin with Saturday.


"Topekana Hana" is the name of this small watercolor. A friend once, walked into one of my solo shows and pointed out that there were not any humans in the images. I had not noticed it until she pointed it out, only because she was both right and not wholly on the mark.

When I think of humans, I think beyond their form. I think about the thoughts, actions, motions, and energies they carry. Most often when I depict a person, it is what is going on inside of them, and this takes the form of color, shape, light, movement, and interactions with the other forms on the page. This view is not a new one. It is even in everyday language, for example "I feel blue", "She has a sharp tongue", "He was a nice as a spring breeze". Also, as we feel compassionate towards other forms of life we relate to their experience and form, and so though we have human looking bodies, we have experiences and relate well beyond that.

Furthermore, I have begun to realize, thought it is not a surprise, that images that have been in the background of my life actually took root and affected the way I think, and express. My mom was awesome, and before I went to preschool took me to see paintings at the Art Institute in Chicago, and brought home lots of art books. Most often, we admired the impressionists and other modern painters. Moreover, my grandfather's house was filled with Native American and African art which is abstract and filled with spiritual symbolism.

Also, recently I received some cachina doll pendants in the mail. So it was no surprise when the painting adventure for Saturday turned out to resemble all of this.

There was a sense of complete calm focus, and listening. So our friend here is a representative of living one's life to the best ability one can. He carries a staff of rainbows, and is a creature of welcome, balance, helpfulness, clarity, and honesty.

Also, when he is upside down he is a portal, much like some friend's hugs are.

A Door for the Goblins

This is a door for the goblins living with you. They can show themselves out, they know the way. You don't need to live with them anymore, they don't even clean the bathroom or help in the yard. So "here's they're sign". The door won't hit them on the way out, you're too friendly for that, which bores the goblins to death so they won't be back. Toodles.

Water

It rained last night, and I was still determined to paint outside. Then, I had to wait awhile before turning on the tap for water because someone was in the shower. In that time, I began thinking about water and its important role in life. Knowing that all water is connected, I always say a blessing before I use any of it. So, I dedicated today's art adventure it water. I allowed the liquid medium to flow where ever it desired, and here it is in mid-wash, not even dry, doing its thing.
I also thought about how the pigments come from stone and the paper from trees, and really, none of that would be possible without water.
Water can grow a tree and grow a soul.

For more water dedicated art check out Adrienne Pike Adelphia at http://adriennepike.com/
Her art is a beautiful tribute to life's sustaining force.

Knowing More Than You See

When a person goes to paint, or looks at anything for that matter, he/she knows more than she sees. From experience, he/she knows there is another side to the house and it's not just a wall, there is space, depth, and form to everything. So this is a call to remember that just because it is unseen, does not mean it is not there, and to know what you know.

Ironically, with art, it is the same way. Yes what a person sees is paint on canvas or paper or board, and the rest of the information that is taken in is the content, everything that went into that painting from what the artist was thinking, the experience of the moment and past, all the way to the current aspects of the society and relations of the world allowed that piece to come into being. The world is experienced as a whole all the time whether or not everything is seen.

Today's daily painting adventure is a watercolor hibiscus (7 1/2in x 5 1/2 in). And in that hibiscus are the layers of the rainbow molded into a different form and unfolding its self as though it was light deciding to take a certain form for a moment and then flowing on to its next dance.

Glass Window Adventure

"I'm pretty sure God/dess wants us to be happy", that was the thought that popped into my mind when doing this daily adventure. It is 7 1/2 in x 5 1/2 in watercolor and gouache on watercolor paper. It reminds me of the stained glass windows in the old churches of Europe. At times, even as they were being built, there was controversy over the ornateness of the cathedrals. Why should there be such grandiose amounts of money put into a building while people were poor and needed food, and was the decoration a distraction from the people's worship and spiritual relationship?

Have you ever stepped into one of those churches when there were not a lot of tourists? They're so quiet and filled with a deep listening patience that today's high speed highways, drive in food and drive out religion, quick to think, quick to speak, and slow to know what just happened, life is missing in daily practice. I imagine that as the artists worked on those cathedrals they had a lot of time to contemplate their own values and relationship with life, the seen and unseen.

When the light comes through stained glass windows there is a rainbow of colors and stories. A great light has always accompanied God/dess and the Heavenly Host. People talk about seeing something through "rose tinted glasses" as if that were a bad thing. Sometimes, it is easier for people to experience a loving connection when there is beauty around them. In the movie "Babbette's Feast", after Babbette has spent all her money on a feast for the townspeople someone commented on her not having anymore money, to which she replied "An artist is never poor". If taking delight in beauty was unlike feeding one's self, God/dess would not have made flowers.

Let the Light in and let the Light out.

Your eyes are your own stained glass windows, let your light shine.

Paint is always the beginning of a great adventure

Paint is always the beginning of a great adventure. This image to the left is the first of a daily adventure. It is called "Walking Out" and is a watercolor and gouache mandala that is just over 8 1/2 in x 5 1/2 in.

I've read that infinity cannot be comprehended by rational thought, or what is normally considered rational thought. I also think that the usual observance of what consciousness is, the being aware of something and in a linear, cause and effect, fashion is not the same consciousness that holds atoms together or could have made light. The consciousness of living is that of synchronicity and the embrace of unity. It is a harmonious, moving, community, of allowing being to be.

So if infinity, and ultimately reality cannot completely be comprehended through logic and the modern rational mind, art is here to be its mate and continue the quest of bending the mind to be better fit to dance.

Most art history books talk about modern painting as an exploration in materials, and they are right to an extent. The part that is often left out, is the history of these same artists depicting their spiritual and philosophical thoughts as a means of connecting to that which is unseen and very much experienced.

Art, it so happens, is perfect for these illustrations and explorations of living consciousness, because its elements are that which are sought in a happy life: balance, light, harmony, color, value, movement, rhythm, and unity (to name a few). In a paint drip there is an entire world of content.

So in the painting to the right, there is a walking out into the mystery, and away from all that is known and blanketed in a box style living of controlling habit and from here to there styrofoam Mesopotamia. The forest of your imagination waits and at its edges...

Instead of stopping at one, I continued the daily. This is another watercolor and gouache of the same size and is called "Awakening"

And finally, the third of the day, and a place for the story to rest for now. It is of the same materials and size as the other two and called "I wanted to leave white space" (at least for now). I did want to leave white space on the paper, and at first in my mind was only the large blue tear droop shape, and so I began. It is about the search for fire, and for light, as though it were not around you to begin with. Searching for those inner elements that already exist, and not as something that can be picked up and placed on a rack. To discover fire again.
It is a watercolor, so in order to have light, one must allow it to be the naked page.

I've also read, and agree, that painting accompanies thinking. So when the origin of thinking is found so one will also have found the origin of art, creativity, synchronicity and so much more, and most likely, it is ever so kindly staring you in the face.

Happy Fancy :-)

I've taken up jewelry making! I've wanted to do it for a while, and I'm having a blast with it. Check out some of the new bracelets on my website with more uploads to come soon! www.zoerei.com