The Aries Sessions

Yesterday was the start of something quite special, I think. We've started a series of panel discussions at one of my galleries in Second Life. The panel consisted of 3 artists, a visual artist (me), a poet (Stosh Quartz) and a musician/writer (Rosedrop Rust). DaVince Isle Arts SIM owner Ppmediadev Blinker posed the questions. The panel will change for each event.

The questions focused on the artistic process as experienced by artists working in the different genres. They were truly thought provoking questions and the discourse that followed was fascinating. It seems no matter the medium, the creative process crosses all borders of expression.

The Aries Sessions will take place once a month on the second Sunday of each month. The time will be announced. For some in depth, intellectual conversation, please join us.... from the comfort of your own home!

Old friends

I was looking for something totally unrelated when I stumbled upon some photos of watercolors I did for my first one artist show at La Liga de Arte in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. It's been a long time since I've seen these paintings (the show was in 1996) and it was like running in to old friends. The show was an exhibition of paintings with which I first experimented with superimposing 2 distinct drawings on top of each other and then working with the result. I apply what I learned by doing this to my Magical Realism paintings of today. Happiness is revisiting one's roots!

Creative Painting Seminar

There is no greater freedom than flying, I think. But to do so you need wings. I am teaching a Creative Painting Seminar at my studio here in Puerto Rico from July 5-8, 2010. This workshop will give you the wings to soar creatively and with confidence. It will teach you the basic elements of painting that, with practice, will allow you to take flight without being "technically tethered" to the ground. It will teach you to work WITH your painting and not ON it, resulting in a work that not only reflects your skills but your emotions as well.

We will be working with watercolor and/or acrylic on paper along with a surprising assortment of other mediums and materials, some of which are included in the price. Classes include lectures and discussions, hands- on personal instruction, critique and and the end of the final class, a casual exhibition/closing party to which you may invite your family and friends.

A 50% deposit is required to secure your space in the class. Space is limited, so contact me as soon as possible.

yup.... same painting

Yup... this is the same painting that I've been posting as a work in progress. I have now titled it "Evolution" as that has been exactly what the process has been like.

I'm always pushing myself forward...sometimes it's more like slogging. This painting has been like pulling teeth for me.... bringing it out of the mess I created with the underpainting and in to uncharted territory for me. My work is usually "softer" I think .... more organic. But the tides need to change, as with life.

Perhaps that explains the waves.

A bit more progress

Well, I'm moving slowly on this piece but I think I'm making progress. I'm really liking the movement and am trying to do everything I can to honor that and enhance that. I'm now working WITH the painting, not ON it, so we're talking to each other.... hopefully in the same language!!!

Moving along slowly

Well, I've been living with my underpainting for a while now, picking at it and trying to make some sense of it. It wasn't working. I was getting too "nitpicky" and not feeling the dynamics of what I had established with the underpainting. The poem has a beautiful, quiet strength to it yet that's not what I was seeing happening with my work. I don't know that the image seen here is clear enough, but there are some wonderful, peaceful swirls gracing their way through the painting. They were what was important to me when I did the underpainting, yet I was ignoring them once I started to try and put this thing together. Also, I had the reds fighting with the blues, neither dominant so it just created more turmoil. I was frustrated. Showed the piece to a friend and his response was.... quote... "if I lived in Puerto Rico I would come kick your a...." LOLOLOLOL What he meant was I needed to trust my spirit, I think, and let go of what I've done with paintings in the past and let this one take me forward. Sooo..... I went in to the painting seeking some peace. Life is good.

There's no horizon today

I'm sitting here in my studio looking down on the northeast coast of Puerto Rico and am struck by the fact that I'm not seeing the horizon today. The sea is so very calm that it is a perfect mirror of the sky above. Where does one start and one end? Obviously, it doesn't matter! It's all the same universe after all.