Day 7: 30 Days - 30 Paintings - Feb. 2018

Colorful Cacti Category

Here is another addition to my Arizona Collection.  Winning in the Colorful Cacti Category is our very own Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. This rather colorful cactus lives in our backyard.   Although she isn't actually quite this colorful in 'real life', her soul is energetic, a bit spikey and definitely colorful!   

Enjoy!

Colorful Cacti Category

9" x 12"
acrylic on 140 lb watercolor paper

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Day 6: 30 Days - 30 Paintings - Feb. 2018

Wild Child

To my eye, the Arizona desert provides a never-ending display of beauty.  It resonates deeply with me and I do not tire of observing it around me.  This particular agave species greets us on our daily walk.  Because its 'leaves' are a bit unruly and bend and twist where ever they choose, I respectfully call it "Wild Child".  

It is the latest addition to my Arizona Collection on my website:  Come visit for a breath of warmth and sun! 

Wild Child

9" x 12" acrylic on 300 lb watercolor paper

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Day 5: 30 Days - 30 Paintings - Feb. 2018

Up Lifting 

Colors in layers and layers and a few more layers...add in a bit on ink and marking crayon and then it's onward and upward...uplifting spirits...

Up Lifting 

22" x 30"

Acrylic on paper

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Day 4: 30 Days - 30 Paintings - Feb. 2018

Everwish

In August I participated in Art Unraveled, a series of art-related workshops which lasts for a week in Phoenix.  I had the pleasure of taking a workshop with Sandra Duran Wilson.   The painting below was begun during the workshop and finished at a later time.  I enjoyed Sandra and the information she relayed. It was an excellent workshop.

As a bonus, I happened to be the winner of the grand prize offered at Art Unraveled!  I was gifted with a huge basket of original artwork, jewely, art prints, supplies, stencils, stamps, etc. - all uniquely crafted and/or supplied by participating artists and vendors.  

If you have ever wished you might be the recipient of a wonderful surprize - here you are - Everwish...  

Everwish

12" x 24" 

Acrylic on gesso board

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Day 3: 30 Days - 30 Paintings - Feb. 2018

View from the Forest Floor

If you look closely, you will see the subtle, raised texture of the leaves and plants of the tropical vegetation - as seen from the unique perspective of the tropical forest floor.  The use of light molding paste provides an interesting tactile experience for the hand and the eye!

Vegetation from the Forest Floor

8" x 10" textured acrylic on canvas panel

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Day 2: 30 Days - 30 Paintings - Feb. 2018

Sri Yantra

The symbology of the Sri Yantra is profound.  Actually constructing a Sri Yantra design by hand using sacred geometry, is a complex and ultimately very meditative experience.  (See the explanation below.)

I have taken my 12" round, intricately constructed design done in watercolor on a gold gesso background - and have mounted it on a 12" round canvas painted with gold gesso.  It now has a proper substrate and graces the wall with its energy and beauty.

Sri Yantra

Watercolor on Gold Gesso

12" Round

Side view

Mounted on 12" Round Gold Gessoed Canvas

The Sri Yantra is a complex and mesmerizing 12,000 year old Hindu symbol and is considered the "mother of all Yantras".  Yantras are geometrical designs based on the principles of sacred geometry and are often used for meditation. 

As an intricate design, the Sri Yantra is a mathematically precise, interconnected matrix  based on the Golden Mean or Phi ratio. It is composed of nine interlocking triangles - four triangles pointing up and five triangles pointing down.  

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Day 1: 30 Days - 30 Paintings - Feb. 2018

Welcome to Day 1 of yet another 30 day challenge!  

This will be a process of unfolding as I ease back into life in the studio.  Jump on board with me - and let's take a ride!  

Today I'm presenting a 're-fashioned' painting that happens to be one of my favorites - so much so that it is the background on my phone - therefore I see it every day.  I never tire of looking at it, which tells me a lot about the piece!  It has deep personal meaning to me, which can be seen in the description that I wrote for it on my website:

This painting was inspired by a profound experience while in the presence of the standing stones at Callanish on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.  It was June, it was 10:00 p.m. and the sun was still shining.  What was even more surprising was that aside from a flock of sheep - we were the only (seemingly human) beings there.  The ancient site is massive - roughly the size of a football field - and the towering stones stand majestically in a Celtic cross formation.  It is truly impressive.  The bold colors and design  in the painting are indicative of the strength of the experience.

The closest town to Callanish is Stornoway, population about 8,000 - which by-the-way happened to have an amazing Chinese restaurant (hence the Chinese papers incorporated in the painting).  Although mixing cultural symbols, if you look closely you may actually find a Sri Yantra or two.  It's time to get the Celtic symbols out...

I decided to take it to the next level and mounted it on a larger canvas panel which I prepared with black gesso.  I love it even more now if that's possible!

Take a look and see what you think:

Callanish - revisited

Acrylic & Multi-media on watercolor paper 

mounted on a 12" x 12" deep edge canvas

12" x 12" x 1 1/2" canvas gessoed black

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