Purifying Fire, originally Dreaming Adventure 2.15 through 3.21

Here's a third work in progress. I REALLY loved the first layer.

 

Don't care for this layer, #2 (below)

 

The colors are not absolutely true on this layer #3 (below).

This is the 'black and white' layer.

 

Decided to go more bold

with the black and white, and cover up parts I don't like.

 

 

Next will be the transluscent layer...

I'm not sure if I see an eagle in the middle right portion under the woman's neck. I also wonder about developing the flames into an absolute fire...

and the latest transformation:

It might not be noticeable, but etched in the kindling below is the word "kindling." There is kind-ness inside a purifying fire. The fire itself has blue letters rising in the flames: 'purifying.' In the shofar is etched the word 'trust' and nearer the top is the word 'peace.' Next to the bird's beak is the word "knowing' etched, and beneath her pearls of wisdom under her collar is the etched word 'truth.' These are the images I see. It could be something else entirely to someone else. And that would be wonderful, too.

Asparagus Trees

Another work in progress...
I call this beginning canvas the orangey purple canvas.
It's actually more the orangey magenta pink canvas, isn't it?!

And here's the "cool colors" layer on top! What a change!

And yes, I have TOO many photos on my iPhone camera roll.

I think I see asparagus trees at the bottom. I don't know why

I think they are asparagus tress, but that's what I think.

And now, today (two weeks later),

I see a sort of bluish green dragon or a flying insect

on the middle left!

 

I really like the painting below.

This is after a warm layer of colors...

Do you see the red fish, a koi, perhaps? 

And the asparagus trees, they're still there!

 

Uh, oh.

The assignment was to add black and white.

I'm leaving this sit now because I'm not sure what to do next.

My beautiful koi has a black line over it. How DID that happen?!

The colors in the photograph below

are not really the colors of the painting...

 

I'm learning to look at all of these paintings with curiosity and wonder

rather than judgement or criticism (negative criticism).

I'm learning to let go of attachment to a previous layer,

I'm learning to sit with a layer,

look at one portion, and get comfortable...

sort of the way I'm learning to live with myself.

 

 

Painting Evolutions

This painting process, a la, Flora Bowley, is a journey. I'm learning to look at my layers of paint with curiosity and wonder instead of judgement and attachment. I've had a few layers I've been attached to. And others I'm more than ready to let go. This is an on-line course, and we have the opportunity to post our paintings in a closed group on FaceBook. There we can encourage each other, and see what others are painting. It's very exciting.

I'm seeing a huge relationship between my painting process and my reactions to life itself. Am I attached to my early ages in life? Do I think this present stage in my life is a mess? Do I wish I could get on to the next stage and leave this spot of life behind? Some classmates have posted paintings they think is a mess, but others clamor to say they love the paintings, the colors, and find images within.

Do we look at ourselves like that? I don't like myself, I don't like this aspect or that. I'm too much of a mess, no one else could possibly like me or understand. And yet! Others may see beauty in the very stage we are in. It's helping me see that I am precious, too, each layer, each phase that I live through is itself a bit of a wonder, a mystery, and worth every moment. Be in it, and enjoy. Now.

Ahh! Fun First Week Releasing

I painted this week and it was FUN!

Here is my second layer of one painting. I'll post more later this weekend. I am fascinated with how I think I already see things that are revealing themselves and creating a dream world I am glad I'm finding.

I painted a triangle in the upward center. It represents a triangulated relationship that has hurt me and my sister. Then I OPENED it up and painting healing white to shine down below.  I painted a letter to represent something impulsive I did in the past that has caused me much pain and regret. Then I painted over it. Good things are bounding their way to me. I have no more regrets, only joyful expectations. Do you see the little blue person in the lower left quadrant? There's no head, yet. But it looks as if she is manging her way down a windy path, balancing her way....I am seeing images that might take body (and heads) as I paint the next layer.

Thank you, Flora Bowley!

Finding My Intuitive Self

Haven't really painted much, or drawn even, over the past eight or nine months. A relocation across town, my daughter starting high school. I am just now unpacking my paints. I'm starting an online course, Flora Bowley's "Brave Intuitive You."

I've realized I've tamped down my intuitive self and lost myself in caregiving. Not that caregiving is bad, it's not. But one can too easily lose sight or even knowledge of one's own self in the attending to the needs of others, a child, a spouse, a parent.

Flora Bowley's FaceBook Link

Flora Bowley's Brave Intuitive You E-Course

and her artist site:  http://www.florasbowley.com/

Here are some examples of her work. I like the layers, and the way she eventually outlines something that was once hidden, revealing a truth.

 

 

What might I discover within me? I'm hoping to find out.
I'll be posting what I paint, watching what develops, what is revealed...

So glad to live in the age of technology where I can take this course online
and correspond with others who are on this brave path!

Thank you, Flora! (she's on the couch admist her paintings!)

And here's one of her books:

 

After the booth show...

After the booth show, I was, it's true, a little deflated.

My daughter started showing me things I could paint, and here's what I did:

This is a watercolor based upon a watercolor painting my daughter found on the computer.

This is an 8x8 acrylic based upon

a Frida 'bad ass' internet photo.

I can't find the links to either original painting, but I did try.

So that's the extent of paintings in the last month.

Oh, except for a postcard rendering:

Post Card Art Club
http://sites.google.com/site/postcardartclub/

Uh Oh. It's time to do another post card before the end of the month catches me unwares.

Off to paint and dream a bit more this next month of June!

That Art Booth Show! Saturday, April 28, 2012

Herea are some of the photos from my art booth!

Notice how I take photos with my finger showing!

My sister (on right) and my daughter (left) joined me!
My sister and her son Bowden helped me set up. :)

This is the inside of the booth. I needed signage.
If and when I have another booth, I'll need a sign, definitely.

My lovely daughter and me!

It was exciting, having a booth sale. I think the lack of signage wasn't helpful. I was situated away from other artists. That didn't help the flow of artists. I didn't sell a thing! There were a few lookers, and some expressed interest, but that was about it. I don't know that art booths are really my thing. A LOT of work goes into getting ready, loading the car, unloading the car (I still haven't managed to put everything away. I don't have outside storage for some of the items). And the heat! OH, the HEAT! It was just the end of April, but by noon, I was fading.

If I am to have sucessful art sales, at a booth sale, it might help, too, to have one not immediately following the city's two biggest art sales (Chain of Parks and Spring Fest). Also, maybe for now, I need to continue creating art that breathes my essence, allows me to explore who I am before I get wrapped up in figuring out what works to sell. I could do that, I think, but I'm not ready for that yet. Maybe I'll postpone future booth sales until mid September and work on my other loves, my daughter, my family, my genealogy, and my own art. I might work on setting up the etsy shop to see what sells there.

Maybe I'll create smaller works of collage type art and necklaces, and sew up some yoga eye rests to sell at the art booths in the fall. I love the fall anyway. That may be the time to really shine at the art booths!