Dubai, 60" x 54", acrylic, 2009

 

Some paintings seem to flow off the brush naturally as if the image was waiting to be discovered within the canvas ground.  Dubai is one of these paintings where each stroke felt complete.  The painting is inspired by a photographer friend of mine who shoots images all over the world.  His photo, Dubai is of similar palette--a warm purple red with layers of pink overlaying.  Pink is the color of unconditional love and its a color I am embracing in my own life this summer. 

I bought a huge pink purse and some pink shoes along with pink shirts and underwear.  I can't seem to fill my life up with enough pink and it reflects the new inspiration I have found in my life and my work.

I am opening a gallery/studio in my hometown of Vienna where I will teach students and workshops on painting.  More to come on the studio and its location.  Hope you are having a wonderful summer as I am having the greatest summer and adventure of my life.  I just sold my house and am moving back into town.  Yes I am a townie--a vienna townie and proud of it.

More Dubai...

This morning, fathers day--Sunday, I enjoyed listening to a program on NPR about a spiritual songwriter and singer, Mr. Joe Carter. I had the privilege of listening to spiritual singers in church this past winter by a group that came to the Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, in Falls Church, Virginia. That music raised my spirits and moved me in ways I have never felt before. The vocal harmonies were sung with such intensity that I felt a trembling in my soul. I know now what the term spiritual revival means. Joe Carter talks about the music being handed down to him by a woman named Jesse Anthony, who came to him one day with a briefcase full of music. I would imagine such a treasure. The greatest gifts are handed down from our elders. Artists do this by handing down their processes to younger artists. This is the way we keep our traditions alive.

I have always wanted to sing the gospel. I really don't think I would ever give it the same justice as these incredible singers did that day in church. Some day I will have my chance and blast away with a full choir-ed regalia. It may just be other worldly, but I will do it.

Green Leaf, Acrylic on Canvas,

This image is one from my earth objects series. This leaf was collected during a hike on the trail near my home in northern Virginia. Earth objects are images of objects that are scanned into my computer and manipulated in photoshop to extract the "skeleton" of the image. I then carve the image directly into wet gesso on canvas with the butt of a paintbrush. This is a "carving into process", that I have been developing for many years. The carving leaves a nice texture on the surface giving the image a sculptural look.