terroso' Earth Below

8"x8" canvas, tissue, acrylic, pinhole negative, print. This is the sixth of the 7 Directions Meditation. I used a duplicate of this same image (cielo) but this one focuses on the earth. On this piece the writing is almost readable. The writing from the meditation is a question concerning the photo "What is seen but not seen?" repeated every other line with various answers...such as the cool water of the green river, the sacred presence on this earth etc... Altogether I'm surprised that these six directions work as a set. I used the same materials but each has it's own life, except these last two play off one another. The seventh direction is inward and for now I've stopped working this small and will return when I've finished with this old/new project calling me....self portrait/Inward. They do run together but the size of the canvas is much larger 24"x36" and I'm not narrowing down my materials to just a few but rather letting them just evolve. I have four canvases ready. These art projects are starting to stack up around here...I also am interested in creating abstract works using soft pastel on large paper 36" x 36" which means framing...at least 4 or 5. I plan on beginning this series with acrylic first and then follow up with this buttery chalk. In my steps of the creative process book, I am clearly in the 1st step....dream stage...I have all these plans and dreams. The 2nd stage ...gathering the materials which I have also been doing but then there is the 3rd stage which is getting started and then eventually asking the question "What the hell was I thinking?" I'll be there soon enough...I'm going to enjoy these early steps! It is like the old joke..How to make God laugh? Tell him your plans! ha

Soft Pastel Rediscovered!

As I was arranging and rearranging my studio I came upon my pastel collection...no surprise they exist but a reminder how I want to do a series using them on some large paper I have been saving. I received these as an inheritance from a dear artist friend and I look forward to using them with hope of her magic attached. This got me to thinking of my artist list...it is a long list with materials and techniques and visions and series I have yet to explore or revisit. So much to do! Are these familiar feelings? I actually wrote a list of this past years accomplishments to ease the pressure on my very small full brain. Personal accomplishment: 1. revisited collagraph in the compass series. 2. 2nd visit to oasis series as my rest and recuperation. 3. Used limited materials and added 7 directions meditation to my art making. 4. Rediscovered sewing on cloth and paper in my Human/Divine series. 5. Ongoing self portrait/muse imagery. Most of this work shows in sets on my flickr site. I know there are more things I have touched on this past year but that seemed to ease my angst about "Paint Bucket Lists". I'm getting older and I have so much I love, so many things to express in so many ways that I sometimes get overwhelmed. Tell me about your "Paint Bucket Lists" ?

Cielo: The Sky Above

8"x8" canvas, pinhole photo negative, tissue, acrylic. There is writing embedded in the sky but almost unreadable. Again, meditation to writing to imagery. It reads of being the sky: "This sky of mine" repeated every other line and between lines, with the last line being "echoes my sacred presence". The photo is one I took in Yosemite near Mirror Lake. My love for Yosemite goes back to my early childhood and the area for me, is a soul connection. This is the 5th of the 7 directions and the 6th also used the same photo. I will post the 6 completed directions on flickr. The seventh direction is looking inward and I must say I need a break from working this small! Personally I believe all work is inward so for a little while I will focus my attention on four canvases measuring 24'x36" and then come back to this 8"square.

Before I start work I must first clean the studio.! I rather like a messy space but this has gone so far as I can't find any place to begin new work.Rather that being inviting it is the opposite...too chaotic. So I will devote some time to getting things orderly today. Whenever I dig in like this I make wonderful discoveries of materials, snippets, stones or such just waiting to be rediscovered!
Maybe it is the season but I am getting strong feelings on getting not just my studio in order but many other areas of my life....closet is begging for a winterizing, I need to revitalize my cooking...fresh approach with stews, soups and such and I need a day out....one of those days when you get in the car and take off...find a new place to eat lunch, some photos, shopping...roll down the windows feel the fresh fall air...yes! What do you need to do or go to feel refreshed?