A new direction...
I haven’t shared much about what happened during the post-Hurricane Helene hibernation. I was in a huge warehouse space where I could create at any hour- with no limits on space, and no shows on the horizon. In that time, some really interesting departures from my normal style appeared. I am still working to embrace them.
I was having fun. I started reading a little poetry each morning and lighting a candle before painting. I let Mary Oliver’s words influence my focus for the day. And I often sat and flipped through art books and went for rides down the hallway on a kids scooter I found at Goodwill.
During this time I started painting pieces that were playful, loose and easy to create. I was exploring with new materials- drawing with charcoal, painting with ink, sketching with oil sticks. They reminded me of childhood when crayons were the only implement we were allowed. But it felt like there were no lines to stay inside. These pieces didn’t have a destination. I did not have a studio, and the gallery wanted my larger works. I had freedom for ideas that had been percolating for years to finally be put to canvas.
What appeared were rabbits surrounded by thick cocoons of black ink. Bear cubs with charcoal outlines and worlds that only needed a couple colors to describe. And then came the OWLS.
Another ritual in my studio is pulling tarot cards. Sometimes for guidance, or just for ideas or a mind reset.
What resulted is a continuing series of paintings that sell out as soon as I make them. Most are barn owls, because they have the sweetest faces. I found that if I described just a couple features well- especially the face- that the minds of the viewers would fill in the rest. And instead of the usual detailed renderings in oil paint, I developed a language of arrows, dashes, and dots. I drew them in bright color palettes and left much unsaid. I surrounded them with my usual silver, gold and copper leaf. And each one received symbols to represent the card that I pulled.
The Four of Swords became a bright pink owl with four sword ferns at her side. The King of Coins a bright green upright owl with a coin between his talons.
And what I found was when I showed this work, people really connected. When they read the tarot meaning on the back of the painting it always seemed to resonate.
I recently painted two pieces for The Lovers Tarot card…. pairs of barn owls. Both are going to their new homes this week. The interaction between two owls has become a challenge that I am also loving- finding ways to show relationship.
For the near future… in addition to the commissions I have in my studio- I plan to keep exploring these fun variations. Colorful. playful, tarot owls. Maybe someday I will have painted the entire deck.
New original with a fun new color palette… a pair of owls with a sweet connection. Mixed media- gold leaf and charcoal. 30” x 30” gray wood floater frame.
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