Movement, Texture and Meandering; Oxbow I
I started Oxbow I (I anticipate more of these to come) as an exploration into marks made in wet paint, dragging textures and more build-up than I usually work with. A dalliance, a meandering.
As I worked on this painting I thought about water cutting through land, doubling back, eroding and going forward again. I’m sure there’s a metaphor in there somewhere.
The river cuts the path based on sediment - not to create something ‘beautiful’. For Oxbow I, I let my arm take easy paths, make easy movements and drag/dig into the wet paint.
I think all the flying we’ve been doing has started to affect my work.
Memories of Miami - Sold
Right around this time of year, when the cold seeps just deep enough into my bones - I think back to Miami. We spent 10 years there, living on the beach and then in the downtown area across the bay. It was a hot, sweaty, magical time. Miami was where I fell in love with yoga, with running, with 3pm cuban coffee and most importantly, had the time to develop a process that still informs my work.
It’s all about the water.
I don’t outright miss Miami - I just think back on it with extreme fondness. We had a wonderful group of friends, family nearby, the OCEAN…. and ugh, all the colors of those beachy sunsets will probably always have a home in my work. It’s the sweetest nostalgia.
And what does an artist do when she gets nostalgic? (At least this artist) She paints!
I painted Memories of Miami in such a nostalgic mood in 2020. The colors were sea, sand, sky and the neons of ocean drive and Wynwood. It all mashed together to be ‘Miami’ for me. ( Acrylic on 18 x 24 cradled wood)
Memories of Miami went to it’s new home with a local friend/collector this week. <3
Alluvion Process
Alluvion: the action of the sea or a river in forming new land by deposition.
The idea of ‘water making land’ has been on my mind for awhile as I’ve been working.
It’s the parallel between that process and my process (both water-based and water-dependant, and both make something where there wasn’t before) that has been in the back of my mind, beckoning me to explore it.
With that thought in mind I set to work on a few 5 x 7 canvases.
Those drips <3
I may be bringing these for the fair in Chicago - so I’m not going to list them for purchase just yet.
Sign up for my email, or follow me on insta to see when they are released to the public.
PARHELION; Thoughts behind the work.
This week one of my favorite paintings found a new home.
par·he·li·on
/pärˈhēlēən/
noun
a bright spot in the sky appearing on either side of the sun, formed by refraction of sunlight through ice crystals high in the earth's atmosphere.
Parhelion began from a series of sketches that explored tones from the sky above my little studio. You wouldn’t think of Michigan as a great place for sunsets/sunrises, but I regularly find myself looking up in awe at the colors above.
It sat, unnamed, water-soluble pastel on canvas in the form of a color study as I debated what to add to be able to call it complete. It was one of those pieces that I really enjoyed in the state that it was in, so I didn’t feel a huge rush to “finish” it.
Several months later, while in the car - watching a sundog (and having just started adding acrylic over top water soluble pastel paintings) I had my answer.
A few layers of titan buff later and a title - and Parhelion came to be.
Happy 2021 friends <3
I hope you all had a nice start to 2021. Our NYE celebration was a lot different this year - but not necessarily worse by any means. My husband and I made tacos, played games and enjoyed not having to decide who had to drive home from the festivities this year. If anything I think I prefer this quieter more introspective entry into the changing year, especially after everything that has happened recently.
I have to keep reminding myself however, that just because we’re leaving 2020 behind, doesn’t mean that everything will get magically better. I’m hopeful, but trying to stay rooted in reality too.
I’ve made a few little paintings over the break and am finishing up one larger work - but I spent the majority of time thinking about the direction I’ve been following for the last half of the previous year. It’s easy for me to get swept away by new marks and not question their purpose - so I’ve been taking lots of notes and considering the reasonings behind their placement and movement.
Again, really enjoying this quieter start to the year.
