Danae

I keep apologizing for my long absences. Honestly, I've been allowing myself the indulgence of focusing on my paintings - playing around with what direction I want to explore next. I have had two new purse paintings finished, but wasn't certain I was ready to post. Mainly because I wanted to see if these purses were going to make up a new body of work.

One of the reasons I'm interested in purses, is similar to my attraction to my presents. Both are elaborate, decorative surfaces that disguise/hide interior content. The main difference for me is that we have a pretty good guess as to what might be inside a purse. Purses are so personal too. They reveal our personality, whether we like it or not. Funny thing is, I myself rarely carry an actual purse. Maybe I'm just not ready to commit to a personality yet, or maybe I haven't found a purse that can adequately hold my personality. I think I'm going with that last one.

Anyway, I'm actually pretty certain that purses are not going to be a totally new direction, (I am actually working on two bow themed paintings right now) but I do think they will continue to make guest appearances. They give me the opportunity to ponder an intriguing question..... what shiny fun self do we show the world, and is it the same self as our inner private one?

Thanks as always for tolerating my musings.

Ginkgo

SOLD
"Ginkgo" was previously posted, but I want to re-post it, showing it in its frame, which finally came in. This painting is slightly larger than most of my blog paintings of late, and I knew right from the first brushstroke that I wanted it in a heavy thick frame. The decision to frame, or in some cases not to frame, is always part of my overall visual idea.

This painting will be packed up and sent to Atlanta in a couple of days for a show I am participating in, Spotlight on Art , which is an annual fundraiser. I will actually be very sad to send this painting; it has been a very bright sunny spot of color in my studio during this month of overcast Chicago days.

Ginkgo

Well I could write pages on this painting and the experience, but I will try and keep it short. Suffice it to say, I feel like I have finally painted the painting I've been trying to paint for years, and I think it is all due to my little experiment with the abstract paintings. I strongly encourage everyone, not just painters, to try something out of your comfort zone, see what insight it may bring to you. I think our subconscious leads us toward things we need to experience, who cares if we look crazy! Who cares if we don't do it well! Just try it, whatever it is, as long as it is legal!!


This painting is titled Ginkgo. I hope you are lucky enough to have a Ginkgo tree nearby, they are the last trees to change into their Fall outfits. Here in Chicago Fall is breathtaking, full of oranges, reds, rusts, and ochres. Then, as if for the final curtain call before Winter the Ginkgos, whose branches extend way past their trunks in crazy right angles, explode into gold. This year it was too brief a show, just like a shooting star! But never fear, this winter storm today has lead me straight to a fabulous silver satin ribbon.