I have been painting like crazy for the last couple of months and I'm delighted to share the results with you. The reason for all the work is that I will be having a show in Salem, Oregon, with Mary Lou Zeek Gallery in their Gallery 2, an appointment only gallery, in October. I am super excited about the show, Mary Lou Zeek is so kind and supportive and has already come out to see the group of paintings. Next month, I will share more details as things develop. If anyone lives in the area and would like to see the show, please e-mail me and I will let you know when the reception for the show will be. I have one other exciting thing happening in connection with this show but I will save more for that in the next newsletter as I do not have a lot of details yet.
'A woman and her horse', Oil on 30x40 inch canvas.
'Pulling a dance partner from a favorite tree', Oil on 16 x 20 inch wood panel.
“On a cold day, they brought the offering to the waterfall”, Oil on 24 x 24 inch wood panel.
'The snow would catch them”, Oil on 20 x 20 inch wood panel.
'With honor and respect', Oil on 30 x 30 inch canvas.
“She pulled down the moon and carried it home”, Oil on 10 x 10 inch wood panel.
“A crown of red”, Oil on 12 x 12 inch wood panel.
'Family Portrait', Oil on 12 x 16 inch canvas.
The next series of paintings, which I have just started, will begin in the same place as these but I am taking them to the next step. I am making them more personally meaningful for me, somewhat autobiographical. It has been really interesting to see where that is taking me. Since late spring, I have started my paintings from an abstract base (loosely painted before I start). I then coax out of the shapes and lines a narrative. So, rather than simply finding a story as I've done with these paintings above, I am now going to try to find my own stories in them. No doubt inspired by Frida Kahlo, who I've been studying in depth for several weeks now (if you follow my blog you already know about all of this). Not the first time I have tried to have more meaning in my paintings, but now I'm trying to get more of me into them. They say you should write what you know, I assume that translates into art as well.