Joe's Safe Place

I

What started as this became this became this became the above painting.

I thought my friend needed his own safe place painting. As I painted, I prayed for my friend to find safety. The painting began  in 2012 as a parched canvas---with holes and cracks and all kinds of spirit covering it. Then it was flooded. Even in the flood, a sacrificial lamb emerged. It grew green grass underfoot. Then it was flooded again and desolate and dark. Then a promise (rainbow) emerged over the darkness. Most recently, a peaceful meandering stream brought light and healing to the whole canvas (I forgot to document this with a photo)."Streams in the desert" Isaiah 35:6. Still, the canvas looked unfinished.

As I sat staring at the stream, again praying for my friend and his family, I asked God to show me more about my friend's safe place. It was then that I realized my friend's safe place can be found anywhere on this earth, no matter where he is, no matter what he is going through. The thing that makes my friend safe anywhere, speaks of his strong faith---his peace, the security he finds in trusting his Shepherd goes everywhere with him. To the highest highs, through the lowest lows: "Thy rod and thy staff comfort me" Psalm 23:4.


I know the depicted staff doesn't really look like a regular shepherd's staff...but then it isn't your regular shepherd's staff, is it?

On Falling Up

Descent to the Ascent
Oil, 16 X 20

I will gladly share about this painting some day. For now, though, it has to stand alone; I have not yet been given words to convey my experience.

Two revisited.

Of course it wasn't done. Still isn't. It's better but it's back in flux. Who knows? Tolerating ambiguity.

Kinetic Energy Earrings

These earrings were given to me---broken---several years ago. Today I finally got around to fixing them. Aren't they amazing?! The finish is so mirror-y I had to cover the earrings with white paper to get a photo that didn't include a mini picture of my own face and camera.

I imagine more moving pieces will emerge from my studio in the coming weeks. I have a nice big bunch of copper wire to put to use. I'm thinking Calder-like mandala mobiles. Bright enamel colors on copper....yes, please!

Moon Mandala and Enamel Cab

Last weekend I took a training for the MARI mandala assessment instrument. Holy cow it is cool! I am already using it with clients and curious friends. The next step is to certify as a practitioner so I can advertise my new skills.

If you know anything about me, you know Mandalas have been a part of my life long before grad school. The certifying with the assessment instrument is just the next part of the general confluence I have been experiencing over the last few years of my life. It is natural and exciting for me!

I have gone back over several of my old paintings and mandalas now that I have a more "modern" approach. Even I am amazed as I pour over old sketchbooks and journals to see what I have always known consciously/unconsciously about symbology and color. Amazing!

If you ever get the chance to do a MARI session, I highly recommend it for personal insight/growth. Plus, my own artwork (I know there will be plenty more influenced by my new knowledge) will make more sense to you. I'd explain more now, but it's best to not go into the assessment not knowing anything about it.

After filling my enamel drawer in the studio, I could not wait to enamel. So here's my first metal project born in the new studio:

After counter-enameling on back, fine silver wires are stuck in place in a hot layer of clear glass. (Seen on the left side of the moon/sun face here.)

Then you pack the colored glass in the cells created by the wires.

Fired, melted glass.

Keep layering and firing...

...and Voila! I need to find a carborundum stone to buff this smooth and shine it up. I have no idea what that pink X is doing in the middle of the blue eye. It does not come off. Sweet!

Move in May!

After Cody got me started I finished the floor in one day!

Bench side (No gas for my big torch yet so my kiln and new tanks are yet to come!)

Paint Side (Each drawer is organized and I can actually find things now!!!)

So grateful for this space. Yesterday and today were the first times I got to "work" out there. So nice---and so fun to have Chloe in there with me. She did get latex primer (from her own project) on the almost finished "Two" painting (not a pretty parenting moment). Hopefully I can fix it soon.

It's finally signed.

Slow Shoulder

48"X48"

Oil

I love how this guy talks about why I had to do this to this painting. (I'm not Mormon but I love what he has to say about the concept.)

Expressive Art/Mindfulness Seminar

I want to post a special invitation to my blog readers for the workshop I am doing tomorrow. Technically the workshop is geared toward people who create for a living/have high creative output---but Expressive Art and Mindfulness are for everyone. I'm going to be sharing about what life taught me before MFT school (Think TED-like) and how life has brought me to this place. We're going to be doing several expressive art exercises throughout the 2 hour (longer if people want to stay) experiential time. Here's more Information!

Slow Shoulder with Gold Leaf

Slow Shoulder (Oil, 48X48) Full Flash

No flash and in the dark. 

People often tell me about how they experience my paintings in different light. I love the idea of things changing according to light.

It's no secret my husband hates this giant painting of him. We have agreed that I will let him keep the trash can painting (I won't even link to it I hate it's acrylic texture so much) and I will keep this one. It is hands down my favorite painting to date simply because of the subject matter (+attachment) and poem. Maybe that's why I can't quit touching this canvas. I know there will be other paintings to follow that will some day trump this one and I probably won't even want to hang it. There were these and this before it. For now I need this one to be just. like. this.

*Posted for Lara, my non-FBing, non-instagramming friend who kicks ass in the kitchen, in the wild, and is a tender mom. (Yes, Lara. I used an Oxford Comma.) This painting is also for your cute little blondie who magically weaves circles in and around all of us. 

Almost done: Two

Two (The Vault)

$525.00

Oil, 48" X 48"

I'm going to add a little silver and then oil this one out over the next two weeks. I expect it will change some. Then I'll sign it and deliver it to whoever purchases it. Then (at least) one year later I will travel to the painting and varnish it. 

This painting is about the second day referenced in Genesis 1. It is second in a series that began in 2009 with the painting Three (Land and Sea). I want to paint One (Light and Dark) next. Then maybe Four (Sun and Moon). Not too sure when/if I'll be inspired to paint the other days.

The only thing that would make me love this painting more is if the canvas were round. As I typed that last sentence I remembered this painting. Perhaps I can paint this painting within a painting and see it round some day....