Saturday, May 28, 2011

Soul Map to Freedom



This is the fourth in a series of works that I started about 2000. The original inspiration stemmed from a photo of an ancient map that had rotted along the the edges of the folds.

One of the initial challenges was how to create the deteriorated look along the edges of the squares. I was able to come up with an acceptable solution using heavy watercolor paper with hand torn edges and acrylic molding paste.

Over the years, my technique has evolved yet the unique process that I go through to complete one of these is like no other type of art I have ever created. The first stage involves the preparation which can take weeks or months. I am making the blank squares and I am thinking about how many I might need. When making the 28 square version, I generally have 50 or more finished squares that I arrange and rearrange over a period of time until I come up with the one that clicks.

What is really interesting about this process is that instead of me having a preconceived vision of what it will look like prior to creating it, this type of work has to reveal itself to me over a period of time as I am going through the process of making the art and living my life. I don't know what it is going to look like but I have to open my heart and mind so it will come to me.
Soul Map to Freedom came together for me with a question. I was at a friend's home and he had his XM radio tuned to a Jamaican radio station. There was an advice program on hosted by a woman with a rich melodic voice. At the end of her program she signs off with a "thought for the day" and it was, "If you are not fully free then you must ask yourself, Why?"

THE SOURCE

This is a watercolor painting that I published as a giclee print. The image size is 18"x24".

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Eye of the Cave


This is a mixed media wall sculpture inspired by a photo I made while standing inside a little cave looking out at the ocean while I was on a trip to the Pacific Northwest.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Running Free


It feels good to be back painting again. I had to change my perspective in order to realize how important making art is to me. I used to think that in order to be successful that my art had to support me financially. The problem I have with that kind of thinking is, it causes me to focus more on the money than the love of painting... every day!

This is a watercolor. Wild horses are one of my favorite subjects.

Sunrise on the Serengeti


Here is a shot of a recent commissioned work I did for a friend, Guillermo Maldonado who grew up beside an exotic game refuge in Mexico. It is watercolor and mixed media. I hope that some day I can make a trek to Africa and see an actual sunrise on the savannah. There are ecotours that take you up in a hot air balloon at sunrise. Can you imagine?!