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Beautiful thinking allows our imaginations a turn at the helm.

When I look at an abstract painting, I feel transported, given the gift of another way of seeing. When I paint abstracts, I let go of routine, rigidity, and process; I explore possibility, harmony, and beauty.

Abstraction is beguiling. When in the flow of painting, I am lost in solving the visual complexity of disparate forms, colors, and textures, searching for a framework with harmony. Leaning into the joy of painting abstracts, I find greater ease with complexity, I grow into new ways of looking and thinking.

When a painting connects with another person through its language of color, form, and line, it can be transformative. Like poetry which allows, in its abstraction, for multiple interpretations, abstract painting is a means to beautiful thinking*. By identifying with the gestural quality of a line, the ambiguity of a shape, the emotion of color, we get insight into ourselves and others, we allow for difference, and find a way to get comfortable with complexity.

*Beautiful thinking: Looking for the interconnectedness and interdependence of things. Describes transformative thought, an ability to glimpse our unfurling, growth, and interconnectedness.

This last year has had us focused on the interiority of our lives, taking heart in small things, appreciating what we have. It has been a year of quiet transformation. We’ve been both metaphorically and in real-time settling into new space, small heroics that have transformed us; we’ve learned things. Can I hear a little heck yeah we did that?!

In my painting practice this last year I have been absorbed in my love of abstraction but I had a couple of surprising episodes of working into more realistic representations of things that move me visually. While this is surprising I think it came from a desire to look, to notice more carefully the details that draw me in. This painting, a work in progress, lies in-between. An ode, abstractly, to my little vermillion reading chair. Here’s to a love of noticing small things that sometimes get taken for nothing.

It was a beautiful snowy day in October to be indoors making Amaro. Lots of different herbs, spices, and citrus, and four different batches created. I name them for the bitter used as the base note in each recipe. Year two of a newly minted tradition, cheers.

Nature is an inspiration for me in my abstract painting, sometimes more than I realize. The following are recent paintings paired with nature images I saved from my Instagram feed.

Elaine Scarry writes about beauty “It comes to us, with no work of our own; then leaves us prepared to undergo a giant labor.”

Painting is my giant labor.

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Diptych

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Lintel and Mobius

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Penguin Suits Optional

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Metamorphosis

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Plays Well With Others

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Bird photos @audubonsociety and @bbcspringwatch. Moth photo @kerikimura.

Have you seen them… all those fledglings heading out into the world? I had a fuzzy little Finch greet me on the porch this a.m. It soared down from its nest on a first flight to take a sip of the water that had spilled on the decking after my watering of the flowers. It came very close, trusting and was all about thirst. It seemed unfazed by my presence though I’ll admit I was holding very still and felt as though I had been given a gift.

Sending meditations out into the world. It’s all about energy. Pictured here is a custom necklace for the heart chakra, made with Green Onyx, Fluorite and Chalcedony. The heart chakra energy works as a bridge between our bodies and our minds creating a balance between physical and spiritual.

More Chakra necklaces are getting ready to fledge here at WFLLT. They are meditations and a labor of love.

New gemstone combinations in the works are:
Crown: Amethyst and Labradorite
Brow: Iolite and Lapis Lazuli
Throat: Aquamarine and Labradorite
Heart: Green Onyx and Apatite
Solar Plexus: Yellow Jade and Moonstone
Sacral: Sunstone and Fire Opal
Root: Garnet and Pink Quartz

You can read about the chakra necklaces or see what’s currently available in the shop. There are more coming so let me know if you want to be kept in the loop.

Feeling the desperate need for a change, for an awakening, a holding of disparate ideas and emotions, and the ability to bend before we break. Let’s vow to honor our best nature. Let’s not miss another opportunity.

Settling into new space. We have the time.

UNFURLING, 24”x24”, Acrylic and Oil on Board

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Openings to wonder.

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There was much to catch the eye but my heart (and camera) are always drawn to the simplicity of color, light, and texture.

Noel Danforth

Jungle Wrap

My graphic designer hat is always looking for a way to play with paper and pattern. This jungle-like painting (A Different Conversation) begged for a wrapping paper application don’t you think?!

or… How Did We Get in This Handbasket?
#talkinghead #talkingabluestreak

Journey of a prototype— the cotton/linen jumper. Testing fabric, pattern and artwork. The wear test is next…

Painted abstraction for dress

I’m experimenting with having my paintings printed on fabric to create clothing as well as on my Studio Sneakers (see the previous post). First project off the blocks was a dress in chiffon. Working out the large repeat on the yardage in coordination with pattern was an interesting problem and am happy with the result. Next up a cotton and linen jumper…

Each necklace in this group of seven beauties has a different Thai amulet that enhances the colorway of the chakra. The necklaces are approximately 15” in length and can be shortened because of their unique leather and button closure and are super comfortable to wear.

The gemstones beads by chakra are:
Root: Garnet and Ruby Jade
Sacral: Sunstone and Peach Aventurine  
Solar Plexus: Yellow Jade and Yellow Quartz
Heart: Green Onyx and Chalcedony
Throat: Blue Lace Agate and Blue Quartz
Brow: Iolite and Blue Jade
Crown: Amethyst and Labradorite

See the shop for availability and to learn more about a specific chakra’s energies.

Per Kirkeby, a danish painter, was brought to my attention by a friend who is also a painter. What a gift. Thank you Ritchie.

Morning in the workshop
I squeeze a tube of titanium white (a good name). But instead of paint coming out of the hole, a gash appears in the tube itself and white is everywhere. Covered in oily color and not wishing to let it go to waste, I smear the pictures that are leaned innocently against the wall amid their own projects, dabbing them with white and leaving white footprints all over the workshop floor in the process. Hardly have I done this than it begins to snow. The garden is covered by a layer of white. Again proof that painting is a perilous matter. I have on previous occasions invoked thunder and lightning, and now my brush and accident have conspired to draw down white.

—Per Kirkeby, Writings on Art

I cannot cause light; the most I can do is try to put myself in the path of its beam. It is possible, in deep space, to sail on solar wind. Light, be it particle or wave, has force: you rig a giant sail and go. The secret of seeing is to sail on solar wind. Hone and spread your spirit till you yourself are a sail, whetted, translucent, broadside to the merest puff.

—Annie Dillard, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek

My Jasmine plant is blooming today just in time for photographing the new chakra necklaces that will be in the wfllt shop soon. Jasmine flower is said to link sacral energies to the heart and crown chakras. A bloomin’ good sign. :)

The Sacral Chakra is the seat of your creative energy and equips you to ‘to go with the flow’.  In Sanskrit it’s called the Swadhisthana Chakra which loosely translates as ‘the sacred home of the self’ or “the goddess’ favorite standing place’. When in sync you are flowing, flexible and adaptive.

This Sacral Chakra necklace is hand-crocheted with Sunstone and Peach Aventurine gemstone beads. Sunstone brings vitality, abundance and longevity while Aventurine adds creativity, motivation and leadership. Now that’s some sparkle! 

You can read about my Chakra necklace series on my GLITR page. If you want to know when new necklaces are in the shop you can sign up for Flow Updates at the bottom of my About page.

Shine on.

I found myself caught up exploring a digital drawing app… 

One of the beauties of handmade is, just that, you are creating with your hands and your body moves— it’s a tactile experience and a dance. As a graphic designer I spend much of my design-time creating in the digital space, a space that lacks tactile qualities and movement, yup even with a standing desk. The flow and focus is similar to that when I am painting or creating with my hands but the body’s movement is much different. When I paint my whole body can participate, when I am designing on the computer my body is less involved there is a disconnect. So I am a bit concerned about the ease with which I enter this digital space… Hmmm. Perhaps the coming technology will allow our bodies to be involved, perhaps painting will become like painting and I can dance when I design. VR anyone?

New Year, new shoes, Studio Sneakers that is…

Looking forward to getting back in flow of painting. New studio sneakers to get the ball rolling.

Some of my abstract art becomes wrapping. The repeat creates an interesting Rorschach. I wonder what everyone will see in it?