Intuitive Painting Vision Quest

This luna moth painting was inspired by an experimental intuitive art/energy healing workshop that I hosted in September. Only my sister and two friends in attendance because they didn't mind my experimenting with [on?] them.  😁

I've been painting intuitively for longer than I can remember but my practice became "intentionally" intuitive just in the past 3–5 years as part of my personal path back to radiant health. 

I've decided to share the process, partly for fun, but also to push myself out of my comfort zone. Turns out it is not easy to put an intuitive practice into words!
So Luna came through while I was stumbling around in the dark... and that seemed like a good thing. 

Electric Box Mural in Ithaca, NY

I was very excited to have my design selected to cover one of seven new electrical boxes commissioned by the Ithaca Arts Council in the spring of 2017. 

 My mural lives at the corner of Court and Tioga streets. 

The image I submitted and eventually painted — was inspired by the global woman's march and resistance movement. During this ugly divisive political climate, I wanted to create something beautiful, spirit-lifting, joyful, and empowering that represents our role as stewards of our planet. Tapping into the energy of the women's march, these are goddesses that look like flames shooting out from the ocean to support each other and the earth! 

Here are some images of the mural throughout the process. 
Completed image first. 

      

 

Grassroots Artbarn

Just returned from the Finger Lakes Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance, the high point of my past 10 summers. Many people have been to over 20 of these festivals. Some of our 'roots family travel in from around the country, this year included friends from Connecticut, Arizona, and Hawaii!

I had these three mixed-media pieces in the Grassroots Artbarn exhibition. Two of them, Tree Goddess #1 and #3 sold. One will live in Ithaca and the other in Albany.

#IDigMyRoots

Tree Goddess Series, acrylic paint, leaves, paper, and ink on canvas. 

Tree Goddess #1

Tree Goddess #3

Tree Goddess #2

red paint

There's no red paint in this yet and I'm not sure how much longer I can resist adding it. 

This piece is in progress. Started yesterday and worked on it a little today. Trying to incorporate a daily practice even if it's only 15 minutes.

Where my mind is at with this:
I'm intentionally using art as a means for self therapy and healing.

I approached this with only a fraction of an idea in my mind. It's scary to approach the empty canvas with a shadow of an idea and leap in. But it's exciting to see it evolve. This one will evolve more. 

Technique wise... I continue to do a lot of mixing right on the canvas, allowing the wood to show through and doing my best not to cover up the spontaneity of the strokes while also adding areas of depth and detail.

I still have the four large pieces from a fall art retreat, which need a big time commitment.
This here is an experiment and it requires less time. I think most artists have several projects going on at once, don't you?

This one will be fun to continue to work on for a few days! It needs red!