Study of Nature's Vessels

This is a study i have been working on along with two others for my series of Nature's Vessels. I thought i would have a triptych but the more i look at them I think this should remain on its own. The following two i believe belong together maybe as a diptych.

I would like to now transfer these to large canvases.

In the meantime, I had another vessel "epiphany" (sp?). So i have been working simultaneously on that as well. This whole theme is really beginning to take on a life of its own. It seems everywhere i turn there is a vessel connection!

I was talking with someone the other day who was telling me about her daughter's connection with horses and riding and how it was helping her feel grounded. It is common knowledge of how horse therapy has helped many people with various issues and there it was. Horses as vessels!!

i'll have to research this some more.

I am happy to report my Divine Vessels have been invited to show at The Art of Reiki in Troy. It is a beautiful space for them and very appropro for the series.

So while my posts are sporadic I have been working hard and hope to continue posts of my vessel journey! I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful summer and staying cool!

Nature's Vessels

As I was working on this last triptych i had a nagging sensation to create trees. The images of trees kept popping into my head and eventually on paper with charcoal. As i worked the first image a figure began to appear very obscurely. Since the original work was created from design #2 of Divine Vessels (bottles) i knew it had to mean something connected with my vessel series. So i researched the symbolism of trees and the connections began to take form.

One of the explanations really resonated with me. Trees symbolize unusual strength, resolution and courage; a constant, dynamic interchange between matter and spirit, earth and heaven. Hmmm. so why does the figure (usually the female) keep surfacing in my work?

I have to conclude that trees serve as a symbol for vessels. That they deliver unusual strength, resolution and courage in nature. I have seen these same virtues in the human spirit (especially females) during my lifetime. So there's the connection!

I have posted below the original charcoal work that will make its way through the process on paper and canvas as well as the draft grisaille of the first of three works in this particular series of Nature's Vessels. With a few minor value and shape changes i have transferred it to watercolor paper approximately 11 x 15. I will then choose my palette and apply glazes.

Perhaps another triptych is in the wind.

"Vessels"

Divine Vessels

60 x 76
Acrylic Glazes

This post completes an ongoing project I began in October. I have learned many things from this experience....too numerous to mention here. But the overarching lesson learned was to never underestimate the ability and the need of the human spirit to continue to learn and grow and express ones self. This was truly an amazing experience. I would be remiss if I didn't mention my mentor on this journey, Kathy Cartwright (www.kcartwright@kacartwright.com)

Thank you Kathy!

Below is my artist statement for the series "Vessels". Following that is a statement that pertains specifically to the triptych Divine Vessels.

"Vessels"

My art reflects my search for life’s meaning through the exploration of the interrelations between the spiritual, physical and emotional realms. In that search, I’ve found a myriad of “vessels” that contain and from which emanate life-giving forces. The paintings in this series utilize vessels to metaphorically contextualize the transference of energies that nourish life both physically and spiritually. Although my paintings include recognizable subjects, I’m predominantly interested in the interplay of color and form, not just representation. Each work begins with the transformation of ordinary containers, such as bottles or vases, into abstracted forms that interrelate to create a symbolic vessel. Because I am a vessel, my canvases are the vessels that carry my thoughts and emotions to the viewer. I choose historically symbolic colors such as red for “life blood,” yellow for “power,” and blue for “truth” to support the message in each painting. I intend to explore the myriad of possibilities of this theme in the future.

Triptych: Divine Vessels
Divine Vessels is the first painting in the Vessels Series that expresses my belief in divine spirits that guide, inspire, and protect us. These vessels connect us to another life plane; they deliver messages and give us faith and hope. This triptych depicts earthly male and female figures in juxtaposition to the central divine figures as an expression of the connections between these two life planes. My palette consists of colors that support this theme expressing truth(blues); wisdom (violets/purples); power/presence (yellows/golds) and faith/peace (white).

Seeing the Light at the End of the Canvas

Just thought i would report that the triptych is still in progress. Hopefully by the end of the month it will be complete and i will post it. I am presently applying the color glazes. Even though i am working hard to master this technique, I don't know when i have had so much fun applying color! At the same time I am writing my artist statement about this series. This is not so much fun. It is very hard to put into words the emotion and thoughts of my work. I have always struggled with this. With my mentor, teacher and friend Kathy's (www.kacartwright.com) help i am sure i will accomplish this and more. So bear with me a while longer and hopefully you will feel it was worth it!

Divine Spirits III

Here they are: Divine Spirits III, the third in the series I have been working on. It has been an amazing journey to get here. I liken it to learning to paint with my left hand or trying to learn to run backwards!! But it was worth the effort. I am now transferring them to five foot canvases and hoping to end up with a triptych of Divine Spirits. Should be fun!! Stay tuned!!

Divine Spirit II

This is the counterpart of Divine Spirit I. If you look closely you can see many of the same formations as the first one. Both designs came from the same original design but with fracturing shapes and viewing it in a different perspective a male figure emerged. I should have Divine Spirits III up in a few days. i just have a few minor changes to make!

Two more works on the horizon...

I have just finished the underpaintings for two more works in this series that seems to be developing from my inner voice. The first one is the male counterpart to my last blog post which I have temporarily named Divine Spirit. It is the second work to be created from the same design. So at this point I shall name him Divine Spirit II.

The third work is from a totally different design of bottles but has nonetheless become a "third

party." I guess an appropriate temporary title would be Divine Spirits III.

At this point i am just wondering how the concept of bottles (or vessels) fits into the designs. In looking up the word vessel in the dictionary i found this definition: a person regarded as a holder or receiver of something nonmaterial: a vessel of grace. hmmmmm.....food for thought!