When the ocean and the earth collide

When the ocean and earth collide was really a fun project for me.  I began painting it several months ago, but got stuck in a bit of a creative rut.  Once I had the foundation, I just couldn't see where else I wanted to go with this piece. I put it aside for several months, staring at it everyday, wondering  what would become of it. It was not until a few weeks ago, that I decided to continue with this painting, even though I didn't completely feel confident about it.  I just told myself; "go for it".  The more colour I added to the painting, the more I wanted to keep adding. Slowly I saw these lovely organic shapes and lines come to life.  From then on, it all flowed quite well.  Every time I added paint, I saw it's life begin to emerge and grow.  Something was blooming, bursting, exploding. A new life was making way.  

There's also a large element of water in the painting. Like some of my other work, it reminds me of coral reefs, algae, sea vegetables, and marine life. But even more so, it makes me think of the life that oceans themselves contain.  That raw life force.  

I took a photo of my painting with my dog, so you can get a feel for the size.  I will start posting the actual dimensions of my paintings, as soon as I find my measuring tape!

Below is a photo of the painting when I had first started working on it. I also changed it's original direction.

Sailing the Pacific

When I look at this piece of work, I imagine an old Spanish Ship wandering the coastlines of Central America, looking for a new world, a  type of paradise.

Fistful of teeth

The original idea I had in mind for this painting was not about teeth at all. As the painting progressed, it brought to mind several different things, like cocoons, honeycombs, a worm's body.....I knew I wanted some red in there, and as I started adding the colour in, it began to take on an image of what I think looks like gums and teeth.  It also looks like there is a fist coming at me.  Kind of looks like a scrunched up hand, punching through the painting. But why the teeth and gums?

When I finished it, I took a long look at it and it made me think of my ex dentist! And the terrible job she did on my tooth recently which caused me to have to get a root canal. 

Maybe I was trying to get my frustrations out? lol

And maybe I just was seeing what I wanted to see.

When I look at the painting, I see it as a fist telling me to back off, or eat it! I feel it has a somewhat  aggressive element to it. Not completely the way I envisioned it, but it's interesting nonetheless.

 On a side note, Fistful of Teeth is also a Gwar song!

escaping the storm by boat

Just hope that the tugboat doesn't have any leaks!

There are a lot of emotions stirring in this painting. Fright, fear, escaping, seeking,  getting away before the storm arrives, making it out of the rain, leaving it all behind.

swirl

Made me think of Neapolitan ice cream.  It also made me think of an ethereal cloud-like figure swooping down onto the front of an old sail ship. 

Infiltration

Infiltration (geological term): The movement of groundwater or hydrothermal water into rock or soil through joints and pores.

Space Cats

La Sorciere

I will not be held captive by this world any longer. 

I will be myself, even if you try to hold me down. 

I AM wild, and I AM full of magic. 

I AM wise, and naive all at the same time. 

But don't misjudge those aspects as weaknesses. 

I am old and have lived many lives.

I have seen more things than you will in this lifetime. 

Don't be fooled by the control you think you currently have.

Don't get too comfortable in your King's chair.

Your seat will eventually be overthrown and be put back into balance. 

Such is nature's law.

Wiggles 2

Cat City

Can you spot the cats? 

If cities were inhabited by cats and windows turned into birds.

We built this city on top of a shanti

8"x10" acrylic on canvas -unframed

Wiggles

This is  a small painting  I made of my dog-friend Wiggles.   She loves to jump! The contrast is what makes her "jump" out at you.

8"x10" acrylic on stretched canvas

plankton

Fish

......Cause one day there wont' be anymore.

Neighbourhoods

Here are 2 paintings I made late last year.  The first one (above) is called arial view.

The painting below is called Your Hood and Mine.  It was a painting I made for a friend.

under the sea

Here's my latest work from this week.  I wanted them to be dreamy, and fluid, and to encapsulate the feeling I get whenever I have gone snorkelling.  

UNDER THE SEA

WAVE

Hibiscus Burst

work in progress

Just started this one yesterday. Not entirely sure where I'm going to take it from here. So far I like the lightness of it. 

Poppies, 1 and 2

These are paintings I just finished for a close friend of mine. She had been dealing with some health problems this past year, and I wanted the paintings to evoke feelings of hope, change and growth. These photos I took of my paintings came out a little dark.  The paintings are actually much whiter. The lighting in my art room is terrible for taking photos!!!

Coral 2

This painting and the other in the previous post represent my happy place. Secretive, shining, full of life, fish, coral, and algae, these are little bits of paradise. This is the domain of a mermaid.

Coral

My craziness

 

Swim towards the light

Swim little fish.

Swim through the coral and caves

Jump through the lip of a wave

Follow that current for days

Till you hit light.

Scuba Man

I started and finished this painting today.  Trying to pump out as many ideas as possible.  I actually like the way this painting turned out.   It really speaks to me because I'm obsessed with the ocean, and oceanic life.  I only added the scuba guy last.  I wanted to create movement, swimming upwards, surfacing.  I thought the scuba man put things into context.  Maybe too literal for some, but I  like the scuba guy.

An odd couple and a trapped cat

I was fortunate enough to visit Mexico city for Day of the Dead last year. The entire celebration was  really inspiring.

There were so many things to look at; people dressed up as calaveras, alters for the dead set up along the pedestrian walkways, food stands selling all kinds of sweets  decorated for the  event.

This was by far my favourite holiday I've ever experienced.  

When I returned home from my trip, I started drawing skull heads, and skeletons.  I kind of went calavera crazy.  These are two paintings I did during that time.  The first one just cracks me up.  The wedding couple looks like might have regrets about what they have got themselves into.   Let's face it, marriage can be really frightening! 

I might get it printed into funny wedding cards.

This painting was inspired by some figurines I  had seen in Mexico city.  I loved their painted little faces.  So this painting is a family of calaveras. They are luring a dead cat with some old fish bones.   I never figured out why they are luring the cat. Do they want to eat it?  He has no meat, so why would they?  Maybe he's a pet? Looks like the little girl wants the cat as a pet.   The one thing that keeps me guessing are the faces on the fisherman and the mother. They look upset by the whole thing.  The grandma looks a bit evil as well. I've never concluded what the scenario here really is. I'd rather the viewer make up his own story.

Here's a photo I took in the cemetary in Xochimilco during Day of the Dead.  I love this photo because it really captures the mood  in the cemetary.  The man's painted face is perfect in this photo.