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Walking with the Angels: Guardian 16

This painting was a real struggle as you will see the many faces it took on.  Sometimes it is an inner struggle and sometimes I just keep searching for what the medium can do and say.

The painting started vertical, with several figures emerging.

Flipped it horizontal and a dark singular figure emerges.

Looking back, I like this, but remember at the time I felt I needed to "lighten up."

Changes were because I wanted to add gesture for excitement.

Added some gold leaf in angel and sky.

It got exciting, but looked too much like "Super-man Angel."

Quieted it down, got rid of gesture, still very dark, now I'm in painters hell.

Breaking through.

????????

By this time the textures are thick, color is rich, and I added some metal powders to the paint.  Wanted to go strong female. 

Guardian 16                  Oil, 24 x 36

Guardian 15

Starting again with acrylic molding paste over gold primed canvas.

Thin washes of oil color. 

Guardian 15           Oil,   30 x 40

Walking with the Angels: SCULPTURE, totems

This is the first of a series of TOTEMS I have in mind, honoring those people who have passed away.  The first is of my beloved Mother-in-law who passed away April, 2012.

Portrait of Marge in a water-based clay called FSB, Fullerton Sculpture Body.  This is a very coarse clay.

Then I applied a layer of resin clay, Magic Sculpt, to the front of the head, hollowed out the head and made a core of newspaper, basically removing most of the water-based clay.  The gazebo was constructed of all thread for the posts and a wood round for the floor and roof.  Foam core was the base for the walls.  Resin clay was applied.  The forms of twisted newspaper above the gazebo will be covered with resin and represent clouds.  Check back for updates on this sculpture which will eventually be around 7 feet tall. 

Guardian 14

This is a "wash" of oil paint over gold primed canvas.

I decided to add texture before color painting.  The while area is where acrylic light molding paste was laid down.

Guardian 14              Oil,   24 x 30

The finished painting is very rich in texture and color modulation.

 

My Journey with the Angels: showing different painting progressions

Guardian 10  Step 1

Guardian 10 Step 2

Guardian 10    Step 3

Guardian 10     Oil,   18 x 24

As I explore the spiritual theme of angels and the development of a style, I try to keep open to intuition and where the medium (oil) may take the painting. Here are photos taken of several paintings in different stages. 

The start of Guardian 8

Guardian 8         Oil, 16 x 20

The start of Guardian 9

Change format and development

Guardian 9      Oil,    16 x 20

My Journey with the Angels: Nocturne

Nocturne                Oil,  24 x 30             

This painting came out of nowhere; I guess that is not true since I live by the ocean, love the ocean and just finished a series of ocean paintings.  What is more true to say is I had no intention of painting an ocean scene when I began, it just happened.

Started as a Trinity theme.

 

 

Flipped it and then figures began to emerge.

As the colors blended softly into grey, it reminded me of some of Wm. Turner's paintings.

 

My Journey with the Angels- First Paintings

In this post I will show several of the paintings that began this series.   The United Cerebral Palsy Center in Los Angeles was having a fundraiser in August 2013 and I was asked to donate a 6"x6" painting.  This was just the inspiration I needed to begin my journey.

Giving Spirit      Oil    6" x 6" 

Destroyed

Then I painted this one,  but remember that I destroyed it because I was feeling a insecure about the idea of painting angels.  There have been a lot of questions like, what am I trying to say about them, what do I really feel about them, WHY am I painting them etc.   That painting turned into Guardian 3 somehow. 

Guardian 3  Oil  9x12

These paintings, as well as the next three paintings demonstrate a variety of style explored as I journey into this world of abstract painting.  It starts to get exciting for me, because I start to realize why I am so driven to do this.  While painting Guardian 4, I recalled how St. Peter was weak (denying Jesus 3 times)  until he received the Holy Spirit, and then went on to fearlessly spread the word of Jesus.  It helps me to remember that I am, as St. Peter was, only human and can not do it alone.  This is an example of powerful messages and thoughts I get while painting.  Sometimes it is just the joy of painting.

Guardian 4  or St. Peter      Oil   11 x 14

Guardian 5   Oil  11 x 14

Guardian 6  or   Vine and Branches    Oil   8 x 24

My Journey with the Angels-Guardian 11

It is amazing how the act of creating a painting uses different parts of the heart and brain.  Here is what I recall most about the development of Guardian 11:

This series has been a quest to take chances for my growth on many levels.  After  a while of applying colors and values etc., there was a time in the painting when I was challenged to use green, which my reason told me was going to clash with the colors I have used already.  So, I put in green.  Immediately I thought of my niece Natalie,  who loves green.  Said a quick prayer for her and continued.  The image below may not be at that exact moment, but it is my earliest photo of the process.

 Sure enough, an warrior like figure began to emerge and some of my thoughts were of the indigenous people of America and their quest for the Spirit and thought why not an Indian Angel?

 So I found my Spirit and continued adding to the form what I thought of as physical strength and courage.  As the painting came to a finish, my husband saw the "red blob" in the center and suggested a heart.

 

 Thanks to today's technology of cameras on cell phones, it is easy to record  paintings as they progress.  The only difficult part is getting into the habit of remembering to do so.   It is so interesting for me to revisit the different stages of my paintings, a practice I fully recommend to other artist. 

My Journey with the Angels- Part one: past sculptures

The subject of "Angel" has been a long time interest, but I really haven't made much of it.  I am finding that other artist feel the same:  an interest but not much work on the subject.   It is kind of an intimidating subject on many levels.  Why is that?   Below are some small sculptures I created a few years back.  They were a demonstration of FSB clay and its ability to hold a form with out an armature.  The clay is very rough with a lot of grog and sand.  These are small, about 9" tall.  When I began the demonstration, I really didn't know what I was going to make. They just "poured" out of me. 

FSB or Fullerton Sculpture Body can be purchased at Aardvark Clay in Santa Ana, California.

Same clay, different style.  This sculpture was created as a prayer as I awaited the birth of a grand-daughter.

Retirement? No way!

Last December was my last semester teaching Fine Art for the local colleges.  I wanted to step back from "teaching" and break rules.  I hit the ground running with a series of oil paintings inspired by the Ocean.  I went to different beaches in Laguna painting and sketching, then returned to the studio to create paintings that captured the energy of the sea.  Meanwhile, I have been working on a new series which is more abstract.  Posts soon to follow:)

Captured Light      24x30

Driven by the Spirit    18x24

Picnic Beach    18x24

Rising Tide    18x24

Tablerock at High Tide    24x30 

 These are just a few of the 9x12 oil sketches done in the process.