Solitudes by the Sea - Portraits
In March of 2020 the tsunami of covid hit, bringing the world to a halt. My part-time job at a gallery ended. And life under lock-down became the new norm. For the next year, it was me and my dog on the coast of Maine, in our small cottage by the sea.
It was from the open space of solitude, that the portraits emerged, and continue to this day.
Materials and Technique
The portraits begin as small pencil sketches. When one of them feels powerful enough, I draw it onto a large sheet of Arches watercolor paper. I build up many layers of the paint. The pieces evolve and change. I do the skin tones with under layering of green, and rose, like an egg tempera by Giotto.
I am currently translating some of the portraits into oil paintings on canvas.
This virtual gallery holds a small sampling. To see more, or for more information and price points, please contact the artist.
Painting of Monarch Cycle
Heart Song, Big Wave, Full Moon
Heart Pericardium, Magic
Mending Feathers
Angel, Heart Pericardium Nest
Moth Person, Starry Night by the Sea
The Spine Remembers ~ Once we had Wings
Mermaid Dream of Being a Grasshopper
Spring Magnolias Under the Full Moon
Heart Song, Meridian Lines, Full Moon by the Sea
Bodhisattva Watching
Magnolia Petals
A New Life in Maine…
As the tsunami of COVID washed over us in March of 2020, I remember sitting in my studio. The world was entering chaos. The virus was an unknown. I asked myself - “What is the one remaining thing you want to do? What art creation lies hidden, quietly waiting your release? And, what if, I approached it now? Surely, if I am to die of COVID, then I will go in peace, because of all the good things I have lived!” The Muse answered - and that day the (covid) portraits began.
Similar to my sculptures, these portraits also arrive like poems. They evolve from intuitive and dreamlike places. They come to tell me their stories in painted images. On the reverse of each portrait is a written record of the “story.” These brief notes, like the draft of poem, record such things as ~ the month and season, a piece of classical music listened to, the green of ocean waters after storm, the totem companion of dog, as well as birds and insects, a cup of tea, meadow flowers, my old bent pine tree friend, the visitation of an osprey, and the many rising moons and falling stars.
Importantly, many of the portraits have a protective and healing, heart pericardium (often resembling nests) with meridian-energy lines leading out to the fingers. In Qi Gong practice, this acknowledgement holds a powerful energy force that protects the heart.
The portraits are evolving still. Subjects now participate in magic, play hearts with cards, and mend birds. They live (often with a dog companion) always close to open windows, always by the sea ~ they are watching, breathing and being; inspired by everything around, in nature.