Ready for Rebirth

24x18 oil on canvas

I was hesitant to post this because it is a very raw, very exposed view of myself for a show titled, The Tao of Duality : An Exploration of Self Portraits. This show runs till mid February but the curator told me the Brava theater might want to extent the time for this show for a couple of months.

Some of you recall I was pretty scarce on the blogosphere near the end of last year. This was painted during that time and when you read the following statement of the work which is posted next to the painting, you'll understand why. The ex during that time was especially challenging.

Ready for Rebirth Statement

This image is me without my body armor and uniform of my previous life. I am a middle aged woman who has found new life and new meaning in her art. I show you at my most vulnerable and raw state. The purple and yellow colors were an intuitive addition. As I studied it later, I think I unconsciously used those colors because of some basic police academy training. When someone is struck and injured, the area will swell with blood and discolor first with red. The next colors that appear during the healing stage are purple, blue, green and then finally yellow. So symbolically, though I have fairly new wounds from the daily dealings with my ex-husband and this new life of mine, I have many that are almost totally healed and thus I am ready for my rebirth as a new person.

I am still discovering this reborn woman and emerging artist. I am proud because so far she is turning out to be stronger than I ever imagined and has a lot of creative energy to let loose. I can hardly wait to see what the second half of my life brings.

I did attend the Artists Reception(my first) last Wednesday and really felt like a fish out of water. However, I was encouraged by several things. The painting and the accompanying pieces were on the opposite wall to the entrance. Of the three floors dedicated for this show, I was told that this is a prime location to have your work displayed. The curator told me there was a lot of conversation about my piece because of the statement and she encouraged me to continue to submit work for future shows. A person I love and trust encouraged me to share this with you and so here you go...

Night Shift

I'm running around last night doing my errands and around 9pm I realize I haven't eaten dinner yet.

So I normally don't do fast food but it was right there!  I clicked a couple images with my cell phone camera and got one shot that I thought would look cool as a painting.

6x8 oil on RayMar

Oh, and the show said they accepted my Tibetan Family but are extending the dead line until June for the sponsors and to see if they get more entries.  This is a day after the day they said they would notify us.

The only reason I'm not that worried is they told me to not to send in the entry fee yet.  But other shows take your entry fee whether or not you're excepted right?

Is it Art or Illustration?

I am trying to participate in a small show whose theme is "family".

I've always admired the Tibetan culture.  Even though their country has been taken over and their cultural  traditions and architecture are in danger of being destroyed, they seem to be a happy  and content when they are with family.  The nomadic people probably have the harshest life but seem to be optimistic and live in the moment.

I think this oil on 8x8 hardboard turned out to be more of an illustration than a painting to submit to a show.  What do you think?