Twelve years ago, while hospitalized, I experienced a near-death astral journey, a most beautiful memory. I was guided by indescribable light beings. A choice was clear. Stay or return. It was completely up to me. Gazing towards earth, there were emerald forests, scarlet blossoms, and sapphire and white oceans. Only one perception filled me; "It's just so beautiful." The decision was made. Though I knew no artistic undertaking would come close.

In my last newsletter, I may have left the impression that my creative explorations consist mainly of challenge. And certainly, challenge is a significant element. But if that was all, I doubt I would create anything. The reality is I love the process; the melding of surrender and commitment. “For better or worse”, I’m captivated by visual aesthetics. Challenge and reward are two necessary sides of the creative process.

Recently, I’ve been enchanted by acrylic inks; their delightful brilliance and transparency. I especially love the pearlescent hues, as seen in “Bathing at Sunset” below. However, I’ve been reviewing past experiments and the meandering that led me here. So, I thought I’d share a smattering of thirty years of experiments in various mediums. Their common thread, of course, is me and a delight in experimentation. So who knows what's next?

Bathing at Sunset Acrylic Ink on Paper 14 x 14

No matter what ideas or techniques I explore, Initial ideas come through play and play is fun! Ideas burst forth. I love visual exploration. Shapes, lines, textures, patterns, compositions, and colors entice me. I enjoy representative sketches with accurate shapes and tones, particularly the human figure. I also doodle everything from zentangles to mandalas, from patterns to free-form marks on paper. Naturally, organizing and ordering those sketches is part of the process. Ideas often come in this way.

Current and past sketch books accumulate; sketches from life, photos, and imagination. Each is different. When sketching from life, whether a person or a landscape, the energy of my relationship with the subject is inevitably reflected in the drawing. Drawing from reference photos, on the other hand, I find to be more neutral; drafting shapes, proportions, angles. Sketching from imagination, is more an intuitive, inner experience. A mark is made on the surface and it leads me to the next.

Here are two quite different pieces from over twenty years ago, when I was enchanted by Prismacolor pencils.

Over the years, I’ve delved into colored pencils, pastels, watercolor, markers, pens, ink, graphite, oil and acrylic paints. Combining disparate elements delights me. Play is the way to another creative trail.

Below are a few life drawings done in soft pastels. I aimed for accuracy of form and tones, utilizing intriguing colors.

One dilemma is the profusion of possibilities; an ongoing struggle to avoid becoming so entranced by a proliferation of ideas that I avoid narrowing towards action. Another challenge is maintaining the rhythm of the creative dance. Play and discovery; organizing and composing; gestation of ideas; meditatively preparing surfaces and transferring sketches (planting a new seed); placing the first colors and marks (sometimes the scariest) ; flowing with the energy that follows the first marks (mesmerizing); and spaces between these steps, stopping points for contemplation, like spaces between musical notes. Often, I dance between several pieces, gliding from one to the other as the energy pulls. This keeps me moving. I’m reminded of what I used to say to elementary students when they “couldn’t think of anything to write”; just put any word on the paper, and then the next. The trick is to keep your hand moving. Our brain synchronizes with our hands.

In this piece of Jawn Golo at the Farmer’s Market, I decided to use oils. Oils are not a common medium for me, but in this piece I think they worked. Oils blend so beautifully for skin tones.

Jawn Golo At the Market Oil on Canvas 18 x 24

In gratitude to Jawn Golo of Golo Organic Farms for the lovely veggies that we bought on Saturdays and her unfailing joyous spirit, I gifted her this oil portrait.

The words in a newsletter can’t convey more than a facsimile of the creative process. My attempt at describing the various phases and steps may give an impression of regularity. But alas, no. That is not the case. It is easy to lose the rhythm and stall. Restarting means generating momentum. Gestation can sometimes mean days, or weeks, or months of much consternation. This is when I summon self-compassion and console myself for my human shortcomings; gently embrace my unique dance, keeping at bay the ever present danger of "oh so human" comparisons.

Here is a life drawing sketch in graphite (on unintentionally wrinkled paper) and the painting into which it transformed, Kaleidoscope.

Kaleidoscope Acrylic and pencil on paper mounted on Canvas 14 x 14 SOLD

Surrender and commitment means honoring the process that unfolds for each piece. It can’t be forced. I let it be. Often, I return to the comfortable and familiar, for example, sketchbook play or preparing surfaces; similar to when one forgets a piano passage or a tai chi sequence, and in order to proceed, first revisits what is easy and known.

I sit with myself. I nurture joy. M. Scott Peck said, “Love is extending oneself for another’s spiritual growth.” I remind myself that that love includes me. Thankfully, the rhythm inevitably returns. It’s who we are; creators made by the Creator. Bees sculpt their hives. Birds build their nests. Plants sprout new shiny leaves. Musicians compose melodies and painters compose imagery . Creation is miraculous and eternal.