Paint your HE-ART

I love painting, although there is nothing new that I've painted in a while close to 2 years.  This piece is called Endless Journey and I know this is just too weird but the darker shape in the centre looks to me like the "horse" shaped old country I came from formerly known as Czechoslovakia.

The country no longer exists because it was split into two separate countries Slovakia and Czech Republics.  I know my subconscious mind incorporated parts of my existence, experiences and my limitless continuous journey into this painting.  

World of Dreams over to the right was done about a month after Endless Journey. At the time I was swamped with all kinds of ideas and I couldn't paint fast enough my visions & conceptual abstract thoughts. 

For me painting feels so free.  It happens at the most unexpected times and I just pick up a brush and go for it, usually starting a stroke onto the canvas that freaks me right out my skin when I do this.   Canvas isn't cheap so I take the chance with the initial stroke and then it seems I've broken the ice or surface tensions by my initial blob of paint and everything else follows so freely and smoothly. 

Never Alone was done with many thoughts in mind.  It began with a red spot near the middle of my canvas.  I knew what I wanted to paint was RED as it is my desired choice of colour to depart onto canvas, I just didn't have a vision at the time.  It turned out to be one of the most favoured pieces on RedBubble online gallery and community with many features including the home page feature.  

I have also submitted the copy of this piece to our local Armoury on Remembrance Day in November 11, 2009 while I attended the event to honour our soldiers.  I was later sent a thank you card and informed that the piece hangs in their mess-hall where it has the chance to be admired. 

With experiments and determination great things are born.  Who knew I could do realism as well.  It took patience and the process was slow but it has taught me that I can do anything I set my mind into.  Lion Cub was painted from an original photograph I took at our local zoo when I volunteered for my daughters school trip.  I followed the details closely and he was born.  

I've had many people offer me instant cash for this piece and I've turned them down each time.  I think this piece represents the fact I can do realism but also that I am strong & unafraid to pursue and follow anything I desire, just like the lion.  

Tulip Tango was a piece I have done around the time I painted the few pieces above.  I was experimenting with water colours at the time as I found many amazing water colour artists behind my inspiration at the time.  Needless to say, I`ve taken the chance and entered it into a local art show and it won 4th place so it cannot be as bad as I thought originally.  

Artists are the worst self-critics.  In a way we are perfectionists as what we envision has to fit with that we are placing onto the canvas or paper.  

While all pieces above were painted at the beginning of the year 2009 the next one over to the right was done near the end of the year.  

Roots of Gaia was a commission piece requested to follow a certain colour palette and the request was no red.  I found this not only challenging because I think I`ve had red in almost every single of my pieces, it is a colour that represents life for me and it is urgently required by my mind & vision to be included.  

However, to my surprise I have discovered that red does not have to represent such "life" for me because green can have the same affect.  As I painted this piece & flowed with my vision departing each stroke onto the canvas, I didn't know what the final result would become.  I followed a gut feeling, an urge to twist my brush, add a little white here, black there and then about half way through I saw the vision my mind's eye saw.  Gaia was born.  The goddess of creation, the earthly mother of the source we are all connected to.  

Initially I was nervous as heck to give the final piece to the client as I hoped it would be eye appealing and welcomed.  It was nothing short of just that.  If anything it gave me more confidence in my artistic abilities & to never give up on my passions.  

With a little rest now for over 2 years I think my itch to pick up the brushes is nearly peeked to the surface and I cannot wait what my heart departs next onto the blank canvas.   

Thank you so much for stopping by and have a wonderful Thursday. 

Love,

Janette