La Vie En Rose

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 "La Vie En Rose" This phrase means "Life in Pink" which is often erroneously interpreted as meaning the same as the American phrase "Looking at life through rose colored glasses". The true spirit of "la vie en rose" is seeing life in a positive way. That life is beautiful. A nice little reminder when it feels like life is letting you down.

Enigma

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 "Enigma" Until now I haven't really posted any of my abstracts; mostly because I don't really know what to say about them! In many ways these are the most personal paintings I do. I am compelled to paint, need to do it in the same way I need to eat or breathe. Abstracts come out as a natural by-product of life. They come from some deep place in my soul that I can't honestly say I even understand. So I'm letting these out a little now thinking perhaps I can understand them and where they come from.

Scarlett

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"Scarlett" started with a doodle of hair blowing in the wind. After I was "done" with the painting I decided to add the scarf because she made me think of old-fashioned movies with women flying planes or riding in convertibles - they almost always have white scarves on! My husband named her Scarlett, I assume for the lipstick she's chosen. 

Elefanten

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I baked muffins with my three-year-old son yesterday. He wanted to wear an apron so I pulled out the one my grandma made for me when I was about his age (he insisted the appliqued "Jamie" actually said "Jude"!). This cute little elephant is inspired by the batik print on my trusty childhood apron. Apparently my camera is color blind as the background is actually pale blue!

Going With the Flow

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 "Going With the Flow" This was taken from a 60s era photograph of Twiggy by Richard Avedon. It was a very intricate portrait with the light reflecting perfectly off her billowing hair. I wanted to challenge myself to take something that intricate and strip it way down to basic shapes and just a few shades of gray. I finished it off with a coat of polyurethane gloss to bring back in the idea of reflected light. I love how this represents a single moment in time that could never be replicated. The title speaks to those moments you can't control and have to just step back and go with the flow.

Discernment

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 "Discernment" I often use old/vintage/recycled canvases. Partly for eco-conscious reasons, and partly because they are available for pennies on the dollar - and I do love a bargain. This particular canvas had quite possibly the most ridiculous painting of swans ever executed by someone's dear old aunt. (Aren't all swan paintings done by someone's dear old aunt?) As an homage to the original painting, I used color in a bit more abundance than usual as seen in the blues and yellows found throughout. The title comes from her expression; it's as if she's discerning the qualities of some unseen (to us) item held in her left hand. Hopefully, it's not a swan.

Feelin' Kinda Sketchy

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"Feelin' Kinda Sketchy" came from a drawing that came from a photo of yours truly. Everything you see in this painting was originally intended to be underneath several more layers of paint. I wanted it to be dark with a slightly frantic feel, which is exactly how I was feeling that day: dark and frantic. After I did some very rough shading with black and blue paint, I stepped back and realized the look and feel I wanted was already there! Sometimes you just gotta know when to walk away.