A very quick, spontaneous value study using a big flat brush with just white and umber acrylic paint, going straight for the major shapes in light, middle and dark tones and their relationship to each other across the figure and through the space with strong daylight falling onto the model from the studio window.

I am fascinated with the huge Daturas that blossom in my summer backyard garden. They emerge in moonlight and wilt neatly in the morning like a woman's formal evening gloves.

abstrakt acryl

My Epiphany:

I have come to realize, or see in some abstracted manner, my new series of paintings are a reflection of my life.

I was given up at birth and adopted by loving parents (my parents). Even after their deaths I never wanted to search out my birth parents because it felt like a betrayal.

This conflict shows up in my art in the fragmented and broken patterns that are sometimes incomplete and unresolved.

Now in my 70's, I see that not only my current work, but all my art has undertones of this somewhat separated life and loss of self.

Everything I've done, the way I connect or don't connect with people, places and things are all there to keep me safe and from being lost.

The art shows me this - I don't believe I saw it until I read something written by an artist friend about himself for an exhibition I curated in 2017. His words, filled with emotion and honesty opened something in me and I will be forever grateful.

And here I thought I was just throwing paint.

My Epiphany:

I have come to realize, or see in some abstracted manner, my new series of paintings are a reflection of my life.

I was given up at birth and adopted by loving parents (my parents). Even after their deaths I never wanted to search out my birth parents because it felt like a betrayal.

This conflict shows up in my art in the fragmented and broken patterns that are sometimes incomplete and unresolved.

Now in my 70's, I see that not only my current work, but all my art has undertones of this somewhat separated life and loss of self.

Everything I've done, the way I connect or don't connect with people, places and things are all there to keep me safe and from being lost.

The art shows me this - I don't believe I saw it until I read something written by an artist friend about himself for an exhibition I curated in 2017. His words, filled with emotion and honesty opened something in me and I will be forever grateful.

And here I thought I was just throwing paint.

My Epiphany:

I have come to realize, or see in some abstracted manner, my new series of paintings are a reflection of my life.

I was given up at birth and adopted by loving parents (my parents). Even after their deaths I never wanted to search out my birth parents because it felt like a betrayal.

This conflict shows up in my art in the fragmented and broken patterns that are sometimes incomplete and unresolved.

Now in my 70's, I see that not only my current work, but all my art has undertones of this somewhat separated life and loss of self.

Everything I've done, the way I connect or don't connect with people, places and things are all there to keep me safe and from being lost.

The art shows me this - I don't believe I saw it until I read something written by an artist friend about himself for an exhibition I curated in 2017. His words, filled with emotion and honesty opened something in me and I will be forever grateful.

And here I thought I was just throwing paint.