Desert Dreams

Desert Dreams, acrylic on panel, 9"x12" 2018 

Deserts are a mysterious landscape to me. After spending most of my adult life

living in the cool moist environment of the pacific northwest, I moved to the high elevation cold desert of central Oregon twelve years ago. Even after these twelve years I feel like a newcomer in this alien and magical ecosystem. More mysterious to me still are the hot deserts of the Southwestern United States.

In the last few years I have traveled to Arizona and New Mexico and hiked in these fascinating deserts, which seem both harsh and welcoming. A habitat both beautiful and deadly. Flora and fauna of deserts must be perfectly attune to there world in order to survive.  When I am lucky enough to be hiking in a desert I am aware of the tranquility of the place, everything has a part to play, plants, animals, predator and prey all dancing the desert dream together.

My latest painting , Work in Progress.

Here is a photo of what I am currently working on, I'd say it is about 75% finished at is point. What's unusual with this piece is I normaly have a title by now. In this painting  I am contemplateing the inner workings of Mitochdrial DNA. My limited understanding is that this is the DNA you inherit from you mother. It is also called the "Eve Gene" becouse it is passed down through women in a family. Mitochdria also convert food into energy inside cells. This is my "portrait" of Mitrochdrial DNA. I will post a finished version of this painting in the future....with a title! 

The 10th Annual Big 500 Show

Pioneer Place Mall, Portland,Oregon

December 9th thru Dec. 24th.

#big500show     https://www.facebook.com/Big500ArtShow/

Here are my three paintings for this years Big 500 show in Portland. They are all acrylic on panel measuring 8"x 8". The big 500 show is an annual fund raiser for Oregon Food Bank, an organization I am proud to support. If you are in the Portland area I hope you can attend the opening and buy very reasonably priced art for a great cause!  Opening and sale starts at 2 pm. December 9th 2017.

  This was a great exercise in painting fast! No time to think, (or over think for that matter!) work from my subconscious and get them done!

Quilting and Painting - my hybrid artwork

  My latest piece titled "Sleep" is another in my on going exploration of the ways to combine acrylic painting on canvas with fabric piecing and machine quilting. I still see the challenges and the untaped possibilities of my two passions. I have been thinking about using wood as a painting surface, and how in combine that with fabric. I feel like an explorer in a exciting new world.

My newly completed painting; Adam and Eve

   I have finished my painting Adam and Eve, Acrylic on panel, 18"x24"   This piece is my interpretation of the classic creation story. I see creation as not about two humans but about the biosphere as a whole. Adam and Eve are not jut two individuals, they represent different energies coming together to create life as we know it. "God" is an observer of creation not a judge of who has "sinned".  One of the most challenging parts of the painting was copying part of Genesis written in Hebrew text along the sides of the piece. I only undertook this because I knew my husband could proof read the hebrew.  I do feel a responsibility when copying someone else's holy text, so I did my best to be accurate.

Progress on my painting Adam and Eve

  Working away on Adam and Eve, for my upcoming show at Short Term Gallery, Baker City Oregon in June.  As you can see there is still much left to do, nothing is settled into its finished state. I spend lot of time working on this piece in my mind, auditioning color choices and other possible variations. But of course there are times when what seemed like a good idea must be painted over and  
redone. Stay tuned for further progress reports.

Adding my own twist to an old story........

             

Inspiration sometimes takes me to unexpected places. As an agnostic who was raised an atheist I never expected to suddenly have a image of Adam and Eve pop in my head, insisting on being painted! How do I paint a biblical image that has nothing much to do with the usual classical interpretation? Well I just except it....... I strive in this image to not only be true to my inspiration but also to respect the religious and historical significance of the subject. Did I mention this is HARD!  Stay tuned for later updates on my progress...we will see if I can pull this off!


  Here is the drawing I started the painting with.