The summer of 2008  has inspired some magical meadows

One of my favorite themes are meadow scenes which anthropomorphically incorporate Figurative imagery inspired by the Mythical idea of  Female deities and Goddesses. The Shape of Flora and Fauna tessellate back and forth, commenting on the universal forms in nature.  In this first piece, Starmate's Meadow, I've used metallic pigments to depict a white gold mist flowing over a field graced  by silver and sable nymphs

Starmate's Meadow, 2008, Metalic Pigment, Sumi Ink and Acrylic on Washi Paper, 38" x 22"

This year I had the strange experience of meeting three people with birthdays just one day before mine. Since my birthday is the first day in virgo, all three of these people were just over the cusp in the last day of Leo. I'm not super fixated on horoscope lore, but pay attention and am often intrigued.  I painted this image of a magical meadow for one of these friends, the very gifted photographer, Anne Marie Simard, whose own rich black and white images of patterns and nature inspires me quite often.

Starmate's Meadow Detail

Meadow Sylph, 2008, Acrylic and Ink on Paper, 40" x 25"

In Meadow Sylph,  I've embraced the same theme while utilizing a  much brighter pallet of color.  This piece also includes something else that happened to me this year, Calligraphy!  I'm just beginning to explore this but I'm enjoying the ability to add textual elements to the work in an aesthetic and organic way.

I'm very intrigued by Calligraphy, its history and how it feels when I do it in my art. I must admit it took me a little mental adjustemt to write directly on the artwork, but in truth, the entire calligraphy experience is possible because I'm treating each letter as gestural stroke rather than 'writing a letter'. I'm fairly certain this engages an entirely differn't part of my brain.