Morning Thoughts: Feelings and Painting

People usually ask me how do I create my works. Because my work is based on emotions, it is difficult to explain it; but I will try.  Look at the image above. The night before this drawing, I watched a movie called Australia. In it a little boy grieves his mother's death by looking for solitude in the desert. He is by himself and it is late night. I felt a tremendous desire to hold that boy, to protect and to comfort him. Of course, I could not do that.

The following day, as I started my work, the first thing I placed on the paper was the butterflies. Then,  I was led to draw the subsequent images without really knowing what I was drawing. Until the drawing was completed, I did not have a full view of my design or  the intention to paint it. Once it was created, I realized that the drawing was my way of expressing the feelings I had in the previous night. The butterflies were my way of protecting the little boy,  of telling him that somewhere out there,  there was hope. That there was light in the sky and that he wasn't alone. The drawing allowed me to express those feelings, and somehow I felt he was forever protected in my heart.

Inspiration

Liberation

Inspiration comes in many flavors. To me, it comes as phrases, dreams, scenes from human relationships. They arise not from the subjects themselves, but from the emotions they convey by their behavior:  their love, their peace, their happiness, their desperation, their fear, their pain...
In nature, my inspiration comes from the feelings its elements evoke: the wind in my skin, the water under my feet, the softness of the rain, the amplitude of the sky, the void between my body and the stars; and yet the feelings of connections existent in that void. In that tremendous dimension, I feel like a tine spectacle, an observer of life revealing itself. I am pleased and forever thankful.

My First Solo Show at The Book Cove

Please join us for an Art Exibit
July 22 - From 6:00 - 8 pm
At the Book Cove
22 Charles Colman Blvd.
Pawling, New York

Straight wind

On May 24, My husband and I had just arrived at  Virginia Beach. We opened the shades to see the beautiful ocean. I turned around and started unpacking. When I looked back, I saw a scene I had never seen before. It was a super cell with winds of 78 mph. As I looked at the ocean it seemed the waves were going in two opposite directions at the same time. Some waves coming towards us, others receding. Those receding disappeared into the air like foam.  A minute later, there were people running, police cars alerting people to get out of the beach. Chairs, flags and towels were swirling in the air. The sand was flying like in the desert movies. A black cloud was moving in slowly. I run to grab my camera, but the wind made our hotel rattle and shake. I got scared.   No matter how scared I was the  fascination was stronger. I couldn't stop  going to the window to look at the scene.  It is a pity I have not filmed those moments. It was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. It feels like being in a dream, a surreal experience. Everything happens so fast and when it is gone it is as if it had never happened.

I have always wondered how come people have the courage to follow and film hurricanes. Now I know.

Buddhist Quotes

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words,
Watch your words, for they become actions,
Watch your actions, for they become habits,
Watch your habits, for they become character,
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny."

"May you be happy, healthy and live a meaningful life."

Lili

The act of painting

I start a painting with an emotion and l let that emotion take its course in my process of painting. At times, I create a painting with a few movements guided by my fellings. It happens very quickly, as if all the information was already stored somewhere inside me. Other times, it takes me days, weeks, I keep doing and redoing the same painting. but the image is never the same. I know deep inside, that at the end the image I want will show up on the paper. When it finally does, it is like a miracle, a song listened from a far distance. A lullaby that makes me sleep happy and at peace.

The Red Book - Carl Jung

I found out that the Red Book from Carl Jung is filled with imagery of his own personal journey.  Somehow, I tend to idealize geniuses as if they were supra-humans and therefore not vulnerable to our mundane questions. It is a gift to know that such an amazing mind has its roots in curiosity, a fundamental element of self discovery. Curiosity entails fear of the known, fear of the unknown and, at the same time, a strong desire for an answer.

If you would like, check some of Jung's images here:

Love,
Lili