Monumental

conte crayon on paper...36 x 22 Giving birth to a child is a most monumental life-changing experience one can have. It was for me, over 40 years ago....and it was, for sure, a most wished-and-wanted-for event. Some things never change. For our three sons and three amazing daughters-in-law, it is even more so...given the careers of the parents, and the challenges that they face on the work front, along with those faced at home. I believe that they want what I wanted....to raise children in a happy and safe environment as well as to meet their own personal goals. Definitely monumental. The standing pose of the most recent birth experience emphasizes this notion of monumental. The drawing is a simple one done in conte crayon on paper. I was in awe during the making of it. And I am in awe of their efforts, so much larger than my own.

Happy Mother's Day

LB and E   oil/canvas   24 x 18 x 1.5

LB is my daughter-in-law.  E is our new grandson.  As I see my own history being repeated, I am awed by the intensity of mother love.  I have learned so much from this beautiful young woman...she is confident, yet soft spoken.  Hard working yet always seems to have time.  States considerate opinions without bulldozing.  E is a lucky boy.  I am a lucky woman.

This painting was done from photos taken when E was just days old.  It practically painted itself.  My commitment to the work could only be outdone by my love.

Paint what you love.

Accommodation

An Accommodating Curve   watercolor/gouache   27 x 14

I am happy with my role as an artist. I am also happy to be woman. One of the qualities associated with yin is the notion of flexibility. That opposes rigidity, to be sure. Because a woman's life is composed of so much rigidity with so many details to tend to and so much nurturing to provide, I think that women who release themselves in creative endeavors are able to relinquish control and discover a complete freedom. Those artists who I admire (many of them men) have been able to marry the yin with the yang....the freedom with the control....and the traditional with the modern. These are the artists who continually question and search. (as opposed to rigid artists who seem to know all of the answers). Right now, I visualize sea grasses bending in the wind....flexible and strong.