* Ariel Elizabeth Churnin *

Vermont-Ireland Sketchbook

2010-07-11T21:50:00.018-04:00

Sketchbook: Vermont May 2010--Ireland June 2010--Vermont

This sketchbook begins in Vermont during the May 2010 residency. Enjoy the journey from Vermont to Ireland for Derek O'Neill's More Truth Will Set You Free Workshop in Dublin and back to Vermont again. This isn't the first time I've posted my journal on this blog, but it is the first time I've posted snippets of my own writing along with the drawings. There are many pages of writing alone that I have not shared, as I am still timid to do so. My journals consist of dreams, observations and thoughts related to my spiritual journey.

Although I still cringe at exposing myself to even this extent, I hope that this little bit will be in service to the many people who feel alone because they have no way of recording or sharing themselves. Maybe one day I will share even more of my own path with you.

(by the way, if you want to see someone just laying it out in service,
check out Derek's book : "More Truth Will Set You Free")

starting off: in vermont with the may group

a much-needed trip to montreal with friends patricia and dameon. we saw some art, wandered around and saw the church of saint michael archangel and got pulled into a greek orthodox church by little ladies in black. beautiful byzantine paintings inside. thanks, patti, for bringing me.

contemplating the nature of drawing for the Self

character sketches at the hub by vicente lozano, gurdeep singh and myself

inner character studies

gurdeep drew my portrait and i colored it in

linda o'neill

sri yantra

last few sketches in vermont. with help from vicente

finally...in ireland!!!
after the first night of the workshop,
we heard this man singing a david gray song...
something i hadn't heard since high school.

meditations on the workshop...

images from dreams and the irish country-side

self-portrait with derek and linda after the agnihota ceremony at creacon lodge.
the ceremony was about letting go of what is not needed in our lives.

derek at the workshop

sketches from our trip to the powerscourt gardens
and glenn da loch, an old monastery with a graveyard between two lakes.

last day of the workshop...

back in vermont!! new group of residents
processing and spending time in nature

visiting sculptor grace knowlton

namaste.

Colored Pencils Ireland!

2010-07-11T21:18:00.014-04:00

Colored Pencils Ireland!!!

The following are colored pencil drawings I made at the More Truth Will Set You Free workshop in Dublin, Ireland, June 2010. They are made on paper samples given to me by a friend Meredith Nemirov. Drawing these little sketches helped me to process what I had absorbed during the workshop. I made in my hotel room while my awesome roommate Terri Merliss played guitar. You can find some of her lyrics in the cards. It was a fun experience to get out of my own way while making these.

Each card is approximately 4" x 5"

The following are colored pencil sketches made after the Ireland Workshop. They are inspired by conversations with artist Karen Goldsmith, who does amazing spirit guide portraits.
These are about 8" x 8", varying slightly.

And finally...a few watercolor, gouache and colored pencil sketches made in June 2010. They are inspired by experiences with the Rising Star Healing system, which I enjoy practicing here in Johnson, Vermont!

These vary in size from 8" x 8" to 8" x 11"

Thank you for reading this.
Namaste.

Tatiana & Ariel Art Show!

2010-06-25T21:47:00.012-04:00

June 2010: This month, Tatiana Klacsmann and I have a two-person show at Vermont Studio Center's Gallery 2 space, under the Wolf Kahn building. Tatiana has recently completed her MFA in painting at Johnson State College, and just two days prior to the hanging, I got off the boat (or plane) from Ireland. So we had an interesting romp in hanging the show, which is our last hurrah at the Vermont Studio Center. We were privileged to have Ian Hoge's music to accompany us during the hanging, which went rather quickly.

The following are shots from the show. Enjoy the variety: our work is very different at first inspection but perhaps there are some underlining similarities....?

yay! welcome!

view from entrance: tatiana's paintings, my stars

vsc resident clarissa looks at ariel's hanging apparatus
(thanks for the photos, mike!)

view of teacher installation:
pieces from previous works reassembled to fit space
inspired by recent trip to ireland
derek/baba/linda/mother/father

a closer look: teacher collage in middle
and some books and sculptures for people to leaf through

teacher collage

detail: derek and thank you's

detail: sai baba & moon

detail: teacher, hand and eye

detail: this is what you see if you look through the installation:
an image of my grandmother katherine kilgore and my mom on her wedding day
so, at first glance this piece appears to be about the male teacher but if you look closely, you see that it is really about the female, who is quieter, sits in the back and holds the energy
this journey is about appreciating the quiet love of mother in addition to the forward love of father

below the installation: little books

below the installation: little books

as inspired by sculptor colin chase:
the dream book is stitched into
a single entity and laid upon the floor

dream book detail shots

an experiment in installation: 2 sided dream collages suspended by thread
in front of a collaboration of pieces made at different points during this past year.
not sure where this is going.........

....but enough about meeeeeeeeee

and now we move on to....

Tatiana's work!

Tatiana Klacsmann

The following are recent paintings and drawings by Tatiana Klacsmann. More information about Tatiana and her work can be found on her blog at http://www.klacsmann.blogspot.com.

'the noise'

recent painting by Tatiana

recent painting by Tatiana

'the conversation'

diptych painting by Tatiana

'the silence'

'the pause'

drawing from the model by Tatiana

That's it. Goodbye VSC!

Flowers and Dreamscape

2010-05-19T15:34:00.006-04:00

May 2010: Flowers from Louise's garden and a large watercolor based on dreams. Detail shots and explanations of the dream sequences are included. If you have any insights into the dreams, please contact me.

Dandelion
9" x 9" watercolor and gouache on paper
May 2010

...with your permission...
9" x 9" watercolor and gouache on paper
May 2010

Angel
9" x 9" watercolor and gouache on paper
May 2010

Leaves
9" x 9" watercolor and gouache on paper
May 2010

Negative Space
9" x 9" watercolor and gouache on paper
May 2010

Little White Flowers
9" x 9" watercolor and gouache on paper
May 2010

Pearls Before Swine....Ain't it Divine?
9" x 9" watercolor and gouache on paper
May 2010

Black Beauty
9" x 9" watercolor and gouache on paper
May 2010

Flora
9" x 9" watercolor and gouache on paper
May 2010

Dreamscape
20" x 54" watercolor and gouache on paper
May 2010

Detail shots of Dreamscape:

detail scene; man rising from navel in lotus; transformed into shiva;
message: "he is part of you"

detail scene: breast cancer survivor; moon phases;
big red D balloon; smiling older woman; yogis

detail scene: himalayas; cinque terre; mandala from carl jung's red book;
derek lying on large rock; capricorn 03; a message:

"It was always between you and God;
it is always between you and God;
it will always be between you and God."

detail scene: large oak tree floating in the sky; the kiss;
rotten apple; pugsly; tim o'driscoll from new ross;
running away from marriage

detail scene: running away from marriage;
playing scrabble with ery on log by river;
jealous ex-fiance; lady in poppy-red; reflecting

dream series 1

2010-04-29T11:33:00.009-04:00

The following are a series of watercolors based on dreams and distant memories. The subject came into being after a studio visit at the Vermont Studio Center with my teacher Carole Robb (see her work at www.carolerobb.net). Carole was my teacher at the New York Studio School for a brief year before I switched ateliers. In Carole's class I had begun to explore the painful subject matter of memory but I dropped this subject when I switched instructors.

One night, after several glasses (or bottles) of wine, Carole told me that I had abandoned this subject prematurely: I had "unfinished business." So, right away, I began to paint from my memory. Lately I have been having very vivid dreams of abandonment and strange beings in my presence. Make of it what you will...

*all images are 7" x 10" watercolor and gouache on Lanaquarelle paper
*the final image of Shiva and the bull 17" x 20" on rice paper
*installation shots follow
April 2010

abandoned in train station

infidelity

incest and protection

lineage

adolescence

misqualified energies and their redeemers

"the new bridge becomes the old bridge..."

dream of preparing mother for death

late night visitors: circle of four

meditation room visitor

inner teacher

a busy night

while the king was drinking...

pugsly becoming brahma (united with source)

trying to keep up with daddy

shiva's message

new york samsara

meditation with giz
and lemon honey tea

shiva and sati

a shiva/shakti God

shiva and little bull
based on an indian madhubani image of shiva's dance
17" x 20" watercolor on rice paper
april 2010

installation shots

Amy's Beautiful Book

2010-04-27T14:37:00.017-04:00

This past November at the Vermont Studio Center, I had the privilege to meet a funny and talented print-maker named Amy Guadagnoli. You can see her prints and books on her website.

This series of work was done in one of her beautiful books, made of baltic-birch plywood and rives heavyweight paper. Amy's precious little book inspired me to make small drawings with colored pencil and watercolor--something I had not done since my childhood art lessons with my late grandmother, Katherine Kilgore. The book was an adventure in exploring my unconscious. Nearly every day for the month of February 2010, I worked in Amy's book.

Inspiration came from all over: my friend Stephanie Azaria's astrology website (www.thecosmicpath.com), my teacher Derek O'Neill (www.sq-worldwide.com), Carl G. Jung's Red Book, Indian art, my trip to Ireland in February, and my time here in Vermont. Thank you, Amy and to my teachers. This was a lot of fun.

I hope you enjoy this book. I sure did!

All images are 7" x 5" colored pencil and watercolor on rives heavyweight paper
February 2010

Sept--April Sketchbook Series

2010-04-27T14:09:00.009-04:00

These are images from my sketchbooks, ranging from September 2009 to present: April 2010. The first few are done from life and then the watercolors begin to explore memory. The final images are entirely from imagination and I intend to revisit some of them. Hope you enjoy.

*Each image is 12" x 9"with watercolor and gouache on heavyweight paper, Sept 2009-April 2010
*The final images are 9" x 9" with colored pencil, April 2010

The following images were made in April 2010 in colored pencil on a 9" x 9" sketchbook. These images come from dreams and meditations.

Master Studies & Others

2010-03-15T14:46:00.011-04:00

In February, I had the opportunity to go to Ireland to study astrology with Stephanie Azaria. She writes a wonderful daily horoscope, at www.thecosmicpath.com.

Since returning to the U.S., I have been inspired to learn about many new things. This past month I spent time researching and drawing pictures of the Ascended Masters, who were once people on this planet (like you and me) who attained enlightenment. There is much to learn about the Masters. Helena Blavatsky, founder of the Theosophical Movement, is linked to the Masters, as well as many others.

I found most of my information online but there are many books and even card decks about the Ascended Masters. There are a few other portraits sprinkled in this group. Hope you enjoy.

Jesus
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

Helios
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

Godfre
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

El Morya
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

Cyclopea
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

Liberty
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

Linda O'Neill/Lady Nada
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

Lord Lanto
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

Lord Maitreya
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

Meditation (Derek, Sai Baba, Shirdi Sai Baba)
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

Memama
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

Sai Baba
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

Serapis Bey
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

Mighty Victory
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

Derek O'Neill
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

SaintGermain
18" x 12" watercolor, gouache & pencil on paper
march 2010

Show at Red Mill Jan 2010

2010-02-04T21:22:00.034-05:00

This January, I had a show at the Red Mill Gallery, which is the main gallery of the Vermont Studio Center. Yay! It went up the last night of the January residency, which prompted a celebration of the January residency with music, good food and readings by VSC writers & artists. This was my first installation piece. It was fun to hang the pieces in various locations along the walls and ceilings to activate the space of the Red Mill Gallery. The pieces are about my teacher Derek O'Neill, who lives in Ireland, and my Mom's cows.

The Red Mill Gallery, as seen from the driveway

The Red Mill Gallery has 2 rooms. The first room is a small room without windows. I filled it with watercolors from my residency in August, about my mom's cows and Celtic symbols.

The second room of the Red Mill Gallery is quite large, with 2 big windows overlooking the street. I used this room to install the hanging paper pieces, some collage work and a few pieces from my MFA show at the New York Studio School. Here are some images of how the space was used...

The following are close-ups of some of the hanging pieces, and the way they shape the viewer's experience of the space.

The Satya Sai Baba/Blue Moon/Lunar Eclipse Wall

Window Pieces: I enjoyed placing some of the hanging pieces in the windows, providing quirky views of the snowy Vermont street and making the show more visible from the outside.

Stars: The stars were originally collages based upon the Star of David, a widely used symbol. I hung the stars on a string so that I could see the color and collage on both sides of the pieces. In the gallery I hung the string between opposing walls, hoping that people would walk through. Many were timid...not used to touching art! So eventually I moved them to the window.

Derek O'Neill and his wife Linda.

Opening Night! January 28th was the opening night and the last night of the January residency. Andrew Morris played guitar, chef Mark Hallet made some killer flourless chocolate cake and we drank wine and sparkling apple cider with grape. Kimberly Dark led off the VSC writers' performance and readings.

Watch how the sculptures envelop the audience....

Andrew Morris plays guitar

Seungae Bang

Carrie & Seungae

Rob Williams & Molly

Ariana Franco

Mingling before the readings

View from outside as we left that night...

Frosty window...only that one!

Flying Paper Things Jan 2010

2010-02-04T14:26:00.015-05:00

In December 2009 and January 2010, I focused on the teachings of Derek O'Neill on the Bhagivad Gita and the geometry of sacred symbols, such as the symbols for the five elements, the Star of David and the Pentagram. I also played with installation, sewing paper together and hanging it from the ceiling to expose both sides and to allow the viewer to look through at the wall pieces. I enjoyed this very much! These pieces became a show at the end of January at VSC.

Linda O'Neill
"Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu"
(may all beings in all worlds be happy)
mixed media on paper 16.5" x 14"

Derek with Glitter
pencil and glitter on paper 16.5" x 14"

Derek O'Neill
mixed media on paper 16.5" x 14"

Prophet
mixed media on paper 16.5" x 14"

Derek Teaching in Ireland
mixed media on paper 16.5" x 14"

Stars based on the Star of David
& Prema Agni Clock!
all mixed media on paper apx 8" x 8"
prema agni clock 16.5" x 14"

Satya Sai Baba
mixed media on paper 16.5" x 14"

Derek
mixed media on paper 16.5" x 14"

The Five Pandavas
*Represented by Geometric Symbols*
Top to Bottom, Left to Right:
Air - Bhima / Ether - Yudhistira
Fire - Arjuna / Earth - Sahadeva
Water - Nakula / Prema Agni (Love)
mixed media on paper 16.5" x 14"

The Five Pandavas
each mixed media on paper 16.5" x 14"

The following are installation views in my studio. I cut up a large 2-sided acrylic painting and twisted the shapes to form interesting 3-dimensional constructions. Some of these constructions have holes which simulate the pupil and shape the viewer's gaze. I also played with combinining some of the 2-dimensional pieces to form large collages. It was fun to break away from the wall and play in the space. By the end of the month my studio was hard to move around! My friend Joanna Johnson said it reminded her of a cave, and she couldn't figure out if it was comforting or oppressive. Maybe a bit of both.

November River Sticks

2010-01-25T10:00:00.008-05:00

Mid-October to mid-November, I worked mostly outside using found objects, inspired by Andy Goldsworthy and October visiting artist Nina Katchadourian (for a list of visiting artists at VSC click here). The river is the mighty Gihon, which runs through Johnson. All of the stick pieces, except for the Red One, were assembled naturally, using only materials found in the area.

The river pieces all fell naturally into the Gihon with the heavy rainfall of mid-November.

The wall of sticks was assembled with Nathan Kurzmann, from Alaska (visit his website here). He said that native tribes in Alaska build walls out of sticks and cover them with moss. They are called spirit walls and keep evil spirits away. We decorated the spirit wall with pieces of ice formed in depressions of river rocks.

The star painting which made its rounds amongst the sticks now belongs to the lovely Shawn Gardner & her wonderful husband. The final piece was created by weaving thin sticks together and winding them in a tree.

Enjoy!

Escape from NY Sep-Oct 2009

2010-01-18T15:42:00.003-05:00

In September I began work at the Vermont Studio Center, a sweet deal which includes a studio space, food to eat and a place to sleep. The first pieces I made as a Vermont resident were very much a reaction to my time in New York and the experience of being in an MFA program.

The Great Escapes:
Escape from New York & Escape from San Francisco
oil pastel & acrylic on paper 37" x 44"
September 2009, Vermont

The Great Escapes (details: New York)

The Great Escapes (detail: San Francisco)

Bee River Collage (and detail shots...)
sewn paper & watercolor
32" x 25"
September 2009, Vermont

Mary & Apostles
oil pastel and acrylic on paper
37" x 84" September 2009

Mary (detail)

* September studio shot & MFA show all packed up *

Apocalypse Dream (left half)
acrylic on paper 78" x 188"
September 2009

Apocalypse Dream (right half)
acrylic on paper 78" x 188"
September 2009

Me & We
acrylic & oil pastel on paper
24" x 18"

Orange Heart
acrylic & oil pastel on paper
24" x 18"

Sai
acrylic & oil pastel on paper
24" x 18"

Untitled
acrylic & oil pastel on paper
24" x 18"

Death's Hand
acrylic & oil pastel on paper
24" x 18"

Stages of Life
acrylic & oil pastel on paper
24" x 18"

God's Eye
acrylic & oil pastel on paper
24" x 18"

Marriage/Temptation
acrylic & oil pastel on paper
18" x 24"

Partnership
acrylic & oil pastel on paper
18" x 24"

Orso
acrylic & oil pastel on paper
18" x 24"

Attachment/Death
acrylic & oil pastel on paper
18" x 24"

Dream of Running from Bees
acrylic & oil pastel on paper
18" x 24"

Mary Magdalene Collage
oil pastel & acrylic on paper
apx. 38" x 38"
September 2009

Studio Shot, October 2009

Leaf-Painting October 2009

2010-01-15T15:47:00.008-05:00

Visiting artist Chris Martin was the inspiration behind this piece. During a studio visit, he exclaimed that my patch-work paintings from the MFA show needed to be outside!! I agreed completely. Together we placed it outside in the grass outside the Church studio building. Chris then picked up some leaves from a nearby bush and arranged them on the painting, letting them fall naturally into the creases.

For the next few days I revisited the piece, rearranging leaves and lighting it at night. It was liberating to work outdoors again.

October 8 - October 12, 2009
80" x 58" oil on sewn canvas, leaves, grass, floodlights, small insects

October Leaves, Vermont

2010-01-15T11:35:00.006-05:00

Intrigued by the Vermont foliage, I made a series of impermanent pieces in the landscape and in my studio. It was fun introducing my pieces from the New York Studio School to the October leaves, burying them and bringing them back to life again. I even experimented with coloring and preserving the leaves, and in doing such inadvertently poisoned some of my studio-mates. Sorry! The final photos of this series depict a friend, Andrew Morris, interacting with the angel wings in my studio.

Vermont August 2009 II

2010-01-08T11:31:00.005-05:00

More watercolors from my August residency at the Vermont Studio Center. After the little book, I expanded to larger formats, still listening to Derek O'Neill's Baghavad Gita tapes and some other things mixed in. Please contact me with any questions or comments.

The following works are all watercolor on paper, sizes ranging from 5" x 10" to 10" x 18".

Vermont Little Book

2010-01-08T10:10:00.009-05:00

The Beginning & The End
each approximately 5" x 10"
watercolor on paper August 2009

The following are from a book of watercolors I made while listening to Derek O'Neill's Baghavad Gita tapes. Visiting artist Allison Smith suggested that I make as many watercolors as I could in a day to let the ideas truly flow. There are several hundred. At the end of the month, everyone received a watercolor or two from the little book.

Vermont August 2009

2010-01-07T14:34:00.003-05:00

A selection of works from my residency at the Vermont Studio Center, August 2009. All are watercolors on paper inspired by my mom's cows in Texas and my time in Ireland.

Cow Blossom
10" x 25" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Fantastic Revelry
12" x 38" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Cow Town
9" x 24" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Green is the New Black
14.5" x 25" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

New York Jazz Samsara
11" x 42" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

From Darkness into Light
12" x 35" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Moroccans
25" x 13" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Five Pandavas
13" x 33" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Fun at the Bronx Zoo
16" x 21" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Fun at the Bronx Zoo (detail & inversion)

Africa
5" x 15" Watercolor on paper
August 2009
(Collection of Mark Hallet)

Dogtown
12" x 17.5" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Cow Head
12" x 17.5" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Holy Cow
17.5" x 12" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Oscar Wilde on a Ball
17.5" x 12" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Dark Cows
12" x 17.5" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Black Cows in the Sun
12" x 17.5" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

The Best and Worst in Me
12" x 17.5" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Calm Cows
12" x 17.5" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Hot Cows
12" x 17.5" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

How Can We Be Lovers...
12" x 9" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Cocky as a Peacock
12" x 9" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Cows
12" x 9" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Lion
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Acquila (Eagle)
12" x 9" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Maori
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Four Gospels
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Polynesian Couple
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Bema (Bhima)
12" x 9" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Arjuna
12" x 9" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Nacula (Nakula)
12" x 9" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

YoraAstra (Yudhishtira)
12" x 9" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Shadiva (Sahadeva)
12" x 9" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Cow
12" x 9" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Strength
12" x 9" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Samsara
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Animals We Love
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

The Himalayas
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Five Brothers
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
August 2009

Ireland Watercolors II 2009

2010-01-07T10:27:00.004-05:00

Some more drawings and watercolors from Creacon Lodge Healing Center in New Ross, Wexford County; Powerscourt Estate; and Derek O'Neill's workshop in Dublin.

Sons of Agamemnon
6" x 4" Watercolor and pencil on paper
June 2009, Ireland

Eden and Powerscourt
6" x 4" Watercolor and pencil on paper
June 2009, Ireland

Tim O'Driscoll I
4" x 6" Watercolor and pencil on paper
June 2009, Ireland

Creacon Daisies
6" x 4" Watercolor and pencil on paper
June 2009, Ireland

Tim O'Driscoll II: I'm on Board
6" x 4" Pencil on paper
June 2009, Ireland

Tim O'Driscoll III: I Get Confused
6" x 4" Pencil on paper
June 2009, Ireland

Truck (a nice day in New Ross)
4" x 6" Pencil on paper
June 2009, Ireland

Tim IV: Tribal
6" x 4" Pencil on paper
June 2009, Ireland

Let my Love Open the Door
6" x 4" Watercolor and pencil on paper
June 2009, Ireland

Tree of Life
6" x 4" Watercolor and pencil on paper
June 2009, Ireland

Crazy Dude
6" x 4" Watercolor and pencil on paper
June 2009, Ireland

Seed to Tree
6" x 4" Watercolor and pencil on paper

June 2009, Ireland

Creacon Flowers
5" x 9" Pencil on paper
June 2009, Ireland

Blue Tractor
5" x 9" Pencil on paper
June 2009, Ireland

Stables
5" x 9" Watercolor and pencil on paper
June 2009, Ireland

Texas Summer 09

2010-01-07T09:46:00.002-05:00

After graduation and a few weeks in Ireland, I spent some time at my Mom's house in Texas. The following are watercolors of the animals and plants that live there.

Sunflower
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Pale Sunflower
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Sunflower Dawn
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Droopy Sunflower
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Sunflower of Many Arms
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Babaji
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Little Violet
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Calves Running
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Plant Life
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Cattle of Helios, Sun God
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Trees at Dawn
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Jojo, Ella, Buck & Mocha
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Cattle of Helios, Sun God, II
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper

July 2009

Cow Protecting her Daughter
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Maple Leaves & Serrano Pepper
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Tomato Vines, Fireflies, Clover & Burn Barrel
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Attraction of Opposites
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Mocha, Leaf
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Pugsly
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

House of the Sun
8" x 8" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Summer Heat
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Mocha Buck Ella
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Feeding Time
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Birds and Plants
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Squash Vine
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Holy Flowers
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

From Seed to Tree
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Red Blue Black Gold
9" x 12" Watercolor on paper
July 2009

Ireland Watercolors 2009

2009-08-07T09:14:00.003-04:00

In June 2009, I was fortunate enough to travel to Ireland. During this time, I stayed at Prema Agni Creacon Lodge, a beautiful healing center with lush gardens. I highly recommend Creacon to anyone and everyone. It is worth the trip and the expense. The roses and dandelions of Creacon inspired this series of watercolors, which now belong to my new friends. If you are interested in Creacon or the powerful workshops of Derek O'Neill in Ireland, please visit www.sq-wellness.com.

Each watercolor is 5" x 5"
watercolor and gouache on paper
June 2009
Creacon Lodge

MFA Thesis Show: Spring 2009

2009-06-25T14:10:00.008-04:00

MFA Thesis Show: Below are images from the 2009 MFA Thesis Exhibition at the New York Studio School. The exhibition featured 14 sculptors and painters from around the world and the United States. In the final month leading to the show, the investigations of the past year coalesced into a single body of work. Derek O'Neill's talk on the Tibetan Wheel of Life inspired an investigation of mandalas and symbols which led me to the works of Joseph Campbell, Carl G. Jung and Sir James G. Frazer, and the art of ancient Indian, Himalayan and Native American cultures, to name a few.

The following are collages made with materials found in my studio: paper, wood, canvas, acrylic paint, oil paint, watercolor and gouache. Some are combined with needle and thread, others with glue and string. The final pieces (Triangle Piece, Portrait of a Man, Four Corners) are the most sculptural: they begin to incorporate the wooden backing that protrudes from the wall. The Self-Portrait with Bamboo is painted on sewn canvas scraps.

Memama’s Tapestry
20" x 15" watercolor on paper
September 2008

Life’s Cycles
26" x 20.5" watercolor and gouache on paper
March 2009

Sun Shape

32" x 26" acrylic and gouache on paper

April 2009

For William

10" x 10" oil on canvas

May 2009

Triangle Piece

11.5" x 10" acrylic on paper

April 2009

Portrait of a Man

10.5" x 10.5" pastel and acrylic on paper and wood

May 2009

Rose Bouquet
10" x 10" oil on canvas
April 2009

Bamboo out the Window

28" x 21" oil stick on canvas

April 2009

Drunken Collage

19" x 19" mixed media on canvas

April 2009

Four Corners

17" x 17" oil on canvas and wood

May 2009

Rose Mandala
27" x 23" oil and gouache on canvas and paper
April 2009

Pathétique
32" x 18" oil stick on canvas
April 2009

Mandala Study/ Union of Opposites
23" x 23" oil stick on paper
April 2009

Self Portrait with Bamboo
80" x 58" oil stick on canvas
May 2009

Tibetan Wheel of Life (blue)

32" x 24" acrylic on paper

March 2009

The following did not make it into the show although they relate to the other pieces.

Tibetan Wheel of Life (red)
29" x 22" watercolor, gouache and acrylic on paper
March 2009

Tibetan Wheel of Life
54" x 48" mixed media on paper
March 2009

Self Portrait

17" x 16" oil pastel and acrylic on paper

April 2009

Rose Atelier Painting

26" x 24" x 8" oil on sewn canvas

April 2009

Jazz & Samsara: Winter 2009

2009-06-25T09:02:00.006-04:00

In the first few months of 2009, I turned to nature, memory and music for inspiration. In March I attended a workshop which inspired a studies of the Tibetan Wheel of Life*. These bodies of work taught me to pursue my interests in whatever form they took. They also refreshed my love for collage and mixed media.

January to February 2009: In January, I took a drawing marathon with John Lees. He encouraged us to experiment with different materials, including ink wash, collage, watercolor and bleach. With John, I felt liberated to make whatever came to mind: I began with collages of my brothers and the Texas landscape; an unexpected visit to a jazz concert inspired a series of drawings and collages, which later merged with the animal imagery.

Close Your Eyes and It's Passed...
11" x 17" watercolor and ink on paper
January 2009

Goats and Brothers

11" x 17" watercolor and ink on paper

January 2009

Brothers & Pugsly the Cat

each 11" x 17" watercolor, ink, collage on paper

January 2009

Horses in Landscape

each 11" x 17" watercolor on paper

January 2009

Sketches of Jazz Musicians

each apx. 3" x 5" pencil on paper

January 2009

Jazz in Texas Landscape

11" x 17" watercolor collage on paper

January 2009

Deep Blues

8" x 10" mixed media collage on paper

January 2009

Jazz Collage Series

each 17" x 24" mixed media collage on paper

January 2009

Horse Jazz

11" x 17" watercolor on paper

January 2009

Emo Pictures

each 11" x 17" watercolor on paper

February 2009

Horse Jazz Lovers

29" x 17" acrylic on paper

February 2009

Large Jazz Collage

36" x 36" watercolor gouache on paper

February 2009

Horizontal Jazz

9" x 22" watercolor gouache collage on paper

February 2009

Life's Cycles

26" x 20.5" watercolor and gouache on paper

February 2009

This piece was inspired by Joseph Campbell's writings.

March 2009: Tibetan Wheel of Life

In March, I attended a workshop by Derek O'Neill in New York. He talked about many things but what stuck with me was his teachings on the Tibetan Wheel of Life. The Tibetan Wheel of Life* (samsara) is the chain of successive rebirths and deaths that comprise our existence. It is the dream that we create and are subject to, unless we attain the awareness that leads to liberation.

The innermost circle of the Wheel contains a pig, a rooster and a snake, representing respectively, the greed, ignorance and jealousy that keeps us trapped on the wheel. The next circle shows the two paths one can take: the light path to enlightenment or the dark path to further suffering.

The six sections of the next circle depict the six realms of existence which are subject to birth and death. Clockwise from top: the god realm (paradise until your time is up!), the demigods (who fight with the gods), the hungry ghosts (always hungry but mouths are size of pins), the hell realm (again, not permanent), the animal realm (not very fun), the human realm (suffering and little joy). The outermost circle shows the twelve causes or attachments that link us to the wheel. They include ignorance, emotions, desire, grasping and death.

I am grateful to have received these teachings from Derek and will continue to study them. The following works of art are interpretations of the Wheel, made with acrylic paint and mixed media collage on paper.

Tibetan Wheel of Life (red)

29" x 22" watercolor, gouache and acrylic on paper

March 2009

Tibetan Wheel of Life (blue)

32" x 24" acrylic on paper

March 2009

Large Wheel of Life 1

54" x 48" acrylic on paper

March 2009

Large Wheel of Life 1 (detail)

Here you can see the inner circle with the pig (greed), snake (jealousy) and rooster (ignorance), the next circle showing the two paths (light and dark), surrounded by the six realms of existence (gods, demigods, hungry ghosts, hell, animals and humans). Each realm contains a Buddha who holds the key to escaping that particular realm. Recall that even the god and hell realms are impermanent.

Large Wheel of Life 2
54" x 48" acrylic on paper
March 2009

Large Wheel of Life 3
54" x 48" acrylic and pastel on paper
March 2009

*You can look up more about the Tibetan Wheel of Life online:
Himalayan Art
Buddha.net Interactive Tour
Wikipedia (with links at bottom)

Geometric Symbology: Fall 2008

2009-06-24T12:38:00.010-04:00

September 2008 began my second year of the New York Studio School MFA program. After summer of making art in relative freedom, I felt pressure to create a solid and serious body of work. Although the MFA show was over six months away, anxiety often clouded my mind. For example, I wondered how I could focus on a single subject when my tendency is to make multiple bodies of work that relate on a grander scale. The lesson that I learned during MFA 2 year was self trust: finding the courage to pursue what feels right, even if it means taking a different path than expected. Here is a sampling of works created during the first half of the year.

Transcriptions for the Fall 2008 Benefit: The Four Elements
Every year the New York Studio School has a benefit auction and dinner which raises scholarship money. Graham Nickson, the dean, selects a theme for the year and students make transcriptions (a personalized version of a copy) of works of art related to this theme. This year's theme was the four elements. I selected paintings that I saw at the Metropolitan Museum of Art: two by Nicolas Poussin, a French painter who studied in Italy, one by Eugene Delacroix and one by El Greco. The first Poussin transcription was given to Sean Scully as a gift from the school and the second disappeared from the benefit!

Transcription of Nicolas Poussin's

Summer: Ruth and Boaz (1660-1664)

9" x 12" oil on wood

October 2008

Transcription of Nicolas Poussin's

Landscape with a Calm (1650-51)

9" x 12" oil on wood

October 2008

Transcription of Eugene Delacroix's

Abduction of Rebecca (1846)

9" x 12" oil on wood

October 2008

Transcription of El Greco's View of Toledo (1597)

14" x 9" oil on wood

October 2008

Four Horses: Watercolors

While painting the transcriptions, I made little watercolors from drawings of my mother's horses. The large oil-paint versions did not turn out as well as the small watercolors. Bigger isn't always better!

Two Horses

10" x 14" watercolor on cardboard

October 2008

One Horse

10" x 14" watercolor on cardboard

October 2008

Diamond Eating

10" x 14" watercolor on cardboard

October 2008

Visit from the Vet

10" x 14" oil on wood

October 2008

Geometry: One obstacle of the MFA 2 program is the desire to find a unique subject matter for the show. Only later did I realize that trying so hard for something special can blind you from making what you like to make. In the beginning, I used other people's images for inspiration, placing characters from my grandmother Katherine Kilgore's tapestries into Nicolas Poussin's landscapes. Katherine made a weaving of my brothers and I dancing under a tree to the music of a lute player. I wore stag antlers, Joel wore a wolf mask and Ian was a baby jester. The paintings of the series begin depicting a stag and wolf holding a bundled baby and became increasingly geometric.

Stag, Wolf and Child

apx. 30" x 20" acrylic on wood

November 2008

Stag and Wolf Octagon
apx. 40" x 40" acrylic on wood
November 2008

Octagon Study
20" x 30" charcoal on paper
October 2008

Triangle Dream: In October I had a dream of two triangles, representing the male and female touching at an apex. The male triangle is normally pointing upwards but in the dream I felt that the purple upwards-pointing triangle represented myself and the light blue downwards triangle was the male energy. Curious. The dream prompted a study of geometric symbology, sacred geometry and platonic solids. Two triangles united forms the Star of David. At that time in my life, the male and female energies were not ready to make the union of opposites. So I painted my feelings about relationships using triangle imagery.

Triangle Study
16" x 12" acrylic on canvas
October 2008

Coupling 1 and Coupling 2
16" x 12" each, acrylic on canvas
November 2008

Coupling 3
10" x 18 acrylic on canvas
November 2008

Anger and Jealousy

12" x 12" each, acrylic on canvas

November 2008

Inner Space

14" x 14" acrylic on canvas

November 2008

Triangle Ghost

12" x 12" acrylic on canvas

November 2008

Little Blue

5" x 5" acrylic on canvas

November 2008

Interaction

14" x 14" oil and acrylic on canvas

November 2008

Jews Can't Paint (inspired by David Cohen's talk on RB Kitaj)

16" x 12" acrylic collage on canvas

November 2008

For Jose

9" x 12" acrylic on canvas

November 2008

Space

8" x 10" acrylic on canvas

November 2008

Touching

8" x 5" acrylic on canvas

November 2008

Diamond Collage

84" x 60" acrylic and canvas collage

November 2008

Octagon

apx. 40" x 40" sewn canvas

November 2008

Platonic Solids

1. Tetrahedron (4 sides)

2. Octahedron (8 sides)

3. Icosahedron (20 sides)

dimensions vary, oil on canvas, pillow stuffing, thread

November 2008

Platonic Solids Installation at December Final Critique

Giant Star Installation

apx. 15' x 15'

acrylic on paper

October - December 2008

Hawaii 08 Large Watercolors

2008-08-20T04:21:00.004-04:00

These are the larger watercolors I made in Hawaii. They are from life as well as from drawings and memory. Be sure to look at these as well as the watercolors done from life at the beach (on the following page)!

Sunset and Palms 1
9" x 12" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Sunset and Palms 2
9" x 12" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Sunset and Palms 3
0" x 12" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Big Island Landscape
9" x 12" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Kona Sunset
4" x 11" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Kids Play, Dad Swims
9" x 12" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Brigitte Watches, Twins Play
9" x 12" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Ian Reads
9" x 12" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Dad and Brigitte Reading
9" x 12" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Twins Tussling
9" x 12" watercolor on paper
August 2008

The Kite Man
9" x 12" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Twins Watercoloring
10" x 15" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Fantasy Baseball Rules!
10" x 15" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Brigitte, Ian and the Twins
10" x 15" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Ian Reading Conan
15" x 10" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Arthur and Douglas at Dinner
10" x 15" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Ian and Arthur at Dinner
15" x 10" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Ian in the Car
15" x 10" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Ian Churnin
15" x 10" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Hawaii 08 Beach Watercolors

2008-08-20T03:40:00.004-04:00

In addition to drawing in my sketchbook, I made many watercolors while in Hawaii. Although I made the majority of watercolors while on the beach, I also painted from sketches made earlier in the day, using notes and memory to guide my color choices.

These are the beach ones!

Man at Beach

5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper

August 2008

Surfer Boy
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Beach Brothers
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Ship at Sea
4" x 6" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Football Shots
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Man in PolkaDot Trunks
6" x 4" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Girl with Red Flower
6" x 4" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Reading Couple
4" x 6" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Big Island Landscape with Road
4" x 6" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Big Island Sky
4" x 6" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Surfer Couples
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Lets Play Catch
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Old Men Talking about the Rockefellers
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

The Kite Man with Shark Kite
8.5" x 5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Surfer Boy and Girlfriend
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Twins
8.5" x 5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Sea Turtle
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Kona Sunset
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Ian, Arthur and Douglas Dig a Hole
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Dad
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Kid Eating a Papaya
8.5" x 5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Surfer Boys
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Sea Ray at Night
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Island Fish
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

The Milky Way, Venus, Scorpio and the North Star
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Surfer Boy, Surfer Girl
8.5" x 5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Surfer Boy, Yellow Board
8.5" x 5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Surf Talk
8.5" x 5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Beach Goers
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Towards the Water
8.5" x 5" watercolor on paper
August 2008

Musicians
5" x 8.5" watercolor on paper
August 2008