 I Am Alive, mixed media, 26x22 Thank you to everyone who gave me such warm encouragement on my new website! You are all the best. It was suggested that I post a bit more about myself and my paintings. I thought “I am Alive” might be the perfect catalyst. I am so pleased that “I am Alive” was recently accepted into the International Society of Acrylic Painters Exhibition in Paso Robles, California! Most of my paintings start with a title – which is a bit backwards from many artists who see an image first and want to capture it. I hear a phrase or feel a feeling and want to share it visually. “I am Alive” started exactly that way. On a very cold January day in Michigan, I was out running and listening to music. My kids often reprogram my shuffle so I am constantly hearing new songs while running. The song “I’m Alive” from the Broadway show “Next to Normal” suddenly came on and for some reason totally caught my attention – which is what I love about running. I was transfixed: listening to the words, feeling the beat, running, and creating in my head. “I'm alive, I'm alive, I am so alive, And I'll tell you the truth, If you let me try. You're alive, I'm alive, And I'll show why, If you climb on my back, Then we both can fly. I’m alive. I’m alive.” Can’t you just feel the beat and the power? There was something about the grayness and cold of day and the song just woke me up. When that happens, I listen to the music over and over and my run takes on a life of it's own. There is nothing better. It is part of my creative process which sometimes makes running so much easier. It's magical. Then the hard work begins - trying to put the image in my head and the emotions that I am feeling on to paper. But I love the challenge. And on that day, "I am Alive" began.
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 "On Silent," 18x23, mixed media ON SILENT
Above my desk I have a Brian Andreas quote which reads: "Is willing to accept that she creates her own reality. Except for some of the parts where she can't help but wonder what the hell she was thinking." My winter self portrait and the "help" that can be seen in the midst of "On Silent" may be just that wondering. I was quite honored recently to win the Devines in the Pines award for "On Silent" in the 31st Annual Michigan Artist Competition.. If you are in southwest Michigan, stop by the Battle Creek Art Center to see the show! |
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