Discovery - Working with Kids
This painting that I am currently working on is titled “Discovery.” In it a child is exploring a puddle in his rain boots.
In addition to working as an artist/ poet, I also work with younger children in education. These little humans are very special, and I truly believe that there is no such thing as a “bad” child. This painting tries to capture the innocence and beauty of kids.
Over the past five years or so I have gotten really passionate about abstract expressionism, and this genre of art will always be a love of mine. However, I have been feeling called to return to my objective painting roots for some time! I was feeling a bit intimidated because my painter’s muscles were accustomed to the rawness of abstract expressionism.
So I went to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, a museum that I truly love. (She and I go way back to my NE Minneapolis days!) I studied paintings that I loved, their energy and style of brushstrokes. One of the paintings that I especially love is of Saint Michael, and it was painted in 1624 by Giuseppe Cesari. I feel protected when I experience it, as if I am being watched over by the archangel.
The words “eternal student” came to mind when I entered the museum, and that is what I want to embody as an artist. There is no ceiling to beauty and mastery after all.
As I was painting this little one from the photo (still a work in progress), I focused on painting what my eyes were truly seeing. I did my best to capture the shapes, forms and colors that existed, not the ones that one would think would be accurate.
The painting is not done! Even though I am done for the day, I hear ( as if an angel is whispering in my ear cheering me on!) “refine! refine! refine Achieve a greater excellence!” in my mind.
Anyway, I have challenged myself that the next five paintings that I will create are to be objective paintings. I am enjoying the theme of children, as this correlates a with a sacredness that exists in my life already, but I also have been looking at photographs for inspiration of cityscapes and light on water. We shall see. Infinite possibilities!
All of my love,
xxx
Gena