Wanted: Inspiration

I've got three paintings currently in progress.

I've purchased two beautifully empty canvasses.

I've finally emptied the container I had filled with paints, brushes, and other supplies; for use during my temporary studio time at Yama Yoga. So, my studio is almost back to a working state. (Rather than a temporary dumping ground for all the exhibition-related things that I was too exhausted to address and organize after the end of the show.)

My baby has fully recovered from everything that ailed her over the one week I had to work outside the home. I've gotten over the slight cough I picked up at the end of my art show. And I've gotten caught up on all the important TV shows that I secretly and not-so-secretly enjoy.

Temperatures are soaring here in Doha as summer approaches. And the level of humidity has made it feel even hotter than it really is.

What better time to seek refuge in the air-conditioned studio and begin seeking inspiration for a new series?

Last Day of Duality & Grass Series: No. 5b - Hope Returns

Grass Series - No. 5b: Hope Returns(triptych)

acrylic & mixed meda on canvas, each panel 30"x20", 2010

This painting was originally inspired by this quote from the Indian poet, Arundhati Roy:

"Not only is another world possible, she is on her way.
On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing."

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I very much enjoy working on triptych (3-part) paintings. I find it incredibly liberating to be able to not only rotate the canvas; but to also be able to swtich panels from left to right, top to bottom...and try to make it all fit together, while still making compositional sense at the end of the process.

This painting first debuted at the group exhibition in Education City in Doha, back in 2007; and was entitled, "Grass Series: No. 5 - Hope".

Although it may have seemed finished back then, there was something else that I wanted to do to the piece - but I just didn't know what it was yet.

So as I was completing Grass Series No. 6 (three years later), I put these back on the easels and got back to work.





Hope Returns - underlayer 1

Hope Returns - underlayer 2
I changed up the order of the panels...

Hope Returns - underlayer 3
...and started sketching in a blossom.

Hope Returns - underlayer 4

Hope Returns - underlayer 5
Then I wanted the flower to seem as if it's growing amongst wild grass.

Hope Returns - underlayer 6
So, I began to add more and more wild, free-form blades.

Hope Returns - underlayer 7
And then I felt that it was finally complete.

Grass Series - No. 5b: Hope Returns(triptych)

acrylic & mixed meda on canvas, each panel 30"x20", 2010

Days 5 & 6 of Duality: Grass Series - No. 6: Seagrass

Grass Series - No. 6: Seagrass (triptych)

acrylic & mixed meda on canvas, each panel 24"x48", 2010

This particular painting is the sixth in my Grass Series*. I had originally begun working on this piece during my pregnancy in 2008. And my inspiration was the simple fact that in any seahorse species, males are the ones who give birth. So, at 6-months into my pregnancy, this was the most amazing idea I had ever heard of!

Because I was in a nesting-phase, I entertained the thought of finishing this piece for the baby's nursery. But I only thought to take a photo after having already painted quite a few different layers on. So, this is the first underlayer that I can share:

Seagrass - underlayer photo 1

I am embarrassed that the photo actually includes a heinously doodled cartoon seahorse in the corner. But I had jokingly (albeit tentatively) entitled it, "I Wish I Were a Seahorse."

I then took a short hiatus from working in the studio, what with the arrival of our daughter in August of 2008. I wasn't able to fully return to work mentally or emotionally until September of 2009. And then this happened:

Seagrass - underlayer photo 2

I incorporated cliffs and and began experimenting with image transfers. As you can see, the work progressed quite a bit from that first photo. But if you examine the triptych carefully, you may be able to find the partially hidden objects: a female reproductive system, seahorses (of various sizes), a sleeping baby,a baby's foot cradled by her dad's hand; a male long jump athlete, and a female long jump athlete.

Seagrass - photos of seahorse details





Seagrass - long jump & glass bead texture detail

At this point, I began to look at the piece from a purely compositional perspective. I wanted to see what needed to be taken away, and decide on what I needed to focus on. This is where I then introduced stylized brown algae-like forms to begin obscuring some of the details, and to add more perspective to the piece:

Seagrass - underlayer photo 3

It wasn't long after that, that I decided to then use blocks of dark blue washes to play with darkness and focus on the light as it is filtered through the water.

Seagrass - underlayer photo 4

I'm not sure at which point I then realized that this piece was part of the Grass Series. But since seahorse habitats mainly consist of grasses, and because this painting has very much to do with Change as it pertains to childbirth and parenthood, it seemed inevitable.

Grass Series - No. 6: Seagrass (triptych)acrylic & mixed meda on canvas, each panel 24"x48", 2010

Grass Series - No. 6: Seagrass is part of the Duality exhibition at Yama Yoga Studios from May 27th to June 6th, 2010. For more details on timings and directions, please click here.

*Grass Series - please stay tuned for a future blog entry.

Day 4: Duality - Camel No.1: The Dreaming Camel

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: acrylic on canvas, 40"x30", 2010

This painting is yet another piece in the camel series. There was no initial inspiration for this painting, other than that.

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: underlayer 1

So many people have given me such lovely feedback on my Sassy Camel piece. And many expats expressed a desire to have something that would eventually remind them of their time here in the Gulf; without it being like everything else available to tourists. So this is how the continuation of the camel series evolved.

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: underlayer 2

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: underlayer 3

In these photos of the underlayers, I continued to build up the body and the decorated harness until I decided that those aspects were complete. But when it came time to work on the eyes, I had to come to a decision as to what emotion or look to express.

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: underlayer 3

But with the idea of "remembering time spent in the Gulf", I chose to leave them as they appear in the final stage.

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel: acrylic on canvas, 40"x30", 2010

Camel No. 1 - The Dreaming Camel is on display at Yama Yoga Studios from May 27th to June 6th, 2010. For more details on timings and directions, please click here.

Day 3 of Duality: Camel Nose Abstract

What a day! Spent another lovely morning painting away at Yama Yoga Studios. And I thought I'd get to my daily painting description on my 4-8pm shift. But alas, my little girl threw up during suppertime back at home, and had a bit of a fever. I rushed home as quickly as I could.

Luckily, my wonderful husband had everything under control by the time I got there. But my sincerest apologies to the Astanga Yoga group who I was looking forward to speaking with after class. I hope we meet again.

So, here is yesterday's entry in the series of photo essays that highlight work on display.

Camel Nose Abstract: acrylic on linen, 50 cm x 100 cm, 2010

Camel Nose Abstract: underlayer

This particular piece underwent quite a few reincarnations during its process. I had initially started filling in an underlayer when I soon lost interest in that particular pose and composition.

I tried a few different ideas, all the while building up the background.

Camel Nose Abstract:
underlayer 1 of snout

I was really enjoying the challenge of trying to take the "too-often-romanticized camel" out of those clichéd "sweeping desert settings" that one can find in a lot of paintings sold to tourists out here. So, this particular shape soon emerged on the canvas.

Camel Nose Abstract:
underlayer 2 of snout

I worked with many different layers to imply ropes and tassels around the face, as I built up the shapes and counters of the camel's nose.

Camel Nose Abstract:

underlayer 3 of snout

And here it is:

Camel Nose Abstract: acrylic on linen, 50cm x 100cm, 2010

Camel Nose Abstract is part of the Duality exhibition at Yama Yoga Studios from May 27th to June 6th, 2010. For more details on timings and directions, please click here.

Day 2 of Duality: Camel No. 3 - Red

Thought I'd try something new and actually paint at the exhibition venue today. The light that floods in is brilliant. The familiar smell of incense and the calming yogic energy that flows through is both invigorating and soothing. And to have a solid block of uninterrupted time to stay focussed on work is something quite lovely to get reacquainted with.

Please stop by Yama Yoga Studios and not only visit me, but check out their schedule of classes. Everything from salsa to wushu, pre-natal to mommy-and-me, intro yoga to pilates...Today's crowd included the cutest bunch of little girls coming in for their beginner ballet class.

I've met such a lovely, diverse group of people over the last few days.

As promised, here is today's installment in the series of photo essays that highlight art work included in Duality.

Camel No. 3 - Red: acrylic on canvas, 36"x30", 2010

I was really intrigued by the rarity of black camels, and wanted to include one in my camel series.

Camel No. 3 - Red

underlayer 1
(sketching it in)

Camel No. 3 - Red
another underlayer
(almost done)

However, in the process of filling in all the red under-layers of the camel's face to add depth and texture, the "camel-that-came-to-be" simply couldn't be painted over anymore. So I just completed the background, and here she is:

Camel No. 3: Red - acrylic on canvas, 36"x30", 2010

Camel No. 3 - Red is on display at Yama Yoga Studios from May 27th to June 6th, 2010. For more details on timings and directions, please click here.

Duality - Day 1: Sakura

It is officially Day 1 of Duality at Yama Yoga Studios after the opening last night here in Doha. Thank you to everyone who attended! It's not often that there are so many things going on in town at the same time. So thank you for choosing to spend time with me and my paintings.

Sakura - mixed media & acrylic on canvas, 30"x24", 2010

This piece is another ode to Vancouver. I do miss the sight of tree-lined streets and avenues covered in delicate cherry blossom petals like light pink blankets of snow. This painting evolved out of that memory.

Sakura - photo of underlayer

At first, I began with a very loosely drawn branch and leaf shapes - thinking that it would simply become an underlayer in the later stages. And still in the mind-set that I was but in that beginning phase where I normally enjoy the "building-up" process, I continued to loosely paint in the branches.

Sakura - detail photo of

abstracted cherry blossoms

Sakura - detail photo of bird

But when I progressed to the free-form, abstracted blossoms, this was when I was reminded of spring-time at home.

I then decided to include an image transfer of a bird drawing because I wanted to somehow visually represent and express the fact that I was simply there in spirit.
Sakura is on display at Yoga Studios from May 27th to June 6th, 2010. For more details on timings and directions, please click here.

Sakura - mixed media & acrylic on canvas, 30"x24", 2010