In my beginning painting class, our most recent assignment was to make a mixed-media painting - any subject was fine. I began with a rather large canvas (30" x 40") and used a drawing I had made of my grandmother's face. I made multiple copies of the drawing in various sizes, and then tore them up, moved them around, and made a composition inside a grid. I had no idea where it was going, but something about it made sense to me. I used gauze, screening, and rice paper to add texture to the surface in various places as I painted. As I worked on this one I began to get emotionally involved with it. It seemed as if I was painting about my life, about all the ways I have tried to see myself, be myself, as a whole person. I've struggled to come out from behind the walls, veils, shields, and labyrinths that seem to have covered over much of my adult life. Sometimes there have been little glimpses of something, small moments of emerging, and then sometimes fruitless repetitions of things that didn't work, more groping in the dark, more self-censorship, or fear, or repression. Lately I can see that I am getting free of all that constraint, at last! This painting speaks to that feeling of emerging from the darkness and the walled-in consciousness, and beginning to look at the world through clear eyes. (detail below)
In my beginning painting class, our most recent assignment was to make a mixed-media painting - any subject was fine. I began with a rather large canvas (30" x 40") and used a drawing I had made of my grandmother's face. I made multiple copies of the drawing in various sizes, and then tore them up, moved them around, and made a composition inside a grid. I had no idea where it was going, but something about it made sense to me. I used gauze, screening, and rice paper to add texture to the surface in various places as I painted. As I worked on this one I began to get emotionally involved with it. It seemed as if I was painting about my life, about all the ways I have tried to see myself, be myself, as a whole person. I've struggled to come out from behind the walls, veils, shields, and labyrinths that seem to have covered over much of my adult life. Sometimes there have been little glimpses of something, small moments of emerging, and then sometimes fruitless repetitions of things that didn't work, more groping in the dark, more self-censorship, or fear, or repression. Lately I can see that I am getting free of all that constraint, at last! This painting speaks to that feeling of emerging from the darkness and the walled-in consciousness, and beginning to look at the world through clear eyes. (detail below)
4 comments:
What a break-through!
How I identify with the need to emerge from the darkness and the walled-in consciousness... I hope to look at the world through clear eyes.
That's really beautiful, kim. I love all the ways her face looks out from each element. Very moving.
very inspiring -- both the visual and the artist's story behind it. Creating visual art is such a therapudic exercise; it brings out parts of ourselves that might otherwise stay hidden. I love the piece and your process - thank you for sharing it all.
Thank you for sharing this, in image and words. It is emotionally beautiful and visually compelling. You are really growing into a wonderful artist.
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