One evening a few weeks ago I was sitting @ my computer and noticed my silhouette cast on the wall by the setting sun. I reached over w/ my left hand, picked up my cell phone and snapped this photo w/out moving the rest of my body. I really liked the image, but didn't know what, if anything, I should do with it. I e-mailed it to myself and left it on my desktop, ruminating.
About a week or so ago, I printed the image on photo paper and began playing with it, still uncertain about where I wanted to go...if anywhere. I started by emphasizing the outline and playing with the shapes found in the texture on the wall. I took some informal cell phone shots to document my progress, as I sometimes do.
As I worked in markers and gel pens, I noticed that the texture had organic shapes and that the patterns and shapes reminded me of single cell organisms. I decided to explore this idea by encasing the shapes in gold and in pink. The shapes began to take on a life of their own. I decided to study their relationships to one another.
As the work progressed, the original image became almost superfluous. I wanted to see how these creatures that were appearing in front of me communicated, how they interrelated. Were they dividing into multiples or joining others like themselves? The work itself took over and informed me as to what I needed to do next. I left the studio a couple of times to purchase the right shade of pink, the best pen to create the white centers surrounding what must be the nuclei. And as this went on, I thought about the microcosm within each one of us. I thought about how our inner worlds reflect and shape the macrocosm from cellular memory to the Universe. And how we shape our environment which effects how our environment shapes us. One thing is clear, however. No one, no creature, is ever alone. I decided to call the piece "Relationships." A scan of the finished work is below.
Completing this was a nice way to spend a rare Saturday off. I'll be finishing the evening by meditating before dinner, then heading to a Solstice Celebration @ the Rothko Chapel.
My best to you all,
S.
My best to you all,
S.
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