Life is full of changes and the end of summer 2015 saw some major ones. Sad, wonderful, exciting, new. In the end, when one door closes, another opens. And this time those new changes inspired me to pick up my sketch book and return to drawing after a long absence. Here are some places, images and events that contributed to the overall feeling of the work I created.

Kriya Yoga Retreat 2015
Portiuncula Center for Prayer
Frankfurt, IL
August 23rd - 28th

Cy Twombly
Tate Modern
London SE
photo sent from a friend via text September 9th, 2015

Houston Fine Arts Fair
9/11/2015

"No Name" Park
Cypress, Texas
Photos taken 9/12 and 9/20, 2015

The last six weeks have seen me creating a wide variety of sketches. I was only able to scan a couple of pages from my sketchbook before my scanner started misbehaving. So, here's a little taste of what I've been up to until I can get the rest of them scanned tomorrow.

"Talking with Troy"
8 1/2"Wx11"H
No. 2 pencil on paper

"Minutia"
8 1/2"Wx11"H
No. 2 pencil, Sharpie markers and gel pens on Paper

Ah, finally, the calm after the storm. The painting above was started the evening of the first big flash flood last May. I had a feeling of hopefulness and a vision of healing as I painted it. Yellow is the color of healing in feng shui and I had spent 2 hours pouring over some books on the subject before beginning this piece. It had an impact. There is also a back story about a friend from the Chicagoland area and the exchange of yellow flowers as a gift for healing over the years and across the miles. If you'd like to hear the entire story some time, I would be happy to tell you. And, if you look closely, you'll see the loving hearts I slipped into the foliage.

16"Wx20"Hx1"D
acrylic and sharpie marker on canvas

I've been creating a lot of work in the studio the last couple of weeks. Here's something I thought would be of interest to pet lovers. Every year the Houston World Series of Dog Shows features an auction of donated dog houses to raise money for C.A.P.S. This year I decided to pitch in. It still needs some touch-up work, but otherwise is finished. It will be on view 7/16-20.

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.

When you decide to install a new printer to your computer...on a holiday evening...after everything's closed...and you find that the printer cable is too short. Yes, I could have done it wirelessly, but didn't. Notice how the Mac is where the printer should be sitting and vice versa. At least it got me to clear everything off of my desk. Tomorrow? New series.

The Menil Collection is in its final week of two outstanding exhibits of works by Rene Magritte: The Mysteries of the Ordinary and Memories of a Voyage. I had a wonderful time viewing them both today. I've discovered two new (to me) favorites. 

The Pleasure Principle
http://www.wikiart.org/en/rene-magritte/the-pleasure-principle-portrait-of-edward-james-1937

Black Magic
http://www.wikiart.org/en/rene-magritte/black-magic-1934

So, it's become something I look forward to being involved w/ annually: the Rochester Contemporary Art Center 6x6. They have literally THOUSANDS of art works from artists from all walks of life - from the famous to the weekend doodler. All the works are 6" x 6" square and they cover the walls w/ them. The names of the artists are hidden until the work has been purchased which makes it all the more exciting. I have a couple of pieces that I donated. They are #2621 and #2622. But there are so many fun pieces of art to look @ that perusing them all is a real treat. Click this link to check out the online preview:

http://www.roco6x6.org/6x6x2014.php