It's been a busy and productive few weeks. I sold one of my favorite paintings. I finished a big painting I've been working on for just shy of a year...and started a new painting of an anatomy + floral series, of the liver.
I'm so happy to have finished and sold this painting, "Nesting".
Which now happily resides in a PDX home. I got to catch up with an old friend upon delivery. We had delicious coffee in Salem at Isaac's.
I was reminded of how fortunate I was to have attended Emily Carr Institute of Art + Design back in 2002-2005. What a big deal it was to have even been accepted. I remember that day...Such a proud moment. It was the ONLY school I hoped to attend and the application process had been very daunting to me. It took me years to finally apply. On the first day of orientation I remember them welcoming us, saying "Congratulations. You are 1 one 50 -- out of thousands of applicants -- to be accepted." What an honor. I was so fortunate to have studied and created in such an amazingly supportive environment of talented and inspiring faculty. My biggest regret in life to this day is leaving ECIAD. So many goofy self portraits and wacky projects, but nothing beats the education I received in Canada. Memories for a lifetime. I just wish they'd lasted longer.
"Watermelon Garden" is a big new painting I completed for my mama.
Watermelons to remember my grampa Lee, who would always come in with a big grin on his face and a happy chuckle holding a big watermelon he'd harvested from his garden. Hollyhocks, Black-eyed Susan, and Sunflowers have always been a favorite of my mama's. Checkered print and carrots from the garden...a little nod to my papa. Daisies and polka dots, my moms favorite. Bald hill in the background and sunsets in big open fields will always make me think of my folks place and the beautiful farmland on the outskirts of Corvallis.
This is 3'x4' acrylic on canvas. Sized to go over my folks fireplace. I really enjoyed playing with pattern and color theory here. Lots of sneaky heart shapes and whimsical whispies throughout. Focusing more on these playful elements, rather than facial details. Makes for a happy wonderland.
A new series of Anatomy + Florals. Long live the liver.
We were recently notified my husband's amazingly wonderful Hepatologist (Liver Doctor) at OHSU is moving on to another career. SO, I wanted to start this painting series with the liver, as a thank you to Dr. Ahn, the entire OHSU team and to honor my husband's donor.
As I studied a few small diagrams of the liver I thought to myself, "Wow, thank goddess I wasn't his surgeon..." drawing it is one thing, connecting tiny veins and saving lives in real time, wow... how fantastic it must be to work on a team of transplant surgeons. Thank you.
I paired dogwood flowers in the background to represent the hope that we clung to as we awaited transplant list approval. I like the simplicity of the layout and will continue to edit it back a bit, maybe add some iridescent details.
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