Heaven & Hell a Balancing Act

About a month ago I was taking inventory on all my supplies, i.e. paint, glues, brushes, shadowboxes, papier mache supplies and when I ran across this particular cabinet I thought I'd make a Mary Shrine.  I put the cabinet on my worktable, removed the glass,  and started to remove the center shelf....I couldn't.   I picked up my hammer at least 4 times and aimed for the center shelf, but I kept being stopped by some unseen force. 

So I stopped everything and sat with the Cabinet and said, "What?, what do you want?"  The Cabinet said, "Look I have a shelf, perfectly centered, what does that remind you of?  Upper, Lower, as Above, So Below...What do you see?".   I sat there dumbfounded thinking ok, I'm crazy, the Cabinet is talking....but then I became very present and said, "I see Heaven & Hell, I see the Above and the Below, I see Balance".    The Cabinet responded, "Yes." 

So here she is, "Balance". 



The Latest Paintings

About 6 months ago, I found over 30 large frames at an Estate Sale.  I was interested in maybe 5 frames, but when the owner told me I could take all 30 for $10.00, I couldn't resist.  So here are my first two creations: 

The RETURN

 

 

As I continue to create, I've been pulled toward the archetype of The Mother.  More specifically I've been visioning the return of the Feminine.  My overall feeling/understanding is that things are in motion for a paradigm change....it's unstoppable....and inevitable.  The title of this particular painting was much meditated over, and The Return was the only answer I received.  Hope she speaks to you.

 

 

 

 

 

Eternal Now

 

 

 

 

"Now" is the only moment that exists, there is no such thing as future, no such thing as past, only Now.  This is an eternal moment, and it's very sacred.  This painting represents peace, tranquility and presence.  



 

Somerset Studio Gallery Winter 2013

So happy to have my Edgar Allen Poe assemblage piece published in this Somerset Studio Gallery's Winter 2013 edition!  I love assemblage, it's so hands-on, working with each piece, it's kinda like a puzzle.  You don't know what it's really going to look like until the very end. 

With this piece I was so inspired by Somerset's call for "Poe Art", I've always loved Halloween and spookiness and this assemblage just sort of "happened".   This is my take on the evening when the Raven knocked at Poe's window, hence the title "Inspiration Knocks".  

Calaveras and Altered States

Like so many of the things I make, the artwork enters into my mind as a "picture" of the completed work.  Some people might call these events visions, but I don't.  It's just a picture of what needs to be born into this world. 

As I create these Calavera scenes, I start with wire, tape and scrunched up pages from office catalogues.  (I've told the office supply companies to stop sending these, but they insist, so I tear up their brochures, catalogues, and mailers and make something more helpful, namely art).
Then I add the brown craft paper and Gruda (paste), one layer, two layers, underpainting, top coat paint....etc...etc.

As I work..time slows, slows and stops...it's just me and the new creation ....the new life and I float together as bones are painted, eyes are drawn, teeth are formed,.....my hands keep moving, moving, coaxing the new life further and further into this world.... seconds, minutes, hours pass, it doesn't matter.  We spin together in co-creation, it's peaceful, joyous and magical, there is no pain, no past, no regret, it's truly wonderous.  Then in a glorious moment I see the work change from paint, wire and paper into a Being and then it starts to breathe....then move...then she smiles at me and I know I've just been blessed by the Universe herself.

Calavera scene: Viejo y Viejita. 
These Calaveras said to me, "We are too old to go around naked, we are not young anymore, you must make us clothes,."  So here they are, my first calaveras with clothes.  Oh yea, and the man told me he also needed a macho mustache and a gold tooth!  ( go figure.)

Calavera Card Game:

A Quiet Dinner

 

The Compadres

 

La Virgen y La Calavera

 

The Goddess and Mixed Media Assemblage

I've been given a huge Insight into my Mixed Media Assemblage artwork, straight from the Universe herself.  I used to think that my mixed media artwork was completely and totally about Creation about formation and birth and it is of course,  but it is also very much about destruction too. 

When I find something that wants to be something else,or something more there is always and I mean always a deconstruction phase.  Whether it's paint that has to be removed or a shadowbox frame that needs to be taken apart completely or a wine glass stem that needs to be cut off.

It's the complete picture of both birth and death, construction and deconstruction, chaos and order that is the actual Total Creation process, it's not "one sided"!  I see the Goddess in her own being, both as the creatrix and destructor!  Life is the total process, the light and dark.

Thank you Universe, I am deeply grateful that you speak to me and through me.


This is the the Aztec Goddess Coatlicue.  She represents the devouring mother, in whom both the womb and the grave exist.

  

The Universe & Brown Craft Paper

Now that my artful journey has led me to be a Cartoneria (papier mache artist). I needed brown craftpaper, my husband said, "Oh, we throw tons of that paper away every day at work, I'll bring you some". 

Well, his co-workers asked why he takes the paper home. When he told them that I use it for papier mache, they all banded together and get ALL the paper together each nite, and fill our car!!! 

So thanks Michael (the husband) and a big thanks to all the men at work too! 

The Universe must really like artwork and feel that it is very important for the world.  I'm very grateful and happy to be part of the Art Equation.

This is what I've made from all that wonderful paper!

 

Travelling through my Artwork

Just finished....Rainbow Skele-Faerie Shadowbox. This is the next generation of my skele-faerie creations, colorful yet muted background, no signage and multiple faeries in one. Though these muertos are rainbow I am not currently a devotee of
Santa Muerte.
Through powerful dreaming and inner travelling I am following a path set before me, through my artwork you will see what I see. Hope you will journey with me.