Ground

​"Ground" - mixed media on panel, 8" x 8".  Available here and at Artfinder.

"...to come to ground is to begin the courageous conversation, to step into difficulty and by taking that first step, begin the movement through all difficulties, to find the support and foundation that has been beneath our feet all along; a place to step onto, a place on which to stand and a place from which to step."

- DAVID WHYTE, Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words

I've been thinking a lot about place, home and ground lately.  Not just in the physical sense, but in the more abstracted concept of what do these things feel like.  To my surprise, it isn't all sunshine and buttercups.  Sometimes ground and home and place​ can be attained through courageous conversations and moving through difficulties.

Ground

So it was no surprise when this piece, a small paint-over created using the methods of Stan Kurth, decided to present an odd birdhouse and what I see to be a person moving through...something.  

In keeping with this month's practice theme of extreme limitation, this painting was created using the leftover paint on another painter's palette, along with some colored pencil and gesso.  I added to that the recommendation of  artist Carol Lee Monosson Eden to turn the painting 90 degrees with each additional layer in search of shapes.  Brilliant, Carol!  I thoroughly enjoyed discovering what was appearing with each layer and turn.

I'll leave you with this nugget of wisdom from artist Brian Rutenberg: "There must, MUST be joy."  Wishing you every joy in your creative endeavors today. :)