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Ground

1/30/2020

10 Comments

 
​"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.
Picture
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. :)
10 Comments
Dotty Seiter link
1/30/2020 12:19:35 pm

sweet synchronicity, Jen!

These words touching precisely on my experience today:
"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."

Sha-zam.

Yup.

And the dimensionality of "Ground": holy moly!

Reply
jen
1/30/2020 12:25:02 pm

Dotty! Synchronicity! Sha-zam! You, courageous conversationalist, are an inspiration to me.

Dimensionality - oooh! Thank you. The number of layers and the number of times I turned this piece are key to that, I think.

Reply
brian smith
1/30/2020 12:40:40 pm

I love this piece!!
... I also love Dotty's 'yup'

Ground is indeed necessary as are courageous conversations.

Your work and your blog never fail to delight me, always on point.
It was amazing to watch this piece come to life, I will not soon lose these lessons you pour out for all to see.
Thank you Jen!

Reply
jen
1/30/2020 02:03:38 pm

Brian!!!! Thank you for your encouragement and support sweet man. And for providing the leftover paint. xo

Reply
Carolyn L
1/30/2020 03:22:22 pm

Yup! Like this, and buttercups are just around the corner into spring. Here, some yards are already boasting blooms, but mine are still shoots from the ground. The days are getting longer and soon the birds will be roosting in that house. Grounded....after the harsher, rainy days.

What really intrigued me about this piece is the gaping hole in the traveler's face! What hard conversations is behind that hole waiting to be revealed so that it is complete? Mmmmmm

Reply
jen
1/30/2020 03:37:17 pm

Carolyn!!!! "Grounded...after the harsher, rainy days." OMG love that.

That hole - and the thought that conversations will complete it. You taught me something about this piece! Thank you. xo

Reply
Carl Stoveland
1/31/2020 10:52:14 am

I saw a metaphor for the little free library and the journey books take you on. :-) powerful painting no matter what you see in it.

Carl

Reply
jen
1/31/2020 11:19:00 am

Carl! OMG! Yes! The LFL! Brilliant! Now I want to paint another library.......:)

Reply
Carol Edan link
2/1/2020 01:40:20 am

To be able to fly and be grounded, what a feat! Fascinated with the bird house. In the small thumb suddenly saw a cat, and then closer up a small bird in its head.
Thanks for mention! Keep turning.!

Reply
jen
2/1/2020 02:36:25 pm

Carol! The things you see! Holy cow!

And thank you for the suggestion....SO fun. I will keep turning!

Reply



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Here's the blue wild, where
tiny dreamers ride beasts, speak
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(by poet Mary W. Cox)
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  • Home
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