Pulled Sweetly Into the Shimmer of Things

Pulled Sweetly Into the Shimmer of Things

"Pulled Sweetly Into the Shimmer of Things" - mixed media on cradled aquabord, 24 x 18 x 1.5.  NFS

Hello, 2020!  Welcome new year...it is lovely to meet you. :)

So let's begin with a self portrait of sorts.  Myself and the person who makes me feel most like, well, myself.  Like my best self.  

If we look at anything - a flower; a star; a spoon - long enough and completely enough, it gives way to a pulse of what matters that we can't do without.  For it is the effort to be so present that lets us be who we are and stay connected. - Mark Nepo, The Exquisite Risk.

Isn't that the goal, really?  To be who we are and stay connected.  To find people, places and callings that allow us to be pulled sweetly into the shimmer of things (Nepo) and then bask in the glow of that shimmer. 

It is incredibly challenging to find that shimmer in the modern world of multitasking, information overload and over stimulation (is your phone pinging as you read this?)  And even more so with others, who are likely also distracted and perhaps overwrought.  But if you can slow your roll to a very lazy turtle's pace and be very present - you just might find yourself.  Add to that another sloth-paced and very present human and you just might discover a pulse of oh wow what have we here  that reveals what matters.  And forms a connection - something shimmery and worth holding reverently in your hands.  And also worth capturing in a portrait. 

About the painting:  a watercolor underpainting with a gazillion layers of acrylic, acrylic mixed with gesso and acrylic mixed with matte medium.  Liberal use of a sprayer bottle, squeegee and various scrapers.  Add a dollop of humor (the only way I can paint any version of myself) and the willingness to turn it upside down, cover THE ENTIRE PIECE in pink florescent paint and then spritz and scrape most of it off.  Gratitude to brian for allowing me to post it. :)