The way I paint

Every painter has a different method, I am sure. In point form I:
- have a subject matter (always kind of important! lol)
- I then (sometimes) take pictures of the person who is going to be in the painting, or I look for a good picture of someone in a book or magazine (side note: in the painting "Solar Plexus Chakra" I used my daughter Danielle as the woman in the painting and also a large ball of wool for the sphere. Use what you can to mimic your subjects, if need be).
- decide on whether it will be painted on a canvas or a different support
- size is very important....especially if you don't want to be working on it for months!!
- obviously, I always choose acrylic paint as my medium. (Years ago it was coloured pencil...and even more years ago it was oil paint).
- set up your palette, table, water, paint colours (I usually use a colour wheel to help me decide).
- always have a good supply of different size brushes (you tend to collect over the months!)

I then start to paint. I will either have an idea in my head as to what I want to do with the painting, or I just start to put paint on the canvas. It's always scary looking at that blank white canvas. Better to have some paint on it so it looks like you have started. Even if this is just fooling yourself, it does help you to get moving on it. These paintings that I have up on my blog took a variety of time. The Root Chakra took 50 hours, the Sacral Chakra took 40 and the Solar Plexus Chakra took 35. I am hoping that the one I am working on now takes much less time as I am wanting to do four paintings in the next four weeks! Yikes! lol I am sure it will be quite the challenge!!

More on my painting that I am working on now in my next posting.

Solar Plexus Chakra

The Solar Plexus Chakra is the center of personal identity. It rules all aspects of our personality and ego, especially our sense of self-worth and esteem. Ultimately, it helps us choose what and who are for our highest good.

The location of this chakra is directly below the sternum and over the stomach. The symbolic shape is a globe and the colour for this chakra is yellow.

The woman in the painting has chosen a sphere, which is the symbol for her inner being. We can choose one or many spheres throughout the stages of our life.

The details for this painting: size is 15" by 30" and is painted with acrylics. It has various papers included to add texture.

"Sacral Chakra"

This is the second installment of my Chakra painting series. The Sacral Chakra is situated two inches below the navel and two inches into the pelvis. The qualities that define the second chakra: well-being, sexuality, sensuality, pleasure and abundance. The life issues are to know that who you are and what you do are enough; to have enough rest, food, exercise, fun and money. To not link self-worth with what you do or have; to create healthy boundaries to protect your vital life force.

The Sacral chakra asks the question: How are you relating to the world around you? The birth of relationships, creativity, and life defines how one is relating with their world. The sacral chakra's element is water and it's symbol is a pyramid. I used these symbols to bring forth feelings of tranquility, strength, and spiritual connectedness. The ocean is symbolic for the creation of life, as all life begins with water, and the sand and seashell texture is symbolic for the imperfect ways in which we relate with our world. A common theme throughout my artwork is that imperfections are beautiful, and that we are connected through our diversity.

Root Chakra

The Root Chakra anchors itself to the earth when we are patient, resourceful and hopeful about our lives. Remaining positive and open to possibilities strengthens the Root Chakra and allows for stability and inner strength. Anchoring our spirit in reality is the quality of this chakra.

The location of this Chakra is at the base of the spine. The symbolic shape is a large cube and the colour is red. I have placed the woman in a yoga pose as it is an activity that is grounding, physical and demands presence.

Details about this painting: size is 22" by 30", painted with acrylics and has added papers and glass grit for texture.

Chakra Paintings

I am going to be in the Whyte Avenue Art Walk that is in July in my home town of Edmonton. I wrote out an artist statement and will include that here. I am painting Chakras, Mandalas and the like for the Art Walk. Here are the descriptions:

Chakras: The chakras are spiritual and psychic energy centers in the human body, visualized as wheels or lotuses. They play a large role in gaining spiritual awareness and in physical and mental health.

Mandalas: The mandala represents the process of assimilating important elements in life that are often still unconscious although almost at the surface of the awareness. The mandala is an expression of the microcosm that plays itself out inside a person. It discloses itself in shapes, symbols, and colours, and in their combined context. The mandala works like a focal point, like a lens that is focused on what is inside, reflecting whatever is playing itself out in the psyche at a certain point. In doing so, the mandala is a reflection of the soul.

My artist statement: Along with acrylic paints, I incorporate textural imperfections as a metaphor to honor the beauty in the scars of our lives. My style is based on symbolism and is expressed through abstract and figurative compositions. At the moment my work is focusing on emotional healing and spirituality.

Will close off this post and will next upload the first of the series: "Root Chakra".