 "Forest" image size 9" x 6" on 11 x 14 paper  "Sunset" Image size 6" x 9" on 11x14 paper  "Under water" image size 9" x 6" on 11x14 paper  "Looks like starry night" image size 9" x 6" on 11x14 paper Acrylic and ink on paper
I start with abstraction and work to find the order in the chaos I added some trees and made something beautiful a space to explore
0 Comments
Jamie and I went to Italy together back in February of 2014. A girls trip. I fell in love with a city for the first time on that trip. I have so many wonderful memories of that trip the best pasta I have ever had, art is “so smoothy”, I got to row a boat down the grand canal, gelato daily, works of art in real life that were bigger… and smaller than I expected, street art, amazing cooking class, a vineyard where I want to retire… , Vatican City and the hall of maps, so much more... But one memory from that trip changed me. Jamie and I decided to get up before the sun and take photos. We bundled up, cameras in hand and went to Piazza San Marco to take photos of the gondolas. The first hints of light were in the air, but we arrived before the sun. The square was still asleep. The only people out were on their way to something. I was lost in my own little world of trying to capture the feeling of the morning, The mist in the air, the boats swaying in the water, The slow yawn of the city as it stretched and reached out to begin the day. Slowly rubbing sleep out of its eyes. I was taking photos of a couple of signs above a door One said “Change” and the other “Travel” I was thinking about how much Travel and Change are aligned. Neither sign photographed well. But it was at this moment, A man walked by and said something in Italian. I don’t speak this beautiful language and wish that I did and wish that I could play back his exact Italian. I only knew it wasn’t good morning… I looked at him and smiled in the usual “I have no idea what you said but thank you.” He saw I had no idea what he said… he seemed to laughing and shaking his head for my odd choice of photo. But he repeated in English with a thick Italian Accent “Ah Beautiful Grunge.” And tipped his hat and kept walking on his way. That was a beautiful present moment. That moment is like a little morsel of really good dark chocolate. Rich, buttery, bitter and gone quickly but lingers. It was this unknown Italian man who gave me words around exactly what Venice is and it seems so much of all of life. Beautiful Grunge. Actually much of Europe is filled with Beautiful Grunge. The art that I make these days Is inspired by this idea of “beautiful grunge” “Beautiful Grunge” is found in so many things. I also know it to be Wabi Sabi - finding beauty in the imperfections. If you live this life long enough the grunge and imperfections will get you And it sure is beautiful. "if you look at it with the right eyes...." (another gem from a trip) Travel and Change. I had no idea how much that moment would change me. That is the moment that I had words to describe it. To the man walking by That early morning Thank you For your wisdom and words And for sharing them with me. I am forever changed by that travel moment.  Travel will Change you  |