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Tuesday, February 18, 2014

from the vacumous traces of life, something else emerges

from the vacumous traces of life, something else emerges   150 x 70 cms   mixed media   2014


Laying on my yoga mat, deep in contemplation, the words appeared...

from the vacumous traces of life, something else emerges

There is a journey of pointing that begins to occur for me from the moment I accept a painting commission. There is a knowing or a resonance that arises within my awareness with each pointing.

My attention is drawn to words that are heard within and without,  images or scenes that appear in daily life, and particular colours that flash into vision. Together with inner visions, these pointings all begin to lay the foundations of contemplation for the painting. It was one of these moments that I heard the pointing... from the vacumous traces of life, something else emerges.

The weeks that led up to committing paint to canvas were somewhat fraught with doubts and fears about how to begin, along with a mix up from the canvas supplier.  I also remember the client saying she was going into retreat and I felt then that nothing would probably come until after this time.

So it was with some amusement when I had tried in vain to start the painting in early January only to cover most of this with my hands rubbing layers of pale yellow, green, grey and white onto a cream background. Feeling somewhat frustrated I flew off to Melbourne for my birthday deciding I would revisit it on my return.

On the afternoon of the 28th January I entered the studio again to be greeted by a canvas that was still in it's bare bones and I stood there wondering where to begin?
The phone range. It was the client. I picked up laughing, she returned my laughter saying... 'You rang?'  I plonked myself down at the studio doorway and we chatted for what seemed like hours until I felt the deep peace come over me. When I finished the call, I stood up, turned and picked up the brush and commenced. I painted for four hours straight, never feeling a doubt or concern, but moving with quiet confidence and knowing action. Over the next days the painting just kept evolving effortlessly and each layer and stage was clearly apparent in the moment it was needed.

The painting became the living demonstration of it's title.... Mx