50th Year as an Artist, 1974-1976

As previously mentioned, synchronicity was ever-present on my mind, due in large part to the tremendous inspiration I derived from learning about symbols and dream study from Carl Jung. If I have any regrets about parting with an art work it is about this drawing shown below. All I have is this vague photo shot through the glazing of the frame. I thought the way his eyeglasses were poised on his forehead so clearly symbolized his appreciation of intuition. This is an early example of how I began to find shapes within a representational form, like the bird in his lower right eye, the bird in flight shape of his mouth and the triangle around his left eye..

The crescent shape symbolized the state of receptivity, stars, dreaming at night.

The painting below was a turning point for me, as I was able to symbolize myself rising above the waters of sadness. Also, I have to laugh as I acknowledge I’m lucky to have survived my ignorant concocting of Rembrandt’s Black Oil for the medium added to the pigments, cooking white lead with linseed oil. At least I guessed that was best done outside.

There must be about 100 drawings from this time, draw, draw, draw, I couldn’t stop. The spiral continues to be a powerful talismanic image representing aspiration. The experience of the journey is the destination.

It knocks me out that I am still drawing blue spheres. Years after I started drawing them I started seeing them appear for a fleeting moment and  I came to realize they represent the presence of spirit. Some of my grandfather’s laid paper was used for special commissions.

 

Ironically, I made a living from my art. That’s when being an artist was unusual (smart people knew to avoid the calling), many people were buying art because it was not accessible for free (Instagram), and the economy was more affluent.

 

 

 

 

 

I adore the watercolor, drawing below. There are several components that I began then that are consistent with my symbolic pallet today: the predominance of water and air as my most identifying elements (blues and greens!), the stairway to the above realms – call it heaven, the upper world, that which I aspire to, travel, especially by boat. Little did I guess this was prophetically steering me towards my greatest accomplishment: giving birth and becoming a mother.