Lilac Enchantment

If lilacs can bloom in October, certainly I can honor that by memorializing the occasion. Funny, I had started correcting “Lilac Enchantment” in the summer, maybe because I missed them blooming at their usual April appearance.

It was a watercolor, drawing, collage from 2010. I loved only parts of it, especially the feeling and celebration of the interface of garden, life and art. So, analyzing how to amplify the message prompted me to take the challenge of amending it with acrylics.

 

What bothered me was how chaotic it was, lacking focus of the main feature, the birds who fluttered into the garden, seemingly enchanted by the lilacs. Back then I wrote:

“Preparing for the Open Studio the other day my husband said that guests can take home art that could only be created in a sanctuary, and experience the Sanctuary. That was quite a realization for me. It put many things into perspective. I take for granted how imbued this land and studio is with all the treasures our senses can hold. It is all translated into art. “Live Sunwise” is about art in an expanded definition.  It is Transformative Art, one that strives for beauty in all areas with an unquenchable desire to create. It is Celebratory Art, one that supports slowing down enough to hear the small prompts within.”

I began by painting a warm white over much of the territory.

Since I had a bouquet of lilacs in front of me, I painted them and combined Quinacridone Magenta and Light Ultramarine Blue to create the feeling of spring softness and fragrance.

By defining the three universal structures around the birds, they have a space of their own; squares for the mockingbird and bluebird, triangle for the robin and circle for the flicker.

This is the little Robin nesting in the Lilac bush as you entered the garden from the driveway. I felt so trustworthy that she would build her nest within arm’s reach of the path. Someone transcribed Robin song, which I collaged.

 

See the subtleties in “Lilac enchantment” in person soon at the 16th Annual Autumn Open Studio.