Dream Seed
Dream Seed provided a key turning point in the evolution of my painting style.
The paintings of 2024’s series ,The Mountains We Climb, are all based on very personal experiences…my story.. specifically from the sketchbooks of 2020-2021, experiences of lock down and extended stay in New Zealand. The works are figurative with elements of abstracted space.
As I begin painting in 2025, I continued the in the same manner - working pretty directly from my observational sketches. I have a few paintings going at the same time. I keep one free from thought- a place to splash color on, not tied to a particular drawing or composition.
Sometimes things appear without your supervision or instruction and beyond your own imagination. As I labored over the “thought out” compositions, that’s just what happened on my “free” canvas, a wholly unique space emerges - complete with its own timeline and topography, something that felt both natural and unfamiliar. Decay begets germination; there are places of hazard and also of respite throughout.
I had created my next step. I was in the unusual situation of studying my own work for clues on how to move myself forward. Dream Seed was titled for good reason!
This painting is the catalyst for ways to expand my visual language beyond observational symbols and to include universal aspects of experiencing our world: moving through natural spaces, feeling the elements.
My painting process changed - no longer tied to a particular sketch. Each work began with spontaneous initial marks. The composition was based on movement followed by color.
From Dream Seed came a whole new body of work! The timing was integral-
I had committed to two separate solo shows. I was not only starting at square one, I had a major body of work to complete. I had committed to both the new ideas of Dream Seed and filling the walls of two galleries with paintings yet to be painted.
Following Dream Seed came Flourish, Our Mantra and Hero’s Journey. Along with a number of small pieces and experiments, the Lightscapes series was born! The solo exhibits: Revelations in the Radiant World and Invocations of Joy were instant karma of Dream Seed at work!