Art Heals

My own version of therapy: I took out my rage against the forces of nature a few days ago on two perfectly harmless canvases. In my opinion, the paintings on them were mediocre -- but I could have sold them or given them away to someone who might have enjoyed them. No matter...they were in the cross hairs of my whatever...

So, with brush, paint and palette knives I destroyed two very innocent paintings that had never done anyone any wrong. On top of the abstract images I plastered paint and it soothed my psyche.

Today, I went back, in somewhat of a better place. Remarkably, I found that I wasn't doing damage,
maybe even improving the images a bit. I'll share them here -- only to point to a couple of works in progress that have healing powers.



Fireworks, Oil on Canvas, 12"x12"

                                                        
                                         "Hidden Meanings," Oil on Canvas, 24"x24"

 

A section of "Hidden Meanings"

 

Another section of "Hidden Meanings"

 

And still another section of "Hidden Meanings"

 

I highly recommend the process!

The Soothing Nature of Art

When everything goes kaflooey, there is nothing taking an art escape. WCAGA had a Draw 4 Days event at TULA. They rented a gallery and we had the option of taking a space and making whatever struck our fancy.

I brought some paper that I had bouncing around for years -- had never done anything with it, so it wouldn't be a loss if I just tossed it when it was all over. Threw a pile of pencils and markers into a tote bag and off I went. Oh, also took a Vanity Fair Magazine, scissors and glue. The idea of doing some collage occurred to me...a sweet throwback to kindergarten.

It turned out that it was as soothing and undemanding as a preschool class. I took my place and let the lines and  wisecracks flow. Odd pieces of photos filled in the cracks. And so it goes. Didn't try for fine art, didn't care. It astonished me that people seemed to find these things clever and interesting. What do you think?



 

Whoa! Who told you that you could go there?

Where did I leave that thing?

So tired of same old, same old.

 

 

Tall and True...Give Me Some.

Ghosts? Hell, no! Those are the Neighbors.
Hello! Voices of friends can be heard everywhere.

Lord have mercy!
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
"Did you hear what happened to Ahab?"

Take me home, Charlie! Now!
God, what I have seen in my lifetime!
Whew! I AM getting ahead of myself!