The first painting of 2023 - "Starting Anew" 9x12 abstract painting
I can’t believe that I am actually typing this out, but I just released my first original painting of 2023 and it feels surreal for so many reasons. One of which is I’m going about it in a completely new way. This may sound silly but for years now I’ve worked on creating a body of artwork that is of a similar theme and then I release it all together. It’s been fun to see the different themes and watch similarities of what is inspiring me rise to the surface again and again over the years.
This year though, I haven’t been able to shake this feeling that what I’ve been doing in the past isn’t right for this season. It’s strange to start to tune into yourself and business and realize they are both completely intertwined. My personal life will always weave it’s way into my artwork, it’s how I process and communicate best.
Needless to say I’ve been wrestling with WHY it’s been so hard for myself to complete or really even start a collection of new paintings. The conclusion I came to is one that I almost have to laugh at… the reality is I don’t fully understand yet why, but I do know I have to trust myself and the truest part of who I am is gently whispering that I need to do something different, to get out of the box I put myself in and start expanding and exploring.
So, this is my “jump into the deep end, just start painting,” actually if you were to take a peek at the studio you would see there are about a dozen half started “just start" paintings, but this is the one that felt good to my soul to finish and share.
So here we are….
Introducing the first original painting of 2013
“Starting Anew” — an original 9x12 abstract acrylic painting on unstretched canvas.
This painting is about self trust, about the many layers that build upon each other, the layers that are the process of becoming. Itss soft and bold movements and textures that began to intertwine and become a story worth sharing.
It’s about becoming the fullest most beautiful versions of ourselves, the ones that are hard to see during the deep hard work of growth and change. The quiet moments of reflection and hindsight, the sweetness of feeling the fullness our our humanity, the good, hard, sad and joyful… I keep telling my therapist that being human is hard, then we laugh.
I think this is my monument of sorts to mark this season of life and celebrate the process of living. The ebbs and flow of learning and unlearning, of being brave and uncomfortable.
