Evolution of a painting
Critical Ritual
Oil pastel and acrylic on archival watercolor paper
44.5" x84”
Critical Ritual
Oil pastel and acrylic on archival watercolor paper
44.5" x84”
The layers speak to the complexity of our time, the political and ecological choices stacking up, and the ways that we can maintain our own personal critical rituals to survive and perhaps thrive. Red words began the painting: “No word for time “ and “CRITICAL RITUAL." My mind is often occupied by the tyranny of the day and I found myself creating a golden and purple US flag - first in an outpouring of words, and then in painted stripes. It was soon buried under layers of paint that grew into mountains. They are memory keepers. And despite the cruel realities of human history, the mountains remind us of beauty, scale, and relative stability.
The mountains hold history, of our magnificent planet, of our human actions. The sky was heavily influenced by recent experiences of the Northern Lights and the total solar eclipse in 2024. These phenomena were both unexpected delights and ominous feeling gifts.
Looking back at this work, and the layers, I have a tremendous sense of gratitude toward the earth and the ancient landforms, especially mountains. I find them endlessly beautiful and powerful. I still gasp a little when I'm traveling my daily route to work and the ridgetops and mountains come into view. Their grounded presence is a comfort.
The mountains hold history, of our magnificent planet, of our human actions. The sky was heavily influenced by recent experiences of the Northern Lights and the total solar eclipse in 2024. These phenomena were both unexpected delights and ominous feeling gifts.
Looking back at this work, and the layers, I have a tremendous sense of gratitude toward the earth and the ancient landforms, especially mountains. I find them endlessly beautiful and powerful. I still gasp a little when I'm traveling my daily route to work and the ridgetops and mountains come into view. Their grounded presence is a comfort.
