The wonder of smallness

ecstasy

ink and metallic powder

on paper

Each day is filled with precious little gifts, 

if only we take the time to breathe in, 

and in that breath, 

to see.

One sunny, warm day, while walking my dogs, Max and Mollie, a dragonfly appeared inches from my eyes. "Oh, how wonderful!"

And I walked along in amazement as that beautifully, iridescent, small dragonfly kept me company all the way to my driveway, then off she flew.

 But not before giving me the joy of her diamond blue coat, flashing the sunny rays, shimmering along as we traveled together for a sparse space in time.

Silently, we spoke the language of oneness and she taught me the miracle in the mundane. 

So often we wait for those BIG moments - thunderous, earthshaking events and we miss the small wonders that show themselves to us every moment of every day. How sad, to present your beauty, only to be ignored in the rush to get to the next thing.

Eyes wide open

ears unplugged

mouth generously silent

Look around and see the wonder of smallness - they are the giants that feed our souls. 

A little bit of midnight fiction

Reconciliation
30 x 24 inches
Acrylic on canvas

He was a big man

but only in smoke

so he lived in dreams -

those dark pools of longing.

Fear is a funny, wicked thing -

its venom, paralysis

its voice, the ego.

Small when faced,
a giant monster when not. 

Do you understand abstract art?

Genie

22 x 17 inches

mixed media on paper

I was having lunch with a dear friend and fellow artist, yesterday, and at one point of the conversation she asked, 

"do you understand abstract art?"

Her choice of expression is realism, primarily botanical. I am always amazed by the tower of her talent and the amount of patience she has for finite detail. The results are breathtaking. 

For instance, she once showed me a delicate pencil drawing of a milk weed pod, exploding with its milk weed pollen. It was so softly beautiful and the detail was stunning; I could feel the breeze blowing the pollen across the page. 

I tend to throw the paint at the canvas, letting gravity, and my hand, direct its flow.  

You are lost the instant you know what the result will be.

Cubist sculptor and painter, Juan Gris,

I never really thought about understanding abstract art, so my friend's question led to an interesting conversation and another question;

 Are we supposed to understand it? or just feel it?

Abstract art comes from the inside, out; realism, from the outside, in. I believe, when you look at abstract art you see it with your soul and feel it in your heart. It either moves you, or not. So in that respect, yes, I do understand abstract art.