Can't Mask Feelings When It Comes to Art

Yesterday I went back to one of my absolute new FAVORITE cafes, Kopi Cafe, to pick up some Buddha relics to use in future paintings and some coffee - NOTHING ELSE. I was on a mission and sticking to most of it. I have been there three times since artist  Anne Leuck Feldhaus introduced me a couple weeks ago. They have a wonderful boutique in the back and delicious everything else in the front. 

I picked up what I needed (along with a few other wonderful found things to use, :), and proceeded to sit down with my coffee. It was early and practically had the cafe to myself. As soon as I did, I "happened" to look up and behind and saw this beautiful wood carved mask amongst some other masks:

I kept staring at it and the more I did, the more this one said TAKE ME HOME with you. Was it because I wasn't wearing any make-up and thought I needed it?  There is prosperity carved in the middle of his forehead. The price was very reasonable, it was compatible with some of my other things, and I liked that it was hand carved, natural and the only one.  It was not made from a mold. I can rationalize and justify anything.

Oh, I bought it and he is in my home waiting to be hung. Twenty four hours later, I have no buyers remorse, no guilt, like I sometimes do with other things. I value and appreciate art. Feeds my soul and I don't have to feed his. Just dust occassionally.

There is a reason I intentionally and deliberately stay out of Anti-Cruelty Society and dog shelters. Can you imagine? I know better right now.

Now back to my to-do list and I'm sticking to it. Yeah, right.

Durga & Me

Throughout the entire "process" of creating my wall art, I had subconsciously been hoping that something could/would emerge to find its way into a "product line" and have some marketability.  I am enjoying all the new work that I am currently producing, which feels terrific. All the while feeling the pressure of my thinking-business helmet weighing on me. Ouch. I want to create in order to be a full fledged business again. 

Looking at my inspirational body of work thus far, I believe I found a start- Mantra Art. Using Hindu deities, Buddhas, and any symbols/figures I can find, along with healing stones such as rose quartz, moss agate, crystals, and an accompanying mantra, you have a feel good and healing piece of inspirational art. My latest features the Hindu goddess Durga, with sodalite which promotes spiritual harmony and is a source of artistic inspiration.

Durga is the mother of the universe and is believed to be the power behind the work of creation, preservation and destruction of the world. Hindus believe she protects her devotees from the evils of the world and at the same time removes their miseries.

Especially from a photographic perspective. The photos of these paintings, pardon my Hindi, truly truly suck, which is why all my work is being professionally shot next week. I'm sharing my present misery with you. Durga to the rescue. These are not the final versions either. I tweaked this painting and Lakshmi again after seeing how they came across. That is a process I will continue.

Lakshmi & Me

 

When I start a painting, or any new creation, I rarely have a clear plan or design. Just a blank canvas staring back saying DO SOMETHING with me. I rely on some spontaneity, and/or request some help from a Muse or a symbolic deity when I need help to achieve a goal. This is probably the one thing that I do in my life that truly keeps me present. I take that back. There's yoga.

Recently I requested and utilized some symbolic energy from a resin figure I bought of the Hindu deity Lakshmi. She is the goddess of wealth, prosperity (both material and spiritual), light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage, AND the embodiment of beauty, grace, and charm. Is that too much ask?

I started painting on my 8"x8" cradled wood canvas, incorporating an earlier unsold painting. I'm presently in the process in re-purposing. You can get DO OVERS in art.

I was off to a fairly decent start, so I thought.

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As I continued, I was liking it less and less. With some more obsessive work, painting the recycled canvas again and adding some magenta flowers, I decided to end on this note:

 Copyright 2012 Marilyn Grad

Next stop, gathering up all my new creations to get professionally shot and posted on my website.  Lakshmi, I'm depending on you. I have art to market and sell.