Estuaries: on the Edge This earth is our connection to The Creator. I am inspired by the raw landscape, painted on protected land for thirty years, en plein air and from memory. Estuaries have become the principle subject of my paintings. They are the place where land and sea meet, where salt and fresh water come together ~ symbolic of ourselves and Creator.

Creating Harmony Beyond vision, painting is a function of all the senses. When painting on location I allow myself to become part of the landscape, kicking off my shoes and melting into the sand. As the light changes, I mix colors to match. In the process, my own wavelengths come into harmony with the earth. I feel rested, rejuvenated and restored: glowing with The Light. Working in the studio, the same thread of creative energy comes through my heart with similar affect.

The Challenge My paintings are about the relationship between earth and sky. Earth represents me; sky, The Creator. On each canvas I play with the four elements; earth, air, fire and water (spark & flow) … having a ‘conversation’ with The Creator in me. Sensing wavelengths of color and light, each brush stroke is as if The Creator is saying to me, “How ‘bout this? How does this feel?” Each suggestion is a mirror of Self which I can choose to adopt as my own or not.

Accepting the Gift I often describe the exercise of painting as flexing my ‘Faith’ muscle. I receive each stroke of inspiration from The Source as a gift; with the challenge of accepting it as given. Many cause me to pause my human instinct to be the judge. Erase, paint over, change?  Each pause is a flex of my faith, stretching me beyond what was previously possible … to see myself with compassion and love.  Each is an experience humility, honor and passion. Each brush stroke brings me one wave closer to The Creator.

Stewards of Compassion The active principle in my work is that we as humans belong to the earth. We are part of it. It does not belong to us. It grounds us here. Without it, our physical world does not exist. We are stewards here, caretakers of The Creator’s world. When we do right by the earth, we honor all Creation including our Selves.

See my collection: Earth, Sky & Water

Photo: Breathless, oil on canvas, 36″ x 36″
Waiting for Spring, pillow painting, 14″ x 27″