Today I feel moved to start writing about veil painting -- the process; the spirit; the experience of it. But I won't do it all in one sitting, of course. I'll go with the flow, like the paintings themselves, and see where we end up.
For the past several years I've been painting in the office upstairs -- lots of windows and light. But recently, feeling the need to pursue my creativity away from the business of life, I have moved my easel, and writing desk, into our bright, finished basement. Decorated in neutral tones it has everything I need in creature comforts to allow me to create to my heart's content.
The bar has a sink and a counter where I can wash my brushes and mix paints. There's a washroom so I don't have to run all the way upstairs ;-) and a fireplace for when it gets a bit chilly. It's a pleasant setting -- not perfect because it's in the basement -- but it's bright and clean and quiet and with its open and expansive floor plan allows my two collies to wrestle with each other when they feel the urge. With fur flying everywhere and playful growling as they throw each other to the floor I am always made to smile. They always seen to know when I need lightening up, too.
From my writing desk, where I now sit, I can look over to my right and about 12 feet away is an easel with my newest veil painting sitting on it. It is a work in progress, started a couple of weeks ago once I had feel for this new space in which I work.
About 10 feet beyond that is my drafting table upon which sits my most recently completed painting in hues of green. It remains nameless. Every time I look at it it says something different to me. Some paintings finish with an obvious motif. This one is a little more subtle. However I've always had the sense that it relates to horses (no big surprise there!) Today I see a rider on a horse struggling to keep her left elbow bent and to her side so her horse can feel a consistent and sympathetic contact. As this is one of my issues while I riding my own horse, it is not a complete surprise that this image would show up in the painting. And, in fact, it is a pleasant visual reminder that I can carry into the riding ring with me.
If you were to look at this painting however, I doubt you would see this image -- at least I'd be surprised if you did. What each person sees in these beautiful paintings is very personal. You could point out to me something that you see and be adamant it's there but I might never see it, even though I am the artist. Our vision is different. I will post this painting on my website soon. In the meantime, at the top of this blog is an example of another painting. Study it for a moment and let me know what you see. I'll offer my own vision of it in my next time.
Veil paintings are ethereal and full of mystery. That's one of the reasons I love creating them so much. I hope as this blog unveils I will be able to help you gain an appreciation of their beauty and intimacy, and that their mystery will unfold for you in a way that's meaningful and personally satisfying.
Next time we'll begin looking at the process itself -- or not. We'll see how the spirit moves me.
Cheerz!
Dorothy :-)
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