I've been revisiting an old piece that I was working on for a friend, a commission that is frankly very overdue. There are many things that have an ebb and flow to them, and when it comes to doing work for friends and people I care about, it can lead to some paralysis, Such has been the case with this particular piece, which has left me over a year since it's request. This friend of mine has had some really tough experiences and losses over the last six months or so and I haven't seen her since early in 2022. It breaks my heart when I think about how incredible her life has been and all the topsy-turvy adventures and expereinces that she has endured. I am incredibly lucky to have her in my life and she wanted to have artwork to remind her of her purpose and work as a lawyer when times are tough. It's an honor to have her think I can even deliver on such a request. How am I to encapsulate her power of pererverence, resilience, drive, creativity, and sense of wonder?!
You may have heard of writer's block or artist block type of things, and this happens to us all at some point with whatever skills we may have. I did a small work-up of the piece which I am using as a reference, but it just doesn't feel like enough. Regardless, I decided I would give it my attention again and try to be brave and bulldoze through the block--like she would. Getting a chance to unwind a little through the Thanksgiving weekend. I focused my thoughts and feelings on my friend to overcome some of the challenges that have kept me from moving forward. I decided to start with her face, which of course made me miss her terribly. However, I really wanted to bring her to the forefront with her unique look--despite not having seen her in almost two years. Luckily, I have a few photos to refer to. I worked through some of the random people's faces in the jury box--which started to become less random and have more significance. This allowed me to let some creative thoughts simmer on the rest of the piece's problems, too. She has collected donkey figurines over the years, too. This will need donkeys. She adopted a cat from Mexico. There will be a cat. I began to add items to scales that I began to sketch into her left hand. Things of joy, home, family, love on one side. The other side, things of greed and division--money, property, drugs, etc. I thought of my friend. All of the pure joy that she could have doing things that were risky and daring when we were kids. Her fearlessness and ability to predict what would later be deemd "lucky girl" thought manifestation. She always bet on herself and her future--something you don't find often.
How to depict her strength and power? Perhaps a different telling through colors and different media is the way. I hope to experiment with some new techniques using this kind of Strathmore multi-media paper. I'd really like to try bringing in some thread and sewing different parts (a significant part of her connection with her grandmother). I will experiment with marker, watercolor, and colored pencil too. So, stay tuned for the process as I move through this piece!
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