Still Life, Do you see what I see?
My husband used to say on a regular basis, “When is our life going to calm down?”
The answer to that question is that it is not going to calm down, or if it does we will be sad that it is over and miss the rollercoaster ride that used to be.
My first love in terms of subject matter for a painting is and always has been the human figure. You may notice that there are not any discernable human forms in this current body of work. It is precisely because my life is not still or even slow that I am instead doing still life painting.
I am searching for the “still” moments in my life, a pause, a chance to take a breath and unwind. My goal is not necessarily to depict objects, but rather to evoke a feeling of peace, beauty and calm. I have always been keenly aware of those golden moments when time stands still and all is right with the world. They can happen anytime if we are open to them, even in the midst of chaos. As a visual person it is usually an image or a color that triggers these moments for me. I think that is why I have gravitated towards still life during this time. It is in an effort to still my life for just a moment.
In asking the question “Do you see what I see,” I am asking the viewer to find that moment of peace and also to find the abstract in the image or the image in the abstract.
What do you think? I would love feedback on this.
Love,
Gail
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I think this is a great statement & very thought provoking. I think art has so many "layers" and different pieces can mean different things to us at different times in our lives. Likewise, 2 people can look at the same painting and see something totally different.
ReplyDeleteI also really like your idea of finding peace, calmness and simplicity. Send me some of that, would ya? :)
I suppose you find that calmness in a finished work. At least that is what happens to me. All can be chaos, but in that final moment of completion when you know what you are working on is done... that brings a sense of serenity, even if it is just for a moment. (-:
ReplyDeleteYour art is fantastic!
Cheers!
Shelley