To The Realm of Stars

“I want to feel both the beauty and the pain of the age we are living in. I want to survive my life without becoming numb. I want to speak and comprehend words of wounding without having these words become the landscape where I dwell. I want to possess a light touch that can elevate darkness to the realm of stars.”- Terry Tempest Williams To The Realms of Stars, mixed media, 24x24 inches on cradled birch board Oh gracious, this painting has been a journey but I am almost finished. So many failed paintings underneath. So much scraping and covering and scraping and covering again. But if that hadn't happened there wouldn't be the yummy layers that appeared as if by magic. I still have to paint the sides and I'm contemplating a bit more in the sky, maybe more stars. It's been in progress for a while but I had a bit of time this weekend to walk in nature and think and daydream and that made a huge difference once I stepped foot into the art room yesterday. And (this surprises me) I am feeling a blog post coming on as there is so much more I want to say about this piece. But errands are calling...hopefully there will be time for writing and finishing this up tonight. xoxo

Last night it was raining and if you know me well, you know this is my absolute favorite time to hide away and create/paint/make things. I was in the art room, working on a piece, a horse and rider, but was waiting on the next nudge from the muse. So, I thought while I wait I will work on another as there are many (too many-I'd be embarrassed to say how many) unfinished pieces propped here and there. I reached for a large wooden panel I'd started months ago. There was an image of the Roanoke Star and the words "full of love and light" scratched over and over, a mantra, into a layer of heavily applied gesso. I lost myself in song. Aurora's Runaway was on repeat. Loud. "I was dancing in the rain and I felt alive and I can't complain....take me home where I belong." Her voice is so freakin magical. And before I knew it the board was covered with bits of color representing our experiences along life's journey and the image of the star was buried. The marks in the white paint at the top were divine messages and intuition that guides. The circles at the bottom, stepping stones. The orange, a meandering path. The red was home, the heart. And through it all I love that the words "full of love and light" can still be seen in some spots and felt. I love the texture and the bumpy parts. Where I Belong- 24x24 inches-acrylic, graphite, oil sticks, water soluble crayons Sides are painted and it is ready to hang. Message me if interested. xoxo

So much wisdom already this morning at the hospital. 

Me: Do you wanna do some art with me today? We can paint. I have watercolors.

8 year old boy: I know about art. I know a lot about it. I paint my feelings. It's important.

Me: :)

Starting Over

"Sending Love"

(prints available-send a message if interested) 

This is a wonderful (and sometimes scary) new chapter in my life. I've gone from being a stay at home, homeschooling mom to learning how to support myself and my daughter with my art. I want/need to document this. Maybe I can meet others also seeking the same and we can inspire one another. I could have stayed with my wordpress blog but a blank canvas seemed more fitting. I'm also cutting as many corners these days as possible and blogger is free. I'll be ending my tricia-scot.com soon. My stack of business cards has dwindled to just a few so this is a good time to start over. I'm pulling inward, cleaning house, and simplifying my life in every way. 

The above is my latest piece. 

I first restored the image of the girl. I knew what I wanted to create. I could see it in my mind but the hand resting on the chair was all wrong. I used another hand and box from an image I'd taken of my daughter. It took quite a bit of work to blend in and make it look natural. I had to draw in the bottom of the box. I then added the rug layer, the background layer, the constellations and hummingbird all in separate layers. 

I chose the constellation of the fox catching the unsuspecting goose to represent hurt and pain, corruption. She's releasing LOVE into her surroundings, despite the pain, even more so because of the hurt, opening up and sharing her heart. It is the only thing she feels she has control of, in a time that seems so uncertain. Because a sweet friend gave me that advice this evening when the news of the world and my own "stuff" was more weighty than I could manage. A thank you to Olivia for being the left hand model. The box is an old one that was made a grandfather of hers once upon a time.