The way imagination happens…and, a new painting
15″ x 30″ mixed media collage.
Here are some up-close shots.
***
Of course, the good ideas always hit at the least convenient times: in the shower maybe, when I’m out on a run, or just drifting off to sleep—any place far from pen and paper. I know why this happens. My mind will start to dislocate then, slipping out of the present and into the luminous space between what is real and what is imagined.
Then, images like bright sun spots start to dance across my internal page. Sometimes I’ll see an entire picture, as though the bulb on a slide projector were suddenly flipped on and the scene dances towards me on the particles of light. Other times I get only a slight inkling. A whisper of theme or color, wending it’s way into the chinks of my busy mind, catching my attention the way the tiny rainbows do, that scatter out about a café, refracting light from the diamond on a lady’s finger as she raises her cup to sip café au lait.
For days after I get an idea, I’ll carry it around in my mind like a pocket full of sea glass, carelessly fingering each smooth shard a hundred times. Then in an evening after the house is quiet and my baby is asleep, I’ll pick out a canvas, and begin, smudging the page with dark blues or pale ochres and white. I cannot remember a time when I didn’t know the colors of the rainbow—nor can I remember not knowing how colors blend: my young fingers holding stubby beeswax crayons already understood that bright yellow mixed with emerald would make the chartreuse hue perfect for drawing new foliage.
Color always comes first, for me, followed by shape and the juxtaposition of realistic sketches and collage. It is rare that I am able to put into words what I will paint before I do. Even when I think I know exactly what I want to draw, I also know it will be different from what I’ve imagined when I’m through. This is the secret I am always learning: painting is about the unexpected, the crazy, haphazard, willy-nilly, process of imagination, and it cannot be defined or controlled.
Each time I come to the canvass with my brushes, my pallet thick with paint, and my heart wide open. Then I follow with bold marks the wild flight of my imagination through some internal landscape of wonder.
PS–I’ve added this one to my gallery.
Painting, The way I operate, Thoughts & observations |22 Responses to “The way imagination happens…and, a new painting”
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such a treat to see how your creative process works!
I aggree! You mastered color early on. Was this before the gentleman who taught you draw academically? Do you know who I’m talking about: the man your mom sent you to for lessons? Did he teach you about color, then, or was it earlier when you fell in love with color? I love the way you use it.
Gorgeous painting. George Washington bridge?
Love the close ups of the buildings and windows, and such great colors.
so
freaking
amazing
Oh, that was COOL! To get inside your creative brain for a moment and see how it works. I love how you describe the way the muse hits when your brain dislocates a bit from the busy day, and how you hold it in your mind like a pocket of sea glass. *love!*
What wonderful details in the picture - it’s really magical!
I love the colors. AND the hummingbirds. Just like in my painting!
It’s interesting too, Christina, that you mention not really knowing what exactly it will turn out to be like. I think that’s extremely insightful of you. How hard it must be to just let your mind go — but it obviously pays off in the end because you create such amazing pieces of art!
i love, love, love the nighttime city scape ~ the Bklyn bridge looks incredible.
I’m so envious of your ability to escort those images from your head to paper. Sometimes I’m so full of images I think I’ll burst, but I have no idea what to do with them.
Christina, check out www.outofthecolor.com for Ted’s website. The gallery of the paintings do not have much details for each painting but maybe you can see if you can develop something like that for your art. Just thought I’d pass along a sample site.
And you’ve just explain very clearly how you must know that you have such a gift from God. Truly, to be able to put that together in your mind, knowing the colors to blend and how it will come out before you even start…now that’s amazing!
This is exhilarting, Christina! I love the dreamlike feeling, the deep blues, the awesome combination of media, and the composition. I feel as if I am soaring with those birds! I am much like you when i get an idea for a painting or a drawing…it live with it for quite some time before it comes out. And…it rarely looks the same once done. Funny…
your gallery is full of amazing pieces!!!
breathtaking! really, wow!
I LOVE this, so so absolutely beautiful!
yes, this is definitely my favorite piece of yours… gorgeous!
What a fascinating look into YOUR creative process. And when I read this I realize how, what you have? is a gift. A beautiful, amazing gift.
And I love the idea of hummingbirds, loose in the city!
it’s beautiful and i love it.
This is a new favorite of mine. Love the colors and the city.
Beautiful piece!
a.
Can I just say again how very much I love your paintings? And I love that you shared your process…
Hello -
I wandered by your site looking up inspirational paintings on the web. I love your work! particularly this one. Fabulous juxtaposition, detail, abstract, color. Love it. I’m actually not the ushy-gushy art type … but really, to find so many paintings by one person in one place that I really admire … I’m very impressed by your talent. The link for your gallery didn’t work when I tried it. Is there another link somewhere for an online gallery? I’d love to see it. Thanks! By the way, I noticed one comment thought this was the George Washington Bridge and another thought it was the Brooklyn Bridge. Which is it? Or another entirely.
Thanks for sharing your art and the creative process involved.
Of course, the good ideas always hit at the least convenient times: in the shower maybe, when I’m out on a run, or just drifting off to sleep—any place far from pen and paper.
The creative process is almost always different for everyone and every medium. Exposing your process is very enlighting, hopefully, I can stick it in the back of my mind, subconcious, and it might help me when I least expect it
Love your work, particulary the hummingbird concept….I did something similar while painting on glass, the effect is different throughout the entire day.
Love your site!