Collections

Narrow Spaces

Moving, working, living, arranging one’s self in a narrow space—whether physically, emotionally, spiritually, or creatively—can be quite the challenge…or quite the opportunity, depending on the perspective. Personally, I have experienced both aspects. It is when I have come out of the boundaries that I realize and appreciate the process of the learning, growing, stretching, and strengthening while functioning in those restricted spaces. This collection of ladies in tight spaces expresses the continuance of doing—despite being cramped, tired, or inconvenienced.

Title: “Head To Toe”

Subject’s Name: Helen

Dims: 12inx48in

Canvas Type: Wood Panel

Medium: Acrylic/Mixed Media

Story: Criticism of self can put anyone in an emotional box or narrow headspace. Self-embracement is wholeheartedly accepting and loving the distinguishing aspects of your identity--strengths and weaknesses—from head to toe. This type of acceptance can develop over time in small volumes and in new kinds of restricted spaces such as solitary walks, therapy offices, and prayer closets. In this painting, Helen shows her contortion and discomfort. The limbs and other parts of Helen that are not painted on canvas represent components of herself that have begun to heal.

Title: “Bags Under Eyes”

Subject’s Name: Luci

Dims: 12inx48in

Canvas Type: Wood Panel

Medium: Acrylic

Story: How exhausting it can be to endeavor to start and complete arduous tasks in tight quarters. There is an alternative range of motion and thinking required to do so, which eventually can take a toll on the body, mind, and spirit. Luci in this painting is trapped in her trials, so she is taking a brief break due to her exertion to exhibit her heaviness and extreme eye baggage.

Title: “She Picks Up Her Pieces”

Subject’s Name: Lady Queen Victoria

Dims: 12inx48in

Canvas Type: Wood Panel

Medium: Acrylic

Story: When all the charts and boards say to quit, it takes a special kind of gut to rebuke such intimations and to keep moving forward. This lady queen, Victoria, is in a vulnerable state, yet her strongest state. She’s found her way to endure the tests of life. Her struggles close in on her space and seeks to obstruct her path, but instead they only transform her. Her eye is on her crowns, and through resilience and readjustments, she picks them up and wears them better than before.

Title: “When Inspiration Hits”

Subject’s Name: Jazza

Dims: 12inx48in

Canvas Type: Wood Panel

Medium: Acrylic

Story: Creative blocks can drive creatives insane, and many times there is nothing they can do about it but wait it out. But there’s something about the containment of bathroom-time—personal quiet space, closed eyes, concentration, a relaxed environment—that sets the mood for great ideas to materialize…ideas so good, they make one eye pop open. This is Jazza on the commode getting her mojo back.

Title: “Brains Underneath These Attributes”

Subject’s Name: Sonja

Dims: 12inx48in

Canvas Type: Wood Panel

Medium: Acrylic

Story: There’s this block of misconception or judgement that attaches what a person’s surface presentation is to the quantity and quality of distinction and brilliance that’s inside of them. Attributes such as dark complexion, vibrant expression, wooly-coily hair, and free-gait are at times regarded as disagreeable…when in fact, however, attributes such as these are purposeful, appreciatively distinct, and beautifully brilliant. Sonja’s manner is confident and sui generis, and her legs are made of books—the knowledge on which she stands, which breaks her out of despicable boxes created by others.

Title: “Peace Within”

Subject’s Name: Fayth

Dims: 9.5inx60in

Canvas Type: Wood Panel

Medium: Acrylic

Story: This is Fayth. She normally wears her heart and happiness on her sleeve; but after encountering some unpleasant experiences, she curls herself into a dark space of hiding. The slimmer the wall dimensions for her, the better. At first, her thoughts about herself are severely negative and grow downward to manifest from her voice. But in time after lingering in her hiding, she taps into that narrow space between her lungs where her heart sits. There she finds and opens her crestfallen heart to Jesus. She takes her first small step forward to a joyful voice and a new peace within.

Title: “Midnight Grocery Run”

Subject’s Name: Greta

Dims: 5inx6ft

Canvas Type: Wood Panel

Medium: Acrylic

Story: It happens on rare occasions— unexpected demands pulling us up out of sleep and the comforts of our space. Greta has to make a midnight grocery run alone during the hours when safety concerns increase. There’s a different type of walk a woman makes at night from the car to the store entrance—a walk of caution, a walk of protection. She walks in an encasement of hypervigilance. But Greta has scanned her surroundings, and she holds her posture and keeps a tactical pen on her keychain.

Grandmama’s Trinkets

What may be considered small in size or value can have significant meaning. My grandmother accumulated many treasures over her years, including an assortment of miniature gold-plated accessories such as teacups, teapots, chairs, and telephones that I discovered after her passing. In honor of my grandmother and her eclectic tastes, I’ve begun the undertaking to paint each of her miniature collectables one by one with a little flair.

There are at least 39 pieces I’ve found so far, so let the painting journey of 39 trinkets begin.

Title: “Coffee Pot No. 1”

Dims: 9inx12in

Canvas Type: Stretched Canvas

Medium: Acrylic

Title: “Coffee Pot No. 2”

Dims: 7inx9in

Canvas Type: Stretched Canvas

Medium: Acrylic

Title: “Text Me If You Can”

Dims: 8.25inx12in

Canvas Type: Canvas Panel

Medium: Acrylic

Pockuhbook Power

Whether you say “pockuhbook” or “pocketbook”, there is some kind of wonderfulness in pockuhbook-sized things. Intuitive painting on small canvases is such a burst of energy. It zooms me to an unknown land of no expectations; just grab some scrap paper, textured particles, any other random finds…and on your compact surface, let loose!…and the canvas will show itself glad. Painting small is a recharge when I’m in a creative slump, or it’s a vent when I have plenty of mind-sport I want to release on the spot. Unexpected ideas with undirected hands at a satisfying tempo on a smaller canvas move so harmoniously together. This 5inx7in collection of 16 pieces converse about random topics such as tornadoes, cellists, dancing mantises, emus, and more. Yes, they’re small enough to transport in a pockuhbook, but large enough to boost a next round of inspiration.

So, pockuhbook power, activate!