Nocturnes or Nightscapes have always fascinated me. There was a time when I used to think I could probably study Astronomy or celestial mechanics, as a girl. But then soon I found Literature and arts interested me more in terms of studies. But even now I simply love gazing at the sky - day and night; particularly night I guess. The sky, vast and expansive, with so many happenings occurring probably all the while and yet looks so serene and tranquil. Though the skies I have painted are not what I see in my region, I do love watching skies where such wonders happen... now that it’s available at our fingertips and within the comfort of our own room! I am like Jodie Foster in "Contact" in total awe when I look up (though that's a different storyline about extraterrestrial life)! So it's no surprise that at some point in time I would end up painting them or at intervals, if I may say. As a personal project that I started at the wake of this year, it was perhaps Whistler’s “Nocturne” that nudged me to make some of my own.
*Click on the images to view it big*
This is the first of my Nocturne series and this is definitely inspired by Whistler while the rest are my own interpretations of some photographs mixed with creative liberty!
"Shooting up"
“When the skies turned deep-blue
The Moon bloomed,
The earth shone,
The spell fell
And the magic happened!”
Grey sky in showers
It was when the Super blood moon happened early this year.
It was from the picture above I cropped the Moon and used it in my SuperBloodMoon (click to read) post if you remember. I edited it in Photoshop. These were the stages of my painting the Moon.
And finally the last of the series for now...I am still adding to the collection.
Which one is your favourite?? Would love to know. Linking it to the Awesome PPF and the Incredible ladies there!!!
How often do we think of ourselves in terms of our body? Do we see us as we are when we look in the mirror? Do we feel ashamed, guilty, wrecked even or do we feel that we embody something? dDo we do justice to our body? Such queries started popping up in March when I made one of my usual visits to Connie Solera's Dirty FootPrints Studio who often puts me into trouble with some self-nibbling queries. She is one of my favourites, mind you, she doesn't know though.
I have been following her for a long time now. I have watched all her 21 Secrets conversations and I have enjoyed everyone of them. It was there I had seen and heard Bebe Butler for the first time and loved her, she would live in the heart of the art sorority. So when Connie started 'emBODY' it was a little bit of self-awakening... in a really nice way. I started looking at me in bits and parts...all fragmented!
Though I couldn't complete the whole list because of my travel to Dubai and then our moving to a new apartment in Ernakulam (now I finally have a room of my own for creation!!) I did try some and here it is...
these aren't my lips! its from a photo!
So which one did you like???
The complete list was this:(I shall complete the list sometime hopefully)
Some beginnings mark the birth of new while some others are renewed from it's dormant and even stagnant existence. Every dream, hope, aspiration and 'thought' (as some pass it slightly) follows its own course. Some brave it and follow it outright, some wait upon for a proper time and chance. What I've encountered is - embrace what you hold onto dearly for an opportunity missed will never retrace its steps back to you. it would definitely be never the same.
So beautiful people, hold onto your dreams and follow it passionately whatever the hurdles...
To delve deep
Within
To unlock
To immerse
To embolden
To fortify
And
Yet be vulnerable
(Eye of the Soul series) Blue - Diptych (60.96x60.96 cm each) Mix Media
To love
To live
To fly
To float
To levitate
And
Yet be grounded
Eye of the Soul series - 27x35 cm, Mix Media
To enjoy
To harness
To flow
To energize
To captivate
And
Yet transport
Eye of the Soul series - Diptych - Mix media (Sold)
To silence
To retrospect
To seek
To find
And
Yet let go
And set free.
All the paintings are from my series exhibited in the 'Eye of the Soul', the first show I had curated, in March 2016 at Durbar Hall Art Center. You can read about it here.
When one thinks of the umpteen talents sprawling across all over the world, one is just left wondering endlessly. I often am left at that! Amazing artists' who somehow connect with one where ever we are in some form or the other. I accidentally came across Amber Kuileimailani Bonnici's online retreat, Woman Unleashed.
Online retreats has been a blast. While I was engaged in it, I came to know about Bebe Butler's Soul Spa Online Summit from my dear blogger-friend, Linda. Thanks a lot Linda! I have been trying to keep up with them but it's been difficult though I managed to make some sessions possible.It is fun and I had some amazing time with them...though at different time zones and different spaces and at different phases. One always learns something new and that is always exciting. Thank you ladies for all the wonderful and playful sessions.
Along side there're certain personal assignments, upcoming exhibitions that I have to be up to and meet certain deadlines. My blog posts have reduced because of that since I need time to focus on my exhibitions. I do miss publishing my weekly posts and visiting all my friends here. Know, I miss it all. All the same I do enjoy the art, art readings, watching different sessions and videos, sketching and preparing for the painting...each and everything. Sometimes my mind wanders aimlessly but I feel that too is part of the process, like a prayer lifted off by the wind, playing softly with the breeze until it reaches it divine destination where it will settle finally and then life will sprout out of it.
Here's a peek into the journal:
So until next time, keep smiling and enjoying whatever you do.
Durbar
Hall Art Gallery D opened up in colourful suggestions and imaginative pieces
and since none was there at that time because of the heavy rain, it gave me
ample liberty to walk around scanning and then savouring the works of the
artists’ duo – Amjum Rizve and Hima Hari. They “combine their lines, colours and even their sense of distribution or
distortion of forms and spaces”* except for a few sketches. Yes, you heard
me right. It’s not a separate display of both the artists’ but a singular one.
Such displays, I believe, are uncommon.
Collectibles they gathered overtime which they have used instead of a flex at the entrance of the gallery.
Hima and Amjum
Amjum
and Hima’s works reflect their everyday life and locale, their routine giving
it all the colour and meaning to make it an extraordinary one; a celebration of
their life. It’s a mix of emotions, materials and images – a potpourri or
sorts; sketches in wooden and fabric frames, paintings in canvas and scrolls
with pom poms, heart-warming collage of friendship, a reminder of the college
days with whom they had communicated spiritedly. Colourful fabrics – some
plain, some ornate while others worked upon...there are diverse kinds of
fabrics they had collected overtime. They have not only collected such found
objects but also intense and passionate personal memories that speak to one
about their very subjective and delicate day-to-day existence. Anjum is all
tender when he points out that Hima loves to sow and collects favourite pieces
to later upcycle it; incorporating them into their paintings.
Amjum and Hima both agreed that
it was sometimes hard to work together when they started out since both have a
strong sense of creative disposition. They did clash at times but finally they
succeeded in bringing forth the best of both talents. There is mutual faith,
trust and love that positively binds them together – in life and in art.
All
their works have been done over a period of time. The collage started when they
were in college. It’s a display of the warmth of friendship, affection and
gratitude. Their works contain daily visitors to their abode from crows and
pigeons to dogs and cats and their friends as well. Certain images are repeated
in their works from kittens and angry birds to toys which can be found in their
home where they live together. It leads us to the triptych which mentions
‘Couples not registered’ and a nude that calls out ‘Made in Kerala’. It does
sort of evoke a rebellious nature for which Amjum clarifies it is these social
norms that highlights it to be so, else it would have been ‘mundane’ as well.
Amjum
and Hima arrived as I was about to leave giving me a chance to meet these young
and talented creatives. Smiling, innocence-abound and ready to answer the
queries. It was then that they explained every little detail I asked for,
particularly the kohl-eyed Amjum while Hima had to play the hostess to other
visitors who had started to arrive.
All their works are not titled
outside but within the work itself; creatively integrated.
“It’s not
everyday that the world arranges itself into fiction."
I just heard it from a Prologue to the movie 'Humans of Someone'...and that is something extraordinarily beautiful!
I totally agree with the saying that Truth is stranger than Fiction...
I have always found that to be true!!!
So many characters, so many people...that many tales...often a bewilderment to our 'confined' imagination! One could end up feeling awestruck! Sometimes heard, sometimes unheard; untold tales... all wrapped up within (for your eyes and ears only! - for your senses alone!)...there's so much beauty to it and at times unflinching pain to journey along.
Our art sometimes takes such a path too...it sometimes takes an unruly path...decides to bewilder our senses...shock us into existence, sometimes into the dark and deep alley where our secrets are buried even without our own knowledge and then BANG...they spring at us! (like those prey-waiting cunning creatures!)...they gaily display their pride possessions so gorgeously; often disoriented in a careful-careless way...one then sees the panoramic view of what was once buried deep inside which is now open to the whole wide world to 'See' and interpret!
I have been busy doing just that...Finally I received confirmation letter from the Akademi for our group show which is to happen next month in Durbar Hall. I am in labour and have been labouring not without excitement and agony at the same time! Finally my children will be there for everyone to see and 'interpret'...But then it's as they say I have done my part, I will leave it to the world and then rest! I am thankful for I am evolving with each new painting and each new day...learning umpteen things from the Master Craftsman...called Life (and God) in one!
Right now I can't post pictures of those paintings here...
But I am leaving you with a few paintings I did from Wyanne's online class...She's a GEM!!!
Create a whole new world
Inhabit in it!
Roam around,
Search for appeasing souls
Awe the self...
Awe the world...
Follow your heart
Form a Tribe!
Create, create again...
A Paradise...
Washed ashore by the hand Divine
For we are just the mediums
Through which Divinity flows!
Agree???
If you would like to watch the Prologue to the 'Humans of Someone'...watch here.
One of my seniors from school, a famed and gorgeous danseuse - Methil Devika, has breathed life into a character in the movie...so, eagerly waiting for the movie itself.
"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness
and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen." - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
I received this quote in my mail from Robin Sharma and it meant so much to me. It's true to the core... some times, rarely though, we do come across such beautiful souls. Wyanne who was a Meet An Artist in Hues n Shades is one such amazing soul. She gifted me an online class, You and Me 2015, and these are my attempts after going through her videos.
This is definitely different what I had been doing and I have always enjoyed her videos more than anything. Love her style and techniques and now I am learning it too :)
I have tried Wyanne's(FB page) techniques on handmade paper and I think it's fun, cheery, bright and relaxing :)
'Follow Your Heart' is for my daughter. She loves puppies, dogs and so this one is specially for her. It's a sign for everyone too...just make your own path by following your heart :)
Make Your Own Path
Follow Your Heart
I am really thankful to the internet for getting to know many lovely friends (artists-bloggers), with some of whom we really get along so well that we could become 'Besties'...they are extreme inspirations and one of them could even turn out to be a confidante', unexpectedly :)
Has that ever happened to you???
It could also be because they are perfect strangers who don't have a pre-conceived notion about you. They are not going to judge you and they don't expect you to behave in a certain way. There is also the 'X Factor' as we don't make everyone our confidantes, right? Have you ever had somebody to whom you could say anything and everything with out them raising an eyebrow or the brows knitted or eyes droopy at some point or the other?! Lucky, if you have!
Dear Friends, It's 'Meet An Artist' again and you will be taken a tour around Whimsical land where you will encounter the fanciful art of Wyanne. I have so much to say about Wyanne that I lack words ...apt ones to describe her art. I knew her art even before I knew her and it was her art that attracted me towards Wyanne, the person. Her art found me at a time when I needed it the most. I was running through a rough patch and her videos were a drive away into a realm I saw/see delight and ecstasy in. Her life is an inspiration for people like all of us. She is a survivor and her 'never-die-spirit-what-may-come' is something to emulate for all of us. I salute to that spirit and feel honoured to have her in my space, Hues n Shades. Thanks Wyanne for sharing your story and taking time to have this candid-chat :) Presenting Wyanne Thompson, the indomitable artist!
Wyanne Thompson
Deepa: Firstly, as the tradition goes, give us a brief about yourself.
(Family, Education, Work etc)
Wyanne: My
name is Wyanne. It's pronounced Y-anne. I was adopted at 3 days old...by
wonderful older parents. They had a natural son in college when they adopted
me! I was born in Florida, and have also lived in Texas and Georgia.
When I was about 13 years old, I asked my adopted parents about my
biological mother. They said she was an artist. So, I decided at that moment to
be an artist too. I started practicing everyday. But, my older parents
felt that I could not make a living as an artist. So they would not allow
me to study art in college. After trying many different college majors and
being unhappy, I took a handful of my paintings to the Art Department at
Wesleyan College in Macon, GA. I was able to get a scholarship to study
art there. Unfortunately, it was not a full scholarship. My adopted
father agreed to let me go to school there and study art, but after graduation
I had to attend Law School. I kept my promise, but never finished Law
School. I met my soul mate (and future husband) and his family.
They convinced me to be an artist and not a Lawyer! Thank
goodness....I would have made a terrible Lawyer! My adopted parents
forgave me, and my father lived long enough to see that I was able to have a
successful career as an artist. That meant the world to me! And by
the way...I did find out that my biological mother was really an artist too!
I currently live in Atlanta, GA with my husband, two children, two dogs,
a cat and lots of fish.
"Good to be King" watercolor on paper
Deepa: Tell us your journey as an artist.
Wyanne:During my Art School days in college, I concentrated
on Photography. This was the late 80's and digital had not arrived yet.
Everything was done in the darkroom. I worked as a commercial
photographer until my son was born in 1994. I decided to leave the hectic
world of commercial photography and stay home with him. I started
painting. But, since it was not my concentration in Art School, I had
very limited knowledge of the medium. The rest I taught myself, through
lots of practice and determination. In 1998, I opened an art gallery and
showcased many diverse artists. But, I quickly learned that it was a very
hard business, even in a large metropolitan city. I turned to the
Internet to sell the artwork. It was not as big back then, and selling
artwork on the Internet was a new concept. In 2000, I closed the gallery
and decided to be a self representing artist on the Internet. It was the
best decision I have every made! I have been blessed with a loyal following of
collectors and the power of the Internet puts your art out to the entire world!
It's hard to believe that I've been creating art and selling it over the
Internet for over 15 years! I am very blessed.
"Clingy Shoulder" - watercolor and acrylic
on wood
&
"Snuggle Spot" - watercolor and acrylic on wood
Deepa: Which is your preferred medium of creation?
Wyanne:My
preferred medium is actually watercolors. But, I love fluid acrylics,
because they have the same properties as watercolors. In the past few
years, I've migrated from using lots of different mediums in my work, like
collage, inks, resin and beeswax to only using paint now. These mixed
media elements gave the work a depth and interest, but sometimes I felt that I
used them as a substitute for painting. I now try to challenge myself to
create the same magic with just paint alone.
"Almost Home" Watercolor created during chemo
Deepa: “Raining Flowers” is the first video of yours that I had
watched…and instantly I was in awe of your work prowess…the music, the art and
the video- everything inspired me (like anyone who watched your video) How do
you conceive the process of such wonderful creations?
Wyanne:Wow...thank you. My inspiration comes from many
different sources. "Raining Flowers" was inspired by my
daughter who was always putting flowers in her hair. I usually have a
quick visual thought for a painting, sparked by something I see or dream.
I'm not the type of artist who keeps a sketchbook or journal. The
thought comes to me, and I usually do a quick sketch of it directly on the
paper or canvas. I don't spend much time on the sketch. For me, the magic
happens with the paint. I cannot wait to start painting once I get an
idea! While I'm painting, I usually notice that the painting is about
something close to me...a story or feeling. As I discover that, I try to
convey it in the painting. It might sound a little mystical, but it's
just my process.
"Raining Flowers" mixed media
( watercolor,
acrylic, rhinestones, collaged paper, resin) on wood
Deepa: Your videos are extremely entertaining and unique with very distinctive
and cool music to go along with which I have never heard before but each one is
so perfect for your video. How do you choose them? It also shows your love for
music, a musical soul…do you have any background in music too? Are you trained?
Wyanne:I'm so thrilled that you like my videos, thank you.
Sometimes, they take as long as the painting itself, to complete! I
don't have a background in music. In fact, most of the time I work in my
studio with no music. I love music, don't get me wrong. But,
sometimes it takes away from my concentration when painting. As far as
picking out the music for the videos...I use the app Shazam on my iPhone to
identify music that I hear in the car driving or out shopping. Then later
I go back through my library and find the right song to fit the painting.
"Guiding Light" - watercolor acrylic, ink and coffee on
paper,
Most recent video
Deepa: Do you ever realize that there are a whole of ‘us’ who are
inspired by your art, your spirit & your knowledge? Do you have the unknown
audience in mind while creating?
Wyanne:I am blown away by the audience. Even after
doing this for so many years, I can't believe that in some way, I am inspiring
people. It amazes me. I am so grateful. I wish I could say that it
was my intention to do so, when painting. But, for me...my painting is
very personal. It's something I have to do. It's like breathing for
me. If for some reason I lost my hands...I would still find a way to
paint.
"The Magic Maker" watercolor and collage on paper
Deepa: Your great spirit, your bravery in reacting the way you did
is a life-lesson to all of us…women! You are surely a role model for many of
us…this never-die-spirit is what keeps us going against all odds, right! In
case you would like to speak about your recent experience/condition…Would you like
to enlighten us?
Wyanne:2013 was a difficult year for me. I knew
something wasn't right inside my body. I was tired all the time, no
matter how much I ate healthy or exercised. I developed a sore spot on my
tongue that my dentist thought was caused by some bad dental work. I went
to many different dentists and doctors and got a wide array of opinions
throughout the year. Finally an Ear Nose and Throat doctor biopsied it.
The biopsy came back suspicious for cancer. She referred me to
Emory University Hospital for further evaluation. They diagnosed it as
Stage IV tongue cancer. In January of 2014, they removed my entire tongue
and 66 lymph nodes from my neck and shoulders. Nine came back positive
for cancer. During the same surgery, they rebuilt a new tongue from skin
grafts of my left arm and thigh. I wouldn't let them use my painting arm!
It was a very difficult 13 hour surgery. The recovery was very
hard. I went through chemo and radiation afterwards. I was not able
to speak for many months. The new tongue doesn't move, it just simply
fills the hole where my previous tongue was. I'm also not able to
swallow. So I get all my nutrition from a feeding tube in my stomach now.
I'm able to speak now, but I'm still hard to understand. I work
with a speech therapist, but it's almost like learning a new language.
Head and Neck Cancers are on the rise, and are affecting more and more
young people. These are people, like me, who never smoked, rarely drank
and ate reasonably healthy. And although they have found a link between
these types of cancer and HPV virus, mine was not caused by HPV.
"The Survivor" - watercolor on paper
(The painting was originally titled
"The Runaway" and was started long before my cancer diagnosis. Then
it was put to the side after the diagnosis and surgery. While recovering in the
hospital, I couldn't stop thinking about it. My kids surprised me and brought
cards, artwork, and other goodies to decorate my hospital room. They brought
the unfinished painting! During really hard times struggling during recovery,
it became my focal piece. I kept thinking that I needed to get out of that
hospital and finish the painting I loved so much. But, as I stared at it
everyday...I couldn't decide what to do to finish it. There was beauty in the
white and she no longer seemed like a runaway....but a Survivor. When I was
released from the hospital...she continued to grace my wall at home through
chemo and radiation. She's the one painting that I will always keep with me.
"The Survivor" painting hanging in my hospital room
Deepa: You took a break, now you have again dived in with renewed
energy into the process of creation…How does it feel back to be at base? Do you
feel a shift in any manner? What significant impression/belief have you
achieved?
Wyanne:It feels really great to be back in the studio!
After many months of recovery, I am just happy to be able to do the
normal things in life again. I love taking my daughter to school in the mornings
and cooking dinner for my family. I had to really slow things down this
year with the recovery. But, I still tried to paint...even in the
hospital. I wasn't able to do more than make circles of paint on the
paper...but I love just seeing the paint hit the paper. Once I was home,
my husband created a special tray for me to paint while sitting up in bed.
I would even take my paints to chemo infusions! Crazy, I know.
I just love it so much. Eventually, the treatments became too
difficult and I wasn't able to paint at all. That was a very hard time
for me. But, at the same time it helped me pull through all of it. I
realized that I had a lot more painting that I needed to do, so I had to get
stronger! When I did return to painting, my work seemed to have a new
freedom to it. It was a freedom that I had always dreamed about in my
work...but never could seem to accomplish it. Mental thoughts or insecurities
were holding me back. Now, they have vanished. Life is just too short.
Wyanne in the hospital painting after surgery
"Uncharted Territory" - watercolor on paper.
This was done after my diagnosis and before surgery. The text says
"Sometimes you have to
venture out into the unknown. Put your brave on and surround yourself with
love. Say over and over thank you...thank you...thank you. There's never too
many thank yous."
Deepa: You love pets and I have seen you working with pets around…Do
they influence your creative juices too just like the pond, the ducks, the sky,
the flowers, the garden and everything that you show which happens to be around
you?
Wyanne:Yes,
definitely. I have a 100 pound Doberman dog. We joke that he's
like a miniature horse in the house. A lot of horses started popping up
in my paintings after we adopted him! My ideas come from so many
different sources. I was very lucky to live on a beautiful island off the
coast of Florida for 5 years. I was very influenced by it's beauty when I
lived there. Now, that I'm back in the big city of Atlanta, I have to rely
on my imagination a little more.
"Painted Pony" watercolor and sumi ink on paper
Deepa: Your themes often navigate through fantasy and whimsical…love
that journey myself. Which path are you ‘travelling’ currently(…which is your
current project)?
Wyanne:I
would have to say more whimsical. I love making happy paintings. My
current painting on my desk is an elephant with a giraffe on his back kissing
the moon. It's silly, but it makes me happy. Hopefully, it will do
the same for others.
"Guiding Light" - watercolor acrylic, ink and coffee on
paper
Deepa: Whose works are hanging in your home? Who inspires you the
most?
Wyanne:Most of the art that hangs in my home is from close
artist friends. I do have several pieces by Eric Legge. He's a folk
artist here in Georgia. I used to sell his work in my gallery. I
also have work from Rhett Amick, a photographer. And Art Werger, a
printmaker and one of my former college art teacher.
"The Great Escape" - mixed media (watercolor, collage, and beeswax) on wood
Deepa: What is your dream project?
Wyanne:Before
I got sick, my dream project was to paint very large. With
watercolors...you are somewhat limited in size. And I have a very small studio
which also made it difficult. But, now that I have weathered this health
challenge, my dream project has changed. It's no longer important to me
to paint really large. It's just important to paint! So, I get up every
day and work on my dream project! I paint...that's my dream.
"Come Dream With Me" - watercolor and acrylic on paper
Deepa: Out of curiosity, what is the best and worst thing that you
have heard about India?
Wyanne:The best that I've heard is about it's food and
beauty. The worst I've heard is about the smell of garbage.
"The Wanderer" - watercolor, acrylic, gouache and resin on
wood
Deepa: Who is your favourite Indian artist? Any specific reason.
Wyanne:I would have to say my favorite Indian artist is a
friend that I attending art school with, Malika Ghosh Garrett. She is an
amazing painter. She was born in Calcutta and came to the US in 1985 to
study art. Her work is vibrant and colorful. Her website ishttp://www.malikagarrett.com/
"Fingers Crossed" mixed media
(watercolor, acrylic, collage,
beeswax) on wood
Deepa: A tip/technique that you would like to share with our
readers.
Wyanne:So many times, we waste time waiting for the perfect
idea to strike. Don't wait. If you want to do something, just do
it. If you want to make a painting...don't wait for around trying to get
an idea for a masterpiece. Don't think that you need the next best paint or
supply in order to do your best. The truth is you probably have
everything that you need. Just jump in and do it. We tend to find
excuses to put off doing something we want to do because deep down, we are
scared. Try to let all that go. Try to approach it like you would have at
5 years old. You didn't worry about what you would paint, or if you had
all the supplies you needed. You just enjoyed the pure process of
creating. That way of thinking can be applied to so many areas of our life.
"See" - watercolor and gouache on paper
Deepa: Your parting words of advice for aspiring artists.
Wyanne:Don't
give up. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't be an artist.
Practice your craft every day. Even if it's just for 15 minutes.
Share your art. It's your gift to the world. Don't worry about what others
think. There will always be people who love your work and those who don't
like it. That's okay. Create art that makes you happy, and the rest
will follow.
"Go Your Own Way" - watercolor and acrylic on paper
Deepa: Social media networks/contact where they can get in touch
with you.
Thank you Wyanne, once again for this Lovely "Talk"...I am certain Hues n Shades readers would definitely enjoy your art and reading through your candid and inspiring talk. I would also like to share an important news that Wyanne's latest scans found NO CANCER :D We all wish you health, happiness and loads of creative urge to come up with many more incredible art! Please do not use/reproduce the content (words as well as images) without the written consent of the author.
