Convergence and random thoughts

Back in the spring, I was given three rolls of decorative Japanese paper tape from etsy (If you've never visited, you should have a look -- they have a great variety of wonderful handcrafted items).  I was very excited about the tape's potential, although not really sure what I would do with it.  Initially, I used a green, tan and cream roll to create a grid on a painted canvas that evolved into a collage.  The other two rolls had to wait their turn.
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When I began this painting, I had no end in mind, just felt like splashing paint and creating layered colors and texture.  As you can see at the end of phase 1, I had a ground painting that had lots of layered color, no focal point to speak of, and not much else.  The only thing that could be considered a focal point would be the atom-like figure in the bottom right corner, which didn't do much for me.

Convergence, phase 1

After looking at it for several days, I decided to get out the pink, blue, red and cream roll of Japanese paper tape, and proceeded to create a grid.  Then, I painted in the kanji character for 'love' over the top of the atom.  I needed to simplify the negative space around the kanji in order to help it have a place of greater prominence within the picture plane.  I created a simplified background by diluting white with gloss medium.  This allowed the colors beneath to give the white additional luminosity, which I further enhanced with rose and gold.  I set it aside and made a small thumbnail sketch of the painting, with which I then experimented, using pencil to create additional lines.  I decided, at that point, that what was missing was curved linear elements, which I added with a black Sharpie pen.  This further broke up the picture plane and gave birth to the visual idea of a journey.  I painted the curved lines with black gesso mixed with gloss medium.  Again, I set it aside to contemplate its content.  I decided to further break up the picture plane, and placed a number of lighter, thinner loops, in grey, symbolizing the side trips that often distract us from our path of purpose.  These thoughts took form while listening to Iris Dement's song 'When my mornin' comes around', from her album The way I should (see below for the lyrics, and a link to the song).

Convergence

This painting celebrates the powerful emotions present, but often hidden from our view and understanding, as we move through life. Of these emotions, love, next to anger and mistrust, is often one of the strongest.  Love -- the convergence of two souls -- comes in many forms and 'packages'.  We all search for it, long for it and yet when it is present, we often look right past it, perceiving it as something all together different.  It's very important to be 'present in the moment'...every moment...lest we overlook the gifts that are right before our eyes.

Click here to listen to Iris Dement sing 'When my mornin' comes around'.  Like so many of her songs, it speaks from the depths of the heart about strength and self-renewal.  I find it hauntingly beauiful and inspiring...and I hope you will, too.

When my mornin' comes around

When my mornin' comes around, no one else will be there,
and I won't have to worry about what I'm supposed to say,
and I alone will know that I climbed that great big mountain,
and that's all that will matter when my mornin' comes around.

When my mornin' comes around, I will look back on this valley,
at these sidewalks and alleys where I lingered for so long,
and this place where I now live will burn to ash and cinder,
like some ghost I won't remember, when my mornin' comes around.

When my mornin' comes around, from a new cup I'll be drinkin',
and for once I won't be thinkin' that there's somethin' wrong with me,
and I'll wake up to find that my faults have been forgiven,
and that's when I'll start livin' - when my mornin' comes around.

- Iris Dement
(c)1996, Songs of Iris