Toward the Light- Reflection on the Canyon Series of Paintings

I finished this piece yesterday. It does resemble the image I posted earlier but maybe it is not so evident. Call it a first cousin. The process is what engages and draws me further and further into the unknowns of abstraction. I love this genre, language, outlet, reason.... Years ago, when I began learning how to draw, I realized that representational work would never fill my creative bucket or spiritual quest. Although I could have probably excelled far more, I decided to focus on a style or practice that stepped far outside of 'the box'. Something that spoke a language that was truly indiviidual and infinite in possibilities. I don't spend much time with drawing anymore. Copying the works of Schiele, Picasso, Degas and even Durer were challenging and fun but it is creating from the inner-eye that more wholly serves my curiosity and I believe purpose. Really, the finished images are a manifestation of so much more. They are by-products of the things I have studied, experienced and deeply care about. They are representations of what my soul has seen and is called to say. Where is all of this taking me exactly? That's a question that bounces between my ears every morning over a warm bowl of steel cut oatmeal. After today's work, I am happy to say that I think I might be getting closer to understanding. Some peculiar events have taken place during my recent sessions that pull me even closer toward the light, something... Overall, this creative pursuit has had the character of a very long, eight year in fact, road-trip filled with hair-raising twists, turns and dreadful dips, as well as dazzling ascents. Yep, it's been and continues to be a 'fascinating' search the unknowable. It has been an ocean voyage worthy of every exhausting, blind, scary and lonely row along the way.

May you find strength, peace and joy in the work.

E

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