Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Boldness


“Boldness be my friend.” 
 William Shakespeare


     I like to paint.  When people ask me, "So what kind of paintings do you do?" the words that always comes to mind are abstract and BOLD.   Clearly abstract works to describe what I like to do with paints.  Seldom do I paint something that is representational.  In other words, I am not about painting realistic pieces.  I often paint the conversation that is in my head.  I frequently  paint what I found in my night time dreams.  There are many times when I have no clue about what it is I am painting.

     My work is seldom soft, warm, and fuzzy.  Generally speaking, the colors are vivid, the texture is rich and sometimes harsh.  On occasion, there is an edginess, sometimes a starkness about the works.  My paintings can be infused with playfulness, anger, despair, fear, confusion, joy, and more.  Pretty much they all have one thing in common:  boldness.

      And I find it both amusing and perplexing that boldness shows up in my paintings.  There is nothing bold about me or my life.  I live in a conventional home, in a conventional small town.  I have a conventional job, a retired and conventional husband, two conventional children, and two conventional mutts.  Boldness implies audacity, courage, adventurousness, maybe even brazen.   I wish I could say I were any of those things.  Instead, I mostly feel like a robot that has marched through a predictable life. Maybe the boldness of my artwork is the me who wishes she were someone else.

   Just for fun, I am adding some photos of original work.  The colors tend to be muted on the computer screen so use your imagination to amplify what you see and you might get an idea of the real deal.  Most of these paintings are 18" x 24" unframed (which translates to typically about 25" x 32" framed). The size only magnifies the boldness - a big wall is required for hanging.

































































28 comments:

  1. Very, very nice Gracie! When I started to read, I hoped I'd scroll down to discover pics of your artwork! Isn't it amazing, the things that come out of a creative person--especially when it contrasts with whom they are such as in you case--you're not bold, but your artwork is. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  2. "I often paint the conversation that is in my head" - one of the most beautiful sentences I've ever read :)

    Your artwork is so amazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Blushing.....though that is exactly what I do!

      Delete
  3. I'm glad you were Bold enough to share your artwork here-it's awesome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Tim! Since it is so not representational, I always understand when people say they don't "get it" but sometimes it's stillawkward to put it out there.

      Delete
  4. After reading your post, I thought about what colors I am drawn to. I looked in my closet and found myself in the darkness of blacks and browns.
    But then a hint of glitter caught my eye and I glanced down and saw my purple sequined shoes shining up at me.
    I suppose that is my inner boldness.
    I believe that you have boldly made a difference in the lives of many. And that is hardly conventional.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, yes, the glitter shoes! I do like to sparkle sometimes too -
      And, that's a possibility - that part about making a difference... even though kids don't necessarily remember the details, I think they often remember when an adult noticed and cared.

      Delete
  5. I love your art,it is so vibrant! I'm especially drawn to the oranges and the blues...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those colors do make a vibrant statement, don't they?

      Delete
  6. Beautiful paintings! I love the idea of painting a conversation.

    Have fun with A to Z!

    Jenny at Choice City Native

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by, Jenny! I look forward to learning about Ft Collins!

      Delete
  7. I am a "learner painter" and stay at as many Holiday Inns as possible. Thanks for sharing your artwork. I have a way to go! I often put blood red in my steel work though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your gates and garden stuff is cool! Red in anything can make a statement!

      Delete
  8. I love your paintings! Do you show your work?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have a couple in my office ay work but have not ventured forth any further. Too much trouble?

      Delete
  9. Bold is good - your art is stunning especially the one with the hand in it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! The Hand is scary but it got me through a tough time. :)

      Delete
  10. Very nice. I really like your style.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh wow- i can imagine how "bold" these are in person! Thanks for sharing!!

    (Stopping by from the A to Z Challenge)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are welcome! They are big in real life - maybe too much for some people?

      Delete
  12. It's a joy to behold the bold burst of colors that have emerged from the midst of such conventionality!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a great way to put it, Jon! Maybe we need to get some of these bold colors to West Texas!

      Delete
  13. You're probably bold in your artwork because you're conventional in other aspects of your life. The boldness needs to come out somewhere.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I saw bicycles, dancers, sailing ships and robots :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. You have a conventional job? LOL No one who works with middle schoolers has a conventional job. Your painting of "The Claw" still scares me. Annie and I looked at all your paintings, and chose our favorites, but I don't do math, so it's too hard to say which is which. I like them all, but four or five leap out at me.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I always think the best art makes us FEEL things and there's no doubt that your paintings achieve that end--even muted and miniaturized as they are on the computer screen. Thanks for sharing, Gracie.

    ReplyDelete