Last October while in San Miguel de Allende, we visited the studio of
Leigh Hyams. After meeting her, I wanted to read her book. DH bought it for me
online for my birthday. It's a wonderful book full of her experience being a painter and teacher, her travels and great exercises. Every friend who has read this little gem of a book raves about it. Her passion for art inspires and challenges.
She encourages artists to use their imagination and synesthesia to draw and paint from the heart not the mind. I still want to use my pen and dominant hand (above right) or my non-dominant hand (above left). It's hard to get the essence of something with a pen. The pencil gives more weight and depth as below.
My challenge is to develop my imagination and synesthesia- the ability to draw a sense as an image crossing senses such as the center of a waterfall, the smell of coffee or the shadow of a deer. This ability to capture an abstraction of a feeling or a sense is what gives a painting or work of art its heart and soul. Something that I plan to explore this year.
Portland University Buckley Center Gallery has an incredible exhibit of Sister Corita Kent's prints from three private collections. The works range from her more complex serigraphs in the 1950's up to her more simple and colorful prints of the 1980's. Her artwork chronicles the turbulence of the 1960's. Call the center for location and hours at 503-943-7792. This is a rare exhibit of her artwork.
Corita's US 1985 Love Postage Stamp is probably her most familiar piece of art. During the 1960's, I became aware of Corita's graphic artwork and messages. She created serigraphs or silk screens with bright colors and hand written quotes from authors who expressed her social consciousness. Her prints make one confront the issues of civil rights, war and peace, feminism and spirituality. We deal with these same issues today. This jubilee is a wonderful celebration of her art.
