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Monday, February 14, 2011

The Things We Shed, Weekend One

I've been painting.
Sliding brushes heavy with oil.
Dripping with translucent turpenoid.

Would you like to see?
It feels so good I could cry.
This painting, which I've been calling "The Things We Shed," has been waiting for the last six months.  I stretched the canvas over barren bars and laid down the initial ground layer of color right before I began chemotherapy last Summer.  I thought I knew what she would look like then, I thought I knew what "shedding" was about.  But then the toxins hit my system and the faintest whiff of paint sent me spiraling into severe nausea.  I tried to work, believe me, but with zero success or tolerance.  So the oils were packed away, out of the studio, and she sat quietly on the easel.  Waiting.  Developing into pages and pages of writings.  Into twenty different sketches, none of which was quite right.  But the whole time she was about shedding.  And she was patient.
IMG_4637
Then last week, driving down the road with the most mundane of errands to do, I saw her.  In a flash of inspiration that could only be attributed to the divine, I knew what she needed, what imagery must be laid down.  What life, what death, what regeneration, what decay needed to be born.  I quite literally dived off the side of the road and marched into the closest cafe.  I ordered a tea latté and drew.
And drew.
And drew some more.
I've a long way to go on this piece, but that flame in my chest is burning bright, illuminating the path.
IMG_4633
"The Things We Shed"
48" x 24"
Approximately 50% finished.

I'm so excited to share her with you.

21 comments:

Desiree said...

Oh goodness, how lovely! <3

Em in SF said...

Why yes, you have been a busy little painting bee! Yay!

kerin rose said...

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh~wow

UmberDove said...

I just can hardly even tell you how good it feels!

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Andrea said...

You kinda rock...What am I saying? You, Umber, 100% rock!
Your smile at 3min is awe~some.
Happy ♥ Day!
xo

candacemorris said...

I remember when you stretched that canvas on your living room floor.

I remember.

Carrie said...

wow - I adore it

reconstructing sarah said...

gasp! so beautiful!

xo today :)

resolute twig said...

so beautiful :)
xo

Snailentina said...

Happy Valentine's day Kelly! It's so lovely to see you paint, I am blown away and can only imagine how good it feels to be able to finally be doing it. A little piece of fearlessness arrived here today, and I love it so much. Thank you for sharing your beautiful soul :)

Jaime/GirlLovesGloss said...

Kelly thank you so much for taking us on a small snippet of this journey with you as you paint - such a treasure! I cannot wait to see how it grows...
xo
Jaime

Anonymous said...

I love the process that we go through to birth the imagery of our heart
it is so ..... what human word could describe this????

my smile dances
my heart full
eyes twinkle
for you

love and light

UmberDove said...

I'm full up.

Just that.

xox to YOU.

Emily L. said...

Kelly,

Weird. I saw an image of this likeness (not the same, but eerily in the same vein) in a little town in Pennsylvania this weekend and a bit of my mind associated that image with you, almost involuntarily. I don't even know what else to say beyond that, just a crazy little connection!

Em

ps - word verification "rebure", almost like "reborn"??

Heidi said...

Really, really inspiring. I'm so glad you paint.

Lizzie Derksen said...

I think I love that the skull outline looks rather like a perched chickadee as well...

AppaloosaMoon said...

Dovey...

she is
&
yoU are

the most beautiful creations ever...EVER.

lulu said...

yeehaw!

all anew...

Mum said...

I'm so happy to see you're finally able to tackle that long waiting canvas!

I know it will be well worth the it!

I miss you so much!

The Noisy Plume said...

Yee hAW!!!

...with glitter.
xx

emilyclare said...

seeing you create is an absolute honour, I treasure it.