Dennis captured with starlet at Lego Land. Photo by anonymous Paparazzi source.The original art piece started out as initially as an extention of the Soul Journey piece and is still associated as it's seed or mother, but Glimpse transformed into its own work and identity for me during the process of creation.
I had just finished Soul Journey the week before our much needed time away from the routine. We started off on our "staycation" remaining in Southern California trekking half day drives from place to place. It was a great way to see Southern California. As much as my mind tried to wander to my art projects, I did try very hard to remain in the moment of being on vacation with my partner and our 17 month old son. We included many opportunities for art inspiration by visiting a wonderful Living Desert Zoo in Palm Desert, the Palm Spring Art Museum, the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Museum of Art as well as Lego Land on our drive home from San Diego to Long Beach. On this drive is when it hit me. Glimpse would show the view participating in the light and dance of the spheres within the same plain.
We returned home from our trip after dinner on Monday. Everyone was glad to be home and our dogs were excited too - as always when returning from errands or such but it was nice to feel it this time. After Aidric was put to bed we relaxed on our sofa with a little familiar television. I was tired yet also antsy from the allergy medications I've been on. We headed to bed around 11pm. As I laid in the dark with the covers tucked, arms comfortable and pillow slightly rolled under my neck, I tried to think of nothing. Breathing slowly... relaxing… dogs snoring... my partner snoring… the house was asleep. Around 11:30pm I put a few more eye drops in to combat the horrible eye allergies and returned to my pillow. I began a relaxing self meditation. Mid way toward letting go my mind drifted to the thought of the work. In a meditative state I connected with the feeling of letting go and feeling the drifting spheres of softly pulsating energy around me.
They seemed so vivid and obvious to me that I thought, "I'll remember that." As I lay there, I debated with myself if I'd really remember the two images by the morning should I just fall asleep now. After a few moments of trying to connivence myself that I would remember, I knew better from past experience that if I don't capture it on paper it would be gone. I'd likely never remember one of them let alone both if I go to sleep now. Feeling tired with scratchy allergy eyes I fought the urge to get up for what seemed like an hour yet only 15 minutes had passed. I finally succumbed to the desire to remember these as they were and to sketch their image. I got up out of bed and began toward the office where my sketchbook sat.
Mid way toward the office I thought to my self, "sketching it on paper or the canvas is nearly the same." I paused. "What the hell. One less step to do tomorrow," I thought. I went back to my bedroom quietly, not to disturb my sleeping other half, and grabbed my painting clothes, socks and shoes. I donned my clothes in the kitchen and filled a glass of water before heading to my studio space.
There in the studio I pulled two 12 x 48 inch (30.5 x 121.9 cm) canvases from storage and a Conté crayon from the drawer. I tossed the two canvases on the floor, kneeled and placed the composition down on the first two canvases with clarity and vigor.
As I drew each, I took short pauses stepping back to observe it thinking about how it will look spatially and how the colors will be positioned so that they may interact. By the time I finished the initial two composition sketches I could see and sense the project was not complete. I grabbed another smaller canvas and tossed it on the floor in line with the others. Looking at the blank canvas I continued thinking about the feeling of floating in that space. The next glimpse came into view. I again quickly moved to sketch the compositions down onto the canvas.
I checked the time in the kitchen and was pleased with how "early" it was. I went back the studio and decided to begin to paint the base level. With that I picked up a recycled food container and added two golf ball sized blobs black paint and around one golf ball sized gloss gel blob. I put on my surgical gloves to protect my skin and mixed them well. I painted over the Conté lines with the black paint as I've done in my recent works. As I'm doing so I continue to evaluate the composition and colors. I take a peek at the clock and am amazed how much I accomplished in just an hour or so. I feel too energized at this time to sleep and feel another 30 minutes or so I make some decision and break out some base colors.
I first add my favorite color, orange and then immediately partnered it with blue. Each major step like putting down an initial field color, I stepped back contemplating where colors and strokes need to be placed. This often means planning a few painting sessions ahead.
I finally went to bed that first night at 2:30 am and slept late the next morning.
See the final Glimpse work consisting of eight panels.
