Calm After The Storm

Purple sea
4'x 4' Mixed Medium on Wood

This is the last of the four new ocean paintings. This one is very serene, and peaceful which is how I'm looking forward to feeling now. Due to the recent fire, I have decided to postpone my Vineyard Show. There were a few reasons, but mostly because as an artist I need to create by following inspiration. And inspiration can be a little unruly, it doesn't always behave well or produce excellent work, especially under pressure. I felt that I could potentially jeopardize the integrity of my artwork and myself by forcing results in a short and uncomfortable way. Also, why paint if its not fun???? So, unfortunately I took the best decision I could under these circumstances, and released the pressure by releasing the show scheduled for July 13th on Martha's Vineyard, at the Belushi/Pisano Gallery. I know there will be plenty of future opportunity's and I am really excited to watch my new works continue to be born.

" Let the beauty you love be what you do"-Rumi

What Remains...

What Remains...sooooooo much!

This opportunity has been really great already for so many reasons. Primarily to recognize what is most important to me, the fact that I can still paint! Truly as an artist what I value most is painting, is process, this was not destroyed in the fire, in fact it was stoked by the fire! My willingness, my inspiration, my physical well being are all still here, and are super-charged with adrenaline now!
Tragedies and disasters always come with huge opportunity's of greatness, its a matter of perspective and choice. I'm choosing to learn as much as I can from this and soak in all the goodness.

The following are some of the positive results:

1. Recognizing what I value.
This is helping me to see my time and make adjustments so I can paint as much as I possibly can ( my two gallery shows are still on!!!!!), which is shifting the way I will use my time from here on out.

2. Having the opportunity to paint with intention.
All the paintings in the fire were a group of works that emerged over the course of this year, all which have been small studies for the new paintings I'm doing now. Now, today, I know what I want to paint, and I have a clue as to how to arrive there, because of all the tools and experiments I've been doing all year. I know how to set up my canvas, what materials I'll need, etc. This is really cool!!!!

3. Feeling loved and Supported.
Its been amazing to receive so much support from friends, family and my art followers!!!! Its really amazing to be reminded that we're not alone in our success and mishaps, and I've never had so many people tell me how much they care about me, WOW!!! Thank you all soooooooo much, and you know all that love is right back at you!!!! I encourage us all to regularly remind each other of our love and support, because it really feels good, and inspiring.

I'm sure there is still more to come, and I will keep you all posted. Thank you so much for caring!!!!!!


PS. This photo is from my studio, and its on my website in the " about me" section, and its literally what still physically remains from that website.
www.dawnbreezepaintings.com

Tragedy of Sorts! "total godsense"

28 of my paintings lost their lives today at a very young age!

They we're all being framed for my two upcoming shows...and the frame shop/barn burnt to rubble yesterday. I was supposed to pick them up today, and this is me standing in front of the remains of the fire this morning. Oddly this photo is faceless-just a camera phone picture...but I thought it was suiting, as my paintings are no longer visible...except on my website, which is now like a memorial, as 98% of what is on there and more, are now ashes.

I am freaked out, heartbroken, and nervous..but I am also really eager and excited to paint more. Also, this is coming after a week of really hearing and seeing inspiration about my future paintings, and knowing in my heart that I am just about to burst with inspired works.

I have been studying artists that I really enjoy, and have been blown away by their maturing & birthing process...how in their first works you can see their mark, their DNA...but once they peel the layer of self consciousness and have practice under their belts, their "real" art blooms. This is encouraging to me. ( Agnes Martin used to annually burn all her paintings for more then 5yrs, until her real inspired paintings manifested)

Also, this group of work that just burnt to a crisp was my first full years worth of work( I plan on having atleast 60 more years worth!)..and yes I am very proud of it, and happy that it is considered worthy of showing, but I knew it was fleeting and transitional, and I feel divinely protected. I mean that in the sense that I think I am protected as an artist, and obviously that was not the work to be shown now. Its one of those things that just makes " total godsense"
(total nonsense now), and I just don't know yet how this exciting bit of drama will turn out in my story....but needless to say, I will be painting a lot for the next couple weeks...but today I'll be taking a picnic, and looking forward my new paintings.