Heading in an Abstract Direction

This year has brought a big shift in my paintings, its a shift that I have felt the undercurrents of for a while, and really feels like a natural transition in my style. Specifically I am finding myself letting go of much of the botanical imagery in my work, in favor of a more abstract space in which geometric forms have come to take the place of the birds and flowers that once inhabited it.

 After coming out of 2012 and 2013 when I had an infant again and was figuring out how to parent 3 kids, 2014 has felt expansive in the studio. Like I'm stretching my arms after a long nap, then standing up and ideas are just pouring out of me. The studio has always been my "happy place", so moving into my first studio space outside of our home since having kiddos (10 years ago!) and now getting into a weekly rhythm of being able to work in my studio alone, has felt deeply luxurious. It has really felt like a year of coming back to myself and my work, that kicked off back in January with my trip to Bali.

I still love and feel drawn to my floating lotuses (don't expect them to fully leave), but now I have begun to feel the work becoming more about pattern and geometric abstraction. Having worked in studio spaces within our home for so many years, for practical reasons I simply could not paint in the free-washy-splashy-way that I had loved exploring when I could make a big mess in my studio! Now I am loving the freedom to drip and run paint everywhere again, and within those layers to explore a wide variety of mark making. I am specifically drawn to the triangle and am enjoying playing with its many variations in layers upon layers of paint. 

 The triangle has so many beautiful analogies, symbolizing the trinity in religious tradition, as well as the relationship in a marriage between man-woman-god which is one of my personal favorites. Also, having three children I love the symbology of the three sided shape....its just come to hold so much for me.

The layers of color and texture that my work has always been about, seem like they are speaking louder now. When I began to allow myself to let go of the botanical images I felt a lightness in the work, that's how I always know I'm on the right track with something, I feel a lightness inside. My work is really about allowing myself to follow my heart, and part of that is being honest with myself about where my interest lies now.

These pieces are feeling so energetic and vital to me, I just can't help but be excited about this direction. Its not without irony that I was looking through old images recently and realized that this new abstract work is really picking up a dialogue with paintings that I was making back in the early 2000's. Its almost as if I had just stepped away for a bit but now am right back in it and it feels very energized and free. Like with so many things in life, I feel like I have completed a circle, I'm back to one of those places that I have known before but seeing it now through the new eyes of 10 more years of experience.

I can't wait to see where this new direction leads me!

Making a Beautiful Mess

For the past few weeks I've been in a really good painting rhythm, taking full advantage of the times when the kids are in school, and getting some paintings to the point where I can work on them even with the distraction of the kids playing around me, I always love it when that happens!

I've moved my studio out onto our screened in porch, as the cool mornings and sounds of outside have been feeding my creativity.

Painting around my baby belly is getting interesting, often I do end up using it as a shelf, I enjoy feeling baby kicking inside of me as I work, but the downside is that I can not stay in one position for very long. Usualy when I'm working I let my mind float away into my world of paint, but now I'm forced to accomodate my body much more, focussing on maintaining possitions that feel good and moving around periodically.

We've been enjoying this finished piece on our mantel,

Belle and Ruby love being with me on the screened in porch as I work, they watch the action of squirrels and birds in the yard.

The view from where I'm often sitting...

I've been capturing my days on Instagram with my phone more and more, and loving it. Are you on instagram? Come visit me at faithevanssills, and leave your hashtag in the comments here, I'd love to connect with you there!

Frank's got some great paintings, of Charleston and our home, in progress right now too, check them out here.

Happy Mother's Day

Frank took the kids camping this weekend, leaving me on my own for Mother's Day Weekend. What a change it is to let myself deeply relax into the quiet of our house, knowing that no one will disturb me .

I've been painting and enjoying the bright sun in my studio.

I received bouquets and sweet handmade cards before they left on their adventure, along with a surprise gift certificate for a prenatal massage that was just heaven yesterday. Being able to lay face down on the massage table, with the hole for my baby belly to rest in, was such a treat, I had forgotten how good is feels to lay on my tummy.

After my massage I set up a space to paint on our screened in porch, letting my mind and hand wander with color and pattern,

and taking lots of breaks for watermelon!

I can't wait to hear their little feet as they run out of the van when they return from their camping trip in a couple of hours this afternoon, but the treat of alone time is one that I've really savored this weekend.

I hope that you are enjoying much deserved Mother's Day rest and celebration today!

xo

Happenings

I've been a busy bee, starting to update my shop for the holidays. I've been doing photo shoots,

Using lots of pretty accesories, 

and also preparing for a Pirate Birthday Party coming up this weekend. Frank is turning the tree house into a pirate ship. Ahoy.

What have you been up to my lovelies?

Lightness

Lightness

I've been working with an interior designer lately, she found me after feeling a real response to my work after seeing it featured on the cover of our church's Advent season bulletin back in the winter. Its interesting the way connections are made. She has started directing clients to my website, where they look for pieces that will go with their decor that the designer is working on. Recently, one of her clients purchased this painting, Lightness. Its a large piece that I did a few years ago, actually right before I became pregnant for the first time.

I was feeling light and joyful, but also hesitant and a little afraid of what the journey towards parenthood would hold.

As I am in another place of uncertainty, with our move looming, right now I see lots of things that I still relate to in this piece.

Overall there is a positive, buoyant energy that really speaks to me!

This one is new to my shop, I've just made prints available right here.

Additionally, with our big show around the corner, only one week away, I have been having lots of inquiries from people wanting to buy my originals. I have just updated my website, and in the painting gallery section there you will find all of my pieces that are available. If you are interested in a particular piece please let me know as soon as possible, so that I can set it aside for you before our big show. I sell originals by request as a custom listing in my Etsy shop.

xo

Marrakesh

Marrakesh

Sometimes when I am working on a large group of new paintings I have a couple in progress that are pure fun, that I jump in and out of when I need a light hearted romp to play with color. Marrakesh is such a painting, built on daydreams and fancy. I've been loving this blog about life in Marrakesh for a while, and some day dream of going there. I'm picturing sitting by a lotus pond on a blindingly sunny brilliant day,

You step inside to the cool of the shaded courtyard,

Where the soft sound of the trickling fountain refreshes you, but there are surprises waiting for you through the courtyard door, beckoning you out again,

Out onto the winding, dusty streets, with crumbling walls and inspiration in every direction.

Out into the dark bazaar, where light sneaks through the slatted ceiling and exotic wares of every kind catch your eye.

OK, OK, enough day dreaming*. I'm snapping out of it and heading back to the studio. Sending you lovely weekend wishes. Prints of Marrakesh are now available here.

One last note...I had a nice surprise this morning, my new painting Cinder and Smoke, along with another of my paintings called Essence, were featured on the front page of Lovely Clusters in this beautiful spread...

*I took all of the "Morocco" photos at Epcot in their version of Marrakesh, a pretty cool place to wander around and daydream.

Enchantment

She says, "Mommy, I want to paint.", and how can I refuse that really?? She is so full of enthusiasm for painting and drawing, so excited to be discovering it for the first time. So, we roll out the paper, get out the paints and we all dive in... and pretty soon this is the way our morning looks, before we've even gotten dressed.

This has been happening often, you might remember it from this special moment that I shared here.

We have been using my favorite watercolor set and brushes from when I was a child, the colors are so saturated and intense, I remember loosing my self in them, completely enchanted. And now these dear little hands are doing the same...

This morning the four of us painted together, creating a family mural. Shapes and colors becoming parts of the action in a story that unfolded as we worked.

Taking us to another place.

Once it was finished, and dried, we found a special spot for it high on our kitchen wall...

This new painting was inspired by all of the enchantment of childhood, the mystical stories, the places to be cultivated and explored and the times like this one where we all get down on the floor and create something beautiful together.

Enchantment

Prints are already in my shop.