2023 January
Welcome fellow art lover! At the start of the year, we all wonder what is in stone for us this year. What will happen to my art? Will I just go with the flow of Dubai life, earn-work-live a materialistic life? Or should I continue the passion that I brought back from my stay in the Philippines. Where artists are unbothered to stop their art even in the most impoverished times. “Padayon” Continue on… just paint because feeding your soul is more important. As the pragmatic me would say – there should be a healthy balance between feeding your soul and the tummy. Unless you are a loaded golden baby, we should still keep a regular income.
To continue on the “Passion”, I bought a small projector to project my photoshopped subjects to the canvas. The projector, that small movie gadget is an artist’s secret. Wireless is better and with a tripod. Tracing is not cheating; it is working smart =). I then prepared 3 paintings, brushed the first layers of grisaille and sprayed gold at the sides. Grisaille is the style I use; it is the introduction of black and white as the underpainting to establish the values before applying on the colors. The gold is an effect of the “gold frame” should the painting be left unframed. The three paintings are inspired by the desert, journey to healing and a hopeful longing for a zest in life for the new year.
Here in the Middle East, it is camping season. Shops are showcasing outdoor activity stuffs- tents, barbecue grills, camping chairs etc. Around the lakes are crowded, in the desert people are partying. The cool breeze is a treat in this part of the world. I was out and about the Emirates on road trips. Every new journey has untapped potential. Every time we start a new creative project, there is thrill, the anticipation for better things to be seen. We open the door to the hope that with art there is always freedom for adventure.
I hope that all of you have a great month of January to start the year. Enjoy camping, the beach, trekking before it gets really hot. Wherever life takes you don’t forget to turn to nature for inspiration.
Xoxo,
Nelly