Week 104

I gasped as he handed me two large dagger brushes. “We can only use these, 2 for each of us.” Never mind I’d hardly used this brush type before, but such a large brush - when I was to do delicate petals?? We both grinned doubly wide and eagerly began. This is the very LAST of our second series.

It is our third painting to do while looking at a Monet for inspiration. Our photo stood with one of his, and so we drew life from the palette and strokes like ladling water. The colors are incredible. Moving from areas of blending to free strokes left in their glory, we undulated over the canvas giving the cool and fiery explosive movement of spring. Although hardwood panel bounces a lot less, the passion and energy were undoubtedly palpable under our ample and compelled brushes.

As we place our final red and white stroke on the finale, a chill went over my arms. Yes, it is winter, and yes, normal. But in this moment, the magnitude of completion ran through me. It took longer than a year for this series. However through unrelenting morning/evening sickness, birthing a child, recovering from major abdominal surgery, postpartum depression, nursing and mothering day and through the night, we were able to create. Not just able- we fought white knuckled to create. I feel as though we are molding ourselves and our marriage into what I know deeply we already are. It is blooming in what up close looked like a wild catastrophe of events, but as I step back brush in hand, see an explosion of growth, beauty and peace. Deep within, I know this series is just the beginning of spring.

Catastrophe de Couleurs

23.5” x 46.75” | Oil on Hardwood