Raw humanity
new painting series & a page from my art journal
Today I’m sharing some of the portraits from my new series titled Raw Humanity. This is most likely going to be a long, ongoing series.
I want these pieces to resemble the art I create for myself in my art journals, so I'm creating it in a loose expressive painterly style.
I’m not sure if he’s gazing into his lover’s eyes (perhaps the love of his life is you the viewer), or if he is observing lovers off in the distance while they stroll through a park holding hands? The possibility for other stories to conjure up in the mind seems endless with this one, and the story changes each time I look at it.
Every time I’m flipping through my art journal, I stop on this page to admire her hair. I’m so jealous of it.
I’ve been grieving along with the rest of the world since I found out Andrea had passed. The love letter link below was their final TV interview.
Be brave enough to make art that nobody loves but you.
Andrea Gibson - Love Letter From the Afterlife
I still consider myself new to Substack, and I didn’t know Andrea had been writing here until just now. Andrea’s wife, Megan Falley came up in my feed last night, and that’s how I found out.
RIP, Andrea. Thank you for being you, and being brave enough to make & share your art. Much gratitude & love to Megan for continuing to share Andrea’s work & yours with us. ❤️
There is so much sadness, and suffering everywhere in the world. I recently found this quote, which has been helping me to remember the little things in life (except the last thing is BIG). I hope it helps you, also.
If today gets difficult, remember the smell of coffee, the way sunlight bounces off a window, the sound of your favorite person’s laugh, the feeling when a song you love comes on, the color of the sky at dusk, and that we are here to take care of each other.
Nanea Hoffman
Listening to: Where is the joy? - by Buddhist nun, Ayya Medhanandi
“What is true joy? All too soon, joy declines because that is its nature – to change, like all conditioned things. True joy comes not from an idea of perfect conditions but from knowing the truth of suffering – its causes, its ending and how to free ourselves from it. Just as we avoid poison ivy when we walk in the forest, we never pick up anger or hatred, but we see wisely beyond the duality of likes, dislikes, and delusion. We investigate whatever we experience. It’s all compost, the flowers and the poison ivy – to awaken to pure consciousness. And great is our happiness when we abide with ease in that freedom in the midst of change.”
My work is available on Daily Paintworks, and eBay.
You can also find me on pinksky & blsky.
I’ve also been posting notes here on Substack in between these longer posts.