acrylic paint and walnut ink in resin. 2020
A cri de coeur is an anguished cry of distress. This is how we're all feeling; anguished and in distress. This is especially true for those of us who rely on art for our income. Our income, as well as hard work and plans for the future, have gone up in smoke. Our futures are no longer foreseeable or even reasonably predictable.
This piece reflects the anguish and distress. The merest touch of Nickel Azo Gold paint turned orange in resin, an anguished color if there ever was one. The color moves and flows over the ink base, just as the virus inexorably moves and flows over our populace. Both are unstoppable at some level.
Thus my Cri de Coeur.
For over two weeks I have been unable (or perhaps unwilling) to create art. I was glued to the news. It was like watching a car wreck. How many would die? What would happen next? I was mesmerized and not in a good way.
My fear-based emotions told me, "What is the point of creating art when no one will see it?"
I'm past that now.
Now that this piece, my first in a long time, is done, I am going to experiment a bit. After all, I certainly have the time. I have 2 gallons of pouring medium on hand which I'm going to use to experiment on 12"x12" panels, to see if I like it (and can control it) lieu of resin, which is my preferred medium. I'm curious as to what color will do when mixed in pouring medium, especially the matte version.
My next show at Walker Fine Art, originally scheduled for May 8, undoubtedly will be canceled. So the pressure is off to create more art for that show. Whether another art show, slated for in the fall, will go forward is an open question. Will we still be in quarantine then? Or back in quarantine? Will anyone come to either art opening? The pandemic will still be fresh in our minds for years. So are art openings a thing of the past? Or will we all be so grateful to escape our social isolation that we attend every single thing that we're invited to? I guess we'll find out.
I am watching my funds rather carefully, knowing that there may be few sales in the foreseeable future. I have some panels on hand and will buy new ones slowly and only as needed.