Blog
8/31/2022 9:55:12 AM
Today is my last day working on the Cantua Buxifolia; "Sacred Flower of the Incas" before packing up for my Friday adventure to Cusco via 6 nights of small village and Peruvian sights. I have been under grey skies for a month and I have definitely had to make MORE effort to be energetic and have daily uplifting, interesting and positive thoughts. My goodness how weather can affect us! I am pleased to of lasted the month in a positive way with yoga, jogging, painting and exploring.
With the varied colour of flowers in the painting, I don't want to "fill in" the background too much, so, decided to go for the bright turquoise with a lot of white showing through. I'll finish this up in Cusco after having settled and gotten the "vibe" of the place so I can infiltrate more depth and shadows. I want to make sure, as a representation of the Inca sacred flower, that I do. I will also get to see this flower hanging from ceremonial doorways when in Cusco and I have a feeling this will help me bring out the true essence of this plant.
My art is a way of expressing my own journey within and how it shines out to the world. Taking my time, acknowledging my surroundings and space influence my feelings, I tend to work little by little on each piece meditating, so to say, on each phase. Finally, by the time the whole of the works in finished, one can see a lot of layers of life.
8/26/2022 6:14:54 AM
Enjoying the early morning hours of quiet in this busy city of Lima, I have finally gotten the 1st layers onto the paper for this next works, the Cantua Buxifolia; Sacred Flower of the Incas. Showing three different ranges of colour this flower can be found in, along with the stamens, pistil and tube shape, I have enjoyed the small delicacy of working these last few weeks. I'll be integrating some cloudy-blues into the background to bring some of the white edges of the central flowers out and create a "bringing together" effect.
Shadows are my favorite part of the painting process, getting in the depth with lavenders/purples/indigos. I have exactly one week left here and would like to have it done and dusted by the time I leave for Cusco. I hear in Cusco, they use these flowers as lei's and string them to hang across doorways so I look forward to seeing that!
8/12/2022 7:54:39 AM
I'm talking Space Heaters! No, not really, but I had to go buy one last night, think I'll buy another at $7 a pop for the bedroom! I'm very ready to really get to work here. I've discovered this is not the best time to be in Lima, it is their dead of winter! Ah well, not everything on my trip will be going as planned and this allows me to embrace my positive side and manage anyway.
I've got the lines down for the next works, Cantua buxfolia, and in a variety of colours to show off with! I'm pleased with my images of the buds, flowers, some leaves and twigs the flowers grow from. The composition has "passed the mustard" in my eye. Lots of delicate work in this one.
Now that my tootsies are warmed and the chill is taken off the general air in the apt (no heating) I can enjoy the process of painting in comfort and get out to explore too. I think the apt is colder than the outside actually. Once one gets out and gets moving it is better. This will keep me active and fit as I have now already booked my next pad in Cusco, near the Sacred Valley where these flowers flourish!
8/8/2022 7:52:38 AM
Cantua buxifolia; the National Flower of Peru.
I was so pleased when scrolling through some Peruvian flowers last night to come across this one...how perfect!!! I was debating on Morning Glory flower (Ipomoea purpurea) because it covers the cliffs here in the city and does have medicinal value, however, since I am off to Cusco after this and spend a good few months in this country, I thought this was the exact plant for me to zero in on. It comes in pinks, oranges, peaches & yellows too! I don't think I will paint all the colours it comes in, might go for the peach/yellow ones seeing that the last few works have been very over-the-top with colour "in your face"! As my new expression is, "Eye-yiyiyiyi!" Need to try to soften my works however, we will see how it all progresses.
I don't know how "fiendish" I will work on this at home, it is very cold here and can't be IN all day to be sure, and, I want to explore the city and get out & about a bit too. Mellow yellow is how I'm feeling knowing I have a city pad, everything here for me, joy in my heart and a willingness to learn. I hope to come across some good art galleries and a few good museum's here and get inspired more to be in the Peruvian vibe and culture!
Art is in my heart!
