13. Seacliff Beach and Whale Symbolism

I recently painted at Seacliff Beach in Aptos, California. It's a beautiful beach with a lovely cliff that offers many viewpoints. I was intrigued to learn while doing some Native American Research at the library, that Seacliff Beach was a spawning ground for whales. That fact would make this place sacred in many native cultures. Whale symbolism varies in different cultures but intuition and creativity are high on the list. They swim in deep water and bring many blessings of sustenance to Inuit peoples. Since water is a universal symbol for the subconscious, it could be said that whales songs are like our intuitions that spring up from our subconscious and communicate with us from another realm. Whales are symbols of creativity since they make up beautiful songs to carry their communications.  These lyrical whale communications can travel a thousand miles. So if you ever paint at Seacliff Beach, you might want to ask the whales to help you remember to listen to the gentle song inside your heart. 

 

12. Natural Bridges State Beach

Natural Bridges State Beach is a wonderful place to paint.  There are nice curvy eucalyptus tress back off the beach that give a nice frame to the Natural Bridges Rock formation hugging the water. In this video I give you a tip about the rule of thirds and how to set up your painting with a nicely placed focal point. 
The ocean is a spiritual centering place for me because of all the rich symbolism associated with our own birth as sea creatures and the sounds of the womb. I also think that the flat horizontal plane of the sea has a calming affect visually. Enjoy this video as I paint a tree-framed ocean scene. 

 

11. Monet's Garden at Giverny

In May 2012 my husband and I had the privilege of taking a trip to Paris. I offer it you now in the middle of winter as a hope to always remember the spring to come.  We visited Claud Monet's famous residence at Giverny. Monet's famous water lilies, poppies, farm house, gardens with the Japanese bridge, and water canals are now a museum open to the public. In May, everything was in bloom and it was a glorious site to behold. The sheer number of flowers and colors is a lesson in the abundance of life. Here's a little pick-me -up for the dreary days of February. Enjoy!

10. Howard Ikemoto Workshop

In August 2012 I took an abstract workshop with Howard Ikemeoto who taught for many years in the art department of Cabrillo College. We were to paint anything we felt as long as it was considered abstract. Howard's contention is that abstract art will inform and influence your representational art. At the end of most days we would have a group critique to show and receive any feedback from Howard and the other students. 

The spiritual lesson in this workshop for me was in the abundance of styles. Each person was utterly unique. Many artists struggle (me included) to find their representational style. But the fact of the matter is, that you can't escape your style. Each person on earth has a particular combination of DNA that truly makes them unique. As artists I think it is good for us to remember this and allow our art to come through that unique self. We are our own gift to the world. It is really fascinating to walk around a room of artists and see that uniqueness of each individual spirit and how it manifests through their art.

9. Henry Cowell Redwoods

Happy New Year! What better place than to renew oneself in the heart of the Redwoods. Henry Cowell State Park has a loop trail that is a wonderful place to paint. Beware that with the height of the Redwoods and position of the sun on the earth in January makes for a short span of sunlight. Also the Redwoods are rather cold during the winter so be prepared with layers if you paint. The Redwoods were considered, by Native Americans, as sacred trees that truly stretch up into the heavens. They also give off soporific drugs that make you feel relaxed and slightly euphoric. I'd say that's what you need to make your New Year's resolution. Happy painting.

8. Santa Cruz Boat Harbor

Thought I'd wish you a wonderful holiday season from the boat harbor. The Santa Cruz Boat Harbor is a very complicated place to paint. There are mast heads and lots of support wires and chords. I had to simplify the scene in order to make painting feasible. The shapes and shifts of the ever colorful water give the artist an infinite field of beauty to paint. The wonderful reflections in the water teach us to question if we are solid or are we but a reflection. Is a reflection any less real? The Hindus says that all we see is Maya or illusion. Our true self is one with the infinite wholeness sometimes called Brahman.  The artist has the ability to choose what is real and what is solid, what is only a reflection and what has lasting beauty. May all your relfections give you beauty that lasts throughout the new year.