The PBJ Effect
I’m of two minds regarding 2020. While part of me can’t wait to drop-kick it into oblivion, the other part is appreciative and even grateful. I’m still standing; I have my health, my home and those I love near to hand; and, I am more creatively focused than ever before. That last bit is in direct response to the social restrictions we’ve all been subjected to.
Moonchild Final Version: I am pretty much in love with this painting. My PBJ tribe friends gave me ideas to enhance this piece - adding yellow to liven up the bamboo and the moon by providing tension from using complementary colors on the color wheel and then adding that yellow to the “stars” in the night sky. This is one of the paintings I will put into our group show in January. I’ll let you know more about that soon.
Covid 19 effectively closed gyms where I would meet my fitness clients and other friend-clients cancelled for cautionary reasons. Understandable, yet the impact for me was both challenging and unsettling. It was also pivotal.
Moonchild design: Bamboo and full moons soothe and inspire me. I turned to these as inspiration for a video my friend Pamela is creating for me to promo our online art show we’re having in January 2021. This is the original pencil design.
Covid social changes continue to restrict and concern everyone. I pray that you and yours are safe and healthy. I have observed positive changes in the lives of others and hope that you are finding ways to cope and perhaps even to improve aspects in your lives as well.
Here you see my first light color wash with turquoise and cerulean blue only.
Personally, the income shut-off solidified the point of no return and squarely aimed a well-placed kick to help me claim my childhood dream. Although it no longer involves working for the Disney company, most of you know this dream does involve being an artist. With my safety-net income dwindling, my only other choice was to become the artist I always wanted to be.
Two other amazing creatives and I have formed a group that continues to awe and delight me in its depth of support and talent, encouragement and growth. We are a vortex that is evolving through our respect for each other. It is effortless and very, very satisfying to be a part of this group.
This stage shows a second darker color wash of blue and blue-green. The darker “gray” blobs on the moon show where melted wax was put down to save some of the white parts and bamboo highlights. I love how the wax wrinkles the page, giving the watery paint channels to follow.
To that end, our first ta-da! is a joint online art show in January of 2021. This first stroke is one of many we plan on making for ourselves and also to benefit fellow artists. I am thrilled to be a part of this forward-thinking, adventurous group.
As I move (finally!) toward my dream, I am very much grateful to those who supported me as fitness trainer and massage therapist. To you I give my heartfelt appreciation and love for your trust and willingness to persevere. It really was a very fun ride.
This is my third color wash and layer of wax. If I’m not too reverent about how I spray down the painting as I prep to color wash, I get these fun bubbles and folds as I spritz the painting with water. This is one part of the creative game I adore - I never know how each painting will turn out. I don’t really care about results when I’m in this kind of flow - it’s the feeling of fun and what might show up next that satisfies.
We three - Pamela Roberson, Bonnie Anthony and Judy Aveiro - make up the “PBJ”. Our shared alchemy continues to create the “Effect”. I love what the initials imply - another playful nod that reflects the joy of this group and what we hope to share. I am eager to see how 2021 unfolds.
Ok, here's the painting after all the wax layers have been ironed off. See the blue on the moon? That was unintentional, the result of my fat, juicy color washes seeping under the wax on the back side of the painting. I love this. At this stage, the design is far too one-dimensional for my taste. Here I begin building visual interest by outlining the bamboo and the moon with pencils and crayons. I start slowly, asking the painting how much contrast it wants and, almost always, I am too timid. The final marks I lay down are bold and thick and I enhance them using moistened fingertips.
Stay tuned!