Sunday, July 5, 2009

New Ancestors Series

The Ancestor Series, oil, graphite on panel @the artist, 2009


I've started a new series called The Ancestors. I'd like to say it was initially inspired by the Toltec idea of the naguals - "women and men of knowledge," but it wasn't until I started reading "The Four Agreements" by modern nagual Don Miguel Ruiz, that I made a connection as to where these "faces" might be coming from.





I originally thought of them them as "faces hidden in the grounds" - meaning that first I textured my surfaces and then began an exploration using graphite, sandpaper, and eventually oil paint as the faces emerged. Now I'd like to think of them as The Ancient Ones, keepers of knowledge on how best to follow a spiritual path.


These are painted on some beautiful 6" x 6" cradled panels that I purchased from Deborah Paris's company, Mountains Edge Frames . I'd ordered a variety of panels with a totally different project in mind, but sometimes the Muse has her own mind made up and I just go along for the ride.

As for the birch painting panels, I highly recommend them. Beautiful finish, light-weight, and the depth of the cradle seems just right for my purposes. I have used other commercial products and I think Mountains Edge is one of my favorites.