A few years ago I was asked by my dealer to do some still lifes. Well it isn't that easy. Perhaps the artist is working on her own ideas. But I kept the request in the back of my head and kept asking myself what would I have to bring to the genre of still life, that no one else was doing? What would be uniquely my own. After about three years of asking myself that question, I decided: It would be "still life" but with a sense of place. Since I lived and worked in New Mexico, and this place is strongly influenced by Mexico... now how to show that? I decided upon using the weavings of Mexico, which are considered the most colorful in the world and the pottery of Mexico. I would use flat color and hard edge.
The still lifes did not please my dealer. So they went into the flat file. I worked on the series about two years. Recently I was looking through the drawers for something and came upon the still lifes. And still there is something authentic that I like about them. I decided I was not through with that series. I would continue to work with the still lifes, only take them a step further. Perhaps more simplified.
I am working with gouache on paper. I have found when you are working on a new series of work, you must create enough to give the work context. And I have only created two. Today I go to Santa Fe for a poetry workshop. Sadly the art supply store has closed in our town, so I will also go to the art supply store. It is one thing when you are working with gouache, you must have a nice selection of colors. So I will stock up, before I begin the next piece.
