My identical twin sister passed away on March 19, 2022. She lived five miles away from me, here in Colrain, MA. We interacted every day of our lives, for over seventy years.
A wonderful artist nephew urged me to explore encaustics together, so we did. I absolutely loved it. It gave me a place to combine organic materials with color and magic. It also helped me express my love, grief, and finally the reminder of how very precious life is. Sometimes, the work inspired poems, some of which I have here.
These pieces feel like soul pieces.
They are all "painted" on rough cut scrap boards supplied by https://wilsonhillcarpentry.com/.
A wonderful artist nephew urged me to explore encaustics together, so we did. I absolutely loved it. It gave me a place to combine organic materials with color and magic. It also helped me express my love, grief, and finally the reminder of how very precious life is. Sometimes, the work inspired poems, some of which I have here.
These pieces feel like soul pieces.
They are all "painted" on rough cut scrap boards supplied by https://wilsonhillcarpentry.com/.
I did this piece a week after my first birthday without my twin. It is called "Our Birthday." As part of it, I reduced a copy of a previous birthday card from her.
"Finding Light Inside" (and playing with coloring outside the lines!)
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“Holding the Child Inside” (excerpt):
I don’t know what else to do, so I’m holding the child inside, inside my light, inside where it’s safe. The child that hurts, who is lost, who doesn’t understand. The child, precious as sea glass, precious as moonstone, precious as spun gold. The trees, the flowers, the sea, the land, the gentle grasses-- even birdsong and the colors of nature—all soothe her. |
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“Looking for Joy" (excerpt):
where does joy come from? how does it happen like that, so unexpectedly? how is it that a moment of joy can change my whole world? like the full moon on my face when I wake, the smell of fresh cut roses by my bed, the miracle of form and color on a peony bush flower when the petals are gone, the first early morning birdsong, the simplicity of a single leaf. And yes, the stones. And yes, the bones. And yes, the shells. But mostly gratitude that I can color the dark with joy. |
"Place Inside (Being IV - peacock feathers)"
March 2023 Studio. My studio is constantly changing as I am.
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