Art Journaling

iI am starting an art journal that began as an art experiment with black gesso and black watercolor ground. Here I am using the watercolor ground as a way to add relief and texture. I used mostly Sennelier watercolor, but also Winsor & Newton Designer Gouache.

I began creating this version human heart grabbing at the red walls of the page of the journal. It hit me that the heart of the heart is a pomegranate. Pomegranates have a lot of symbolism in regards to fertility and creation. I have always been interested in the story of Persephone who spends her time in two different worlds. The pomegranate was an item of desire and temptation.

This isnt done. I will be connecting this heart to the facing page that will be a volcanic fissure inspired by what is happening in the big island of Hawaii. Having spent time in Volcano and Pahoa I left feeling a connection to that place. I was there in 2014 when there was volcanic activity as a flow headed toward the town of Pahoa. There is a smell of sulfur, drizzle, and tropical vegetation and it felt like the primal smell of creation. Pele creates and you just have to get out of her way. If you feel the sulfurous warmth of the cracks of the earth you feel close to the beginning of it all.

My heart is with those who live in this place and are being displaced from their homes. It is a scary time and it is hard to face that Pele can wipe the canvas clean over your dreams. There is no cleaning up lava, Pele just claims it.

My heart is torn because I see tragedy, but I also see the beauty of Pele’s work. Hilo side of Hawai’i is lush and spirit filled because it is so close to lava soaked earth.

I will post when this art is finished.

I am really liking using watercolor ground and gesso as a way to have unique watercolor paintings. The pomegranate detail turned out to be more realistic than I could hope.