Alchemy

ALCHEMY is part of a series of paintings called "Alchemy: The Transformative Power of Creativity & Love &  The Honoring of Loss." The series was created in honor of my late husband, Bob, whose passionate avocation was buying, selling and collecting perfume bottles and powder boxes from Murano, Italy from the 1940s-1970s. Bob became one of the foremost experts in this niche market having full knowledge of how they are made, from sand to the blowing of the glass to studying the incredible glass blowers and creators of the time. In 2001, on our honeymoon, we experienced the glass blowing on Murano and the many wonders, tastes and charms of Venice and islands. A dream come true for both of us.

When I first saw Bob's breathtaking collection of glass pieces, they were displayed and reflected in mirrored and lit glass cases. All the colors, shapes and textures were beautiful and so unique. I was in awe!

After Bob's passing, my inner voice told me to paint a series representing this glass in his honor. Little did I know that 'alchemy' would be ever present while creating these paintings. There was the more obvious alchemy that happened in the making of the bottles from sand to glass. But there was much more. In the process of painting, I witnessed other transformations/alchemy: I became more aware of my creative process of writing down my intentions for each piece and saw how each painting informed and transformed into the next. From one painting to the next, there were, also, changes in style, color and technique.  ALCHEMY  is the last of  work in the series. At this point, it seemed important to add more depth and texture to this alchemical process.  A map of Italy/Murano is the foundation, the painted tissue paper and paint followed, on top, in layers bringing more substance, value and meaning to this piece and the series as a whole. There has been a sweet, healing/alchemy on a spiritual level. The creation of this series allowed me to heal more deeply from Bob's loss and continue to honor him as a bright, gifted, generous, soul and renaissance man. 

I am deeply grateful for Bob and the opportunity to experience my own alchemy, inside and out, while creating this series of paintings. Alchemy is a celebration of life, the transformative power of creativity and love and an honoring of loss.