Art Sketches: Keeping a Grip

These are the sketches I did this week, some were during the therapy session while others were done at home alone. One of the things Dr. D and I have noticed about recent art is how I have more geometric shapes and a heck of a lot more sunflowers than usual.

The work is still mostly done from edge to edge in screaming bright colors and its smaller than usual.

Most of the sketches and things being done now are half page pieces instead of the two page collage work I was doing. I’m also mainly using ink and markers instead of mixing acrylic with oils and every single medium I can find.

One of the things we’ve talked about recently is my need to organize and clean like a fiend. When I feel things are out of my control I grab it where ever available. What I see in my artwork is a tight, anxious ball of anger and lack of trust. I guess I know my art well enough to see that. I know certain strokes of mine indicate a feeling of openness and ease while other strokes show agitation and upset.

There are a lot of lines and cross hatching as well as encased people and trees. I still used a lot of color but there are so many dividing lines that for me they stand out as a change. Purple was used more but that was done purposely. Purple and butterflies are Lupus symbols. I was in a flare up for nearly three months so that was on my mind a lot and shows up in my color schemes. What I can’t explain is the increased use of black in my work. I’ll have to go back through some pieces and see when exactly that started.

Much smaller pieces, not much branching out into other mediums, more geometric shapes, brick walls, increased sunflowers and more use of black. Some changes may be significant while others may not be but we look closely at my art since it is through that I’m able to express myself with less inhibition.

Destiny