Now that the picture is done, I am still not done with the work. It's a process, spiritual, personal and practical.
Practical: I
still have to give it a protective coat.
I emailed Jonathon Talbot who was generous enough to share his experience.
Two coats of Golden's acrylic polymer medium and two coats of varnish later
it will be done.
Wait, no, I still have to figure out how to hang it. I think I will
use eye hooks and a wire, but I still need to ask someone if that is the
best way. It was destined for my living room over the mantle, and perhaps
somewhere else some day.
Spiritual: I have been birthing this idea for sooooooooooo long. Since I work full time and am a mom, and take care of my house and kitties, and car.......etc. etc....it has taken me a long time to accomplish this painting. To me The Red Dress is not just a project, it is one task in my calling. And I am not just a weekend painter, I am an artist all the time. To have fulfilled my calling to this degree, in this manner, well, it is like the planets are all in proper alignment. It is my way of sharing the joy that I find in this world.
Personal: I miss
working in the theatre so much. I have a great life now, but I miss
designing costumes. The bittersweet feeling that I carry with me daily
feeds this art that I make. It is not a bad thing at all, but joyful
remembering. I can use what I learned there, and what I have learned about
life and art since then to make things. Whether the resulting product
is small or large, it comes from me, my background, my personality, my
longings--the pull and tug of the things I want to be and can't be, the
movement toward my authentic self. Like the edge issues that came up in the
painting, I have my own personal edge issues, boundaries and limitations.
Like the focus problems for which I found my own personal solutions, I have
focus problems in my life that need my own personal solutions. This painting
has taught me about my own life, that I must edit some things and let them
go in order to live.
Seeing the end product is encouraging to me as well. It shows me in a
concrete way that I have a rich inner life, a creative mind and both
imagination and practicality. These are things that I value.
This is an autobiographical piece. While I am not Rose, I am the
costume designer for the play that Rose is in. I look forward to
working with the actress that plays the part, the crew, the director, dress
rehearsals and opening night. Ahhh....
Lynette Hensley
August 23, 2003
