These are the sisters, Phoebe and Jo. They are seven and a half and ten years old, respectively. Jo's full name is Joan (after Joan of Arc) and Phoebe's name mean's "the shining one". I've set off with them on a late summer journey to have adventures in far off imagined worlds, where their sibling love and resiliency is demonstrated. In my own family of origin, I was the youngest of four children. My brothers were 7 and 15 years older than me and my sister was 13 years older than me. I always wanted a sister close to my age who would be my best friend and partner in playful adventures. Painting this little series is giving me the opportunity to have some sisterly fun doing what I enjoy the most. I've been working on 15 x 15 pieces for my own enjoyment, but as one of six PDX-CSA (Portland Supported Art) artists this season, I have proposed to make a series of smaller mixed media paintings depicting their adventures in images with text. The PDX-CSA works like a farm CSA - you purchase art by the deadline of Sept 17th and receive the completed art in early December. If you would like to be part of this journey with me, please see details about how the PDX-CSA works - check out www.pdx-csa.com/ I'm paired up with artist Maude May whose mixed media collages explore the theme of what makes a home, a home. If you purchase our pairing, you get a 10% discount. P.S. You can come meet me and the other PDX-CSA artist on Wednesday, September 6th from 6:00 - 8:00 at the "MEET THE ARTISTS " event being held at 1522 N. Humbolt St. 97217.
P.P.S. The top three paintings are now available through www.guardinogallery.com/Guardino Gallery in Portland. samyakyamauchiart.com Instagram@samyakyamauchi Last winter, while in a contemplative state, I heard a quiet, small voice say to me, "Soft, like a kitten." As I thought about it more and more, I started thinking about how cats are so chill and at the same time so able to spring into action. I let the phrase sink deep into my being.
One night I shared this thought with my son who then told me that his partner's greatest wish was that she could be a cat. I decided then to make seventeen paintings of Girls Who Want To Be Cats, and the CatGirls were born! As I've painted them and written their stories, I've come to know the CatGirls as smart, ferocious, compassionate, and creative. They remind me of the strength and power of girls, the wisdom of animals and how "soft, like a kitten" is my true nature. My "CatGirls" will be showing until August 24 at SideStreet Gallery in Portland. I will have a book of them and their stories available in my studio during Portland Open Studios in October. Meow. samyakyamauchiart.com |
Sam Y
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