Thursday, February 13, 2014

family paintings

These paintings brings me personal twinges that I realize are too intimate to be experienced by others.
But if I pretended that I am not me, that I am not the mother of the children depicted in them.
That I am instead an interested, compassionate spectator, what do I see?  How do I feel?
What is being communicated?
Light.
Natural sunlight and the way it falls on a youthful body , the shadows cast.  Often blue.
Time.
A document of years of life.
The lives of our four children from the time they were born until the time they were young adults.
My life.
All of my 30's and 40's are in these paintings.
My creativity blossomed with parenting.
Love.
Unconditional love.
I was astonished by the emotion I felt as a new mom.
I was humbled by the responsibility of parenting.
My eyes teared up when they did things I was proud of.
Wonder.
At their beauty and how quickly they changed from one day to the next.  Like water and sky.
I suppose that 26 is not that many paintings.  They are all we have left of the more than a hundred that I turned out while the kids were growing up.
The paintings were made when the kids were sleeping from photographs I took during the busy day time. 
Watercolour is a patient medium and appreciates it when the artist can wait.
Use minutes to splash colour on.
Wait hours before doing that again.

14 comments:

Valerianna said...

A wonderful way to remember, beautiful watercolors. And, yes, I know that waiting well!!

Deb Lacativa said...

these just explode my heart...I have a lot of photos but your watercolors distill the moments and emotions so perfectly.

Ms. said...

BRIGHT...these are so light filled, they fill me with light...and love. so much LOVE here too. Yes, water color is the medium of patience. Just lovely, Judy.

Anonymous said...

so gloriously light
and love filled

beautiful

I too painted watercolors
when my son was small
later we painted together...
so good
to have these precious moments
preserved
the elusive movement of time
the rock solid permanence of love

Heather Hutchinson said...

~ just beautiful ~

Nat Palaskas said...

Gorgeous images. Lovely memory! Hugs Nat

Dana said...

What treasures...the paintings for your children and your children for you. I think the fluid quality of watercolor is wonderful for capturing fleeting moments. These are lovely.

Vicki Miller said...

what a treasure! but the children themselves are the lights in your life, you were representing that light, I think.

Penny Berens said...

Your children are your shining stars. And your work is so much a reflection of you. XOX

Anonymous said...

of course they have additional meaning for you, but as a casual viewer, I can say they astonish with their free flow brush work, the quantity of light, and most of by documenting the kind of ordinary moments that comprise a wonderful life...

Judy Martin said...

Thank you all for your generous responses.

The 26 paintings (from 1981 - 2005) are all hanging in our local library for the next six weeks.

I've shown them before, but as time went along as they were painted, never in a retrospective like this. It's very nice to see them together, and perhaps inspiring for me. I wonder if I should paint the figure again?

Unknown said...

I really like your work!! It inspires me! Would you like to take a look at my blog about my art journal? http://lottesdummy.blogspot.nl/

Threadpainter said...

Gorgeous, loving paintings Judy … I think you should take up the brush again.

April said...

so nice to read your thoughts that went along with the exhibition mom.
still love that outfit i have from the festival. striped skirt and chunky platforms, yes please :)