A friend and I were discussed themes today. There are themes as an artist that come up in every meaningful piece. My theme has always centered around place…home. These daily sketches started as exercises to get my mind back in alignment with my hand. As I’ve gravitated more towards drawing these flowers I’ve become obsessed with exploring their creases and folds. These flowers and sketches are no longer just an exercise. I’m not sure of their meaning, but the experience of drawing this today felt right. Maybe it’s the environment surrounding sketching that put me in a mind state that feels like home: sitting in a hammock on the side of the street, talking with a friend on his porch, conversations with neighbors, visits from the mail man, someone stopping by to say hi that lived in the neighborhood for 50 years and hearing his stories. Conversations about art, movies, place, family.
Or maybe as a plant hoarder I’m fascinated by how these plants cultivate these floral ornaments in their homes to attract insects that will ensure the survival of their ecosystem. It could be that and more. I’m not sure that it matters why, but it’s meaningful.