June 8, 2024
In Practice started as a series of six small color pencil studies created late one summer night in July 2023. These pieces felt like a gift received from an unknown source. Inspired by these pieces' overlapping forms and use of layered color, I have created an entire body of new work.
In 2016, I traveled to Sweden to research the artist Hilma af Klint. I wanted to know what inspired her to work abstractly and what inspires abstract women artists in Sweden today. From my research in Stockholm, I shifted my practice to focus entirely on meditation and working intuitively.
I connected with Hilma’s relative, Ulrika, during my visit, and my research took an unexpected turn. Ulrika encouraged me to connect with their family medium, Sophie. My conversations with the medium included instructions from Hilma about improving my practice and how to connect better to my inner voice.
I have been meeting with Sophie every six months for eight years. Last summer, we spent three days together for midsommar with our children and my friend on the archipelago on the eastern side of Sweden. She received some more instructions during that visit, which I used to guide me in my practice. Here are a few key instructions:
RUN FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME
PULL THE LIGHT OF A CANDLE OVER YOUR HEAD
FIND SILENCE
GO TO A BOOKSTORE AND FIND A BOOK WITH NEW IDEAS
USE LIGHT PURPLE AND COOL COLORS
USE CURVILINEAR LINES, NOT STRAIGHT LINES
HAVE A PARTY IN MY STUDIO
DRINK MINT TEA AND EAT BLUEBERRIES
I revisit these instructions each time I arrive at my studio. Which ones feel easy, and which ones feel hard? I set up an altar by the window, where I transition my mind to openness, receiving ideas from within and from other sources. I have many ideas, but some are more important. Those are the ones I try to put on the canvas.