Confessions, New Paintings and Women's Conference

April 30 and May 1, I will be at the BYU Bookstore from 10-2 and 3-6 signing prints. I have to be honest, I've never pictured myself in this context. There is no question that I'm excited to be involved in an this event, it's just...LDS Women's Conference Artist...me?? I mean, I am LDS and I am an artist but I'm thinking... I'm too corky, too simple, and too raw. My work doesn't have universal appeal, so I can't be out front. That's someone else's job, someone who wears more pastel colors, someone whose artwork is featured regularly in the Ensign. Besides that, I've never even participated in a Women's Conference or anything like it before. I tend to avoid big crowds and structured events in general. Most importantly, I have spent most of my life keeping my religious beliefs to myself. I'm uncomfortable talking about things that are sacred and precious to me. I'm sure that is why painting is essential to my well-being. I'm obviously getting braver in my work. Sometimes it's these sort of challenges that force me to let go so that I have room for something better.

The theme for the Women's Conference is Strength in the Lord. I painted these two paintings with that theme in mind. Again, I used the symbolism of flowers as a way of communicating ideas. In both paintings the figures hold peonies. The peony is a symbol for the ardent love of God.
When I was working on the painting (above) titled, Presence, I was thinking about paradise. I was thinking about the times in my life when I have felt an absolute contentment. That beautiful feeling has come at times when I've lost myself in was care for others. The figure holds a strawberry. The strawberry has many associations ( fertility, chastity, heaven, holy trinity, humility, paradise and purity) all of which seem fitting. Fruit of all kinds is a symbol of good luck. Several kinds of fruit frame the top of the painting. Fruit is considered to be evidence of God's kindness and a symbol of the goodness of providence. The lambs are in the care of the ever-vigilant shepherdess.

Solace (above) promotes a different feeling. Solace is comfort in sorrow, to alleviate or relieve distress. That's a nice thought. Thistle symbolizes hard work and Christ's deliverance. I associate lavender with love, happiness and life, so the lavender along with the thistle creates a good tension. The figure is dressed in blue representing purity and she has strawberries in her hair.

There is of course more in the paintings but if I gave it all away,then there wouldn't be room for interpretation and meaning on the part of the viewer.

I really am excited about participating in Women's Conference. I might not fit the stereo-type I've had in my mind of Mormon Female Artist but I was wrong in creating that stereo-type in the first place. There isn't one kind of of Mormon Female Artist, there isn't one type of religious artist. There are people of all kinds, expressing their beliefs and urning for understanding. Again I am reminded of the importance of sincerity. If I had a label, that's the label I'd like.

Both of these images will be available as small works on paper at the conference. Come see me and I'll sign one for you.