For years now, I have noticed that I really love patterns. I love to find them, count them, sort them, color them, reorganize them and so on. I find the act of repetition or repetition itself very centering and very healing. My mind, body and spirit come together as one during these moments of “pattern bonding” and my world of chaos becomes calm.
 
There is no right or wrong in this process, it’s a pure act, untethered by rules, by judgments, requirements and expectations.
 
I have come to think of repetition as a form of invocation. Honestly, as I get older and live with this love affair with patterns, I begin to truly understand their power and how meaningful they are in my particular life.

I have been challenged to skew a master for an upcoming show at Ciel Gallery (click for event HERE).
What a fun experiment! Below are a just a few  words about each of the 2 pieces so if you have the opportunity to see them in person, you will have had a little insight first. They will both be on view for the first time and are available for sale.

"Climbing Out of a State of Mind" by Tina Alberni

Wassily Kandisky associated colors and shapes with sounds, and found harmony in his juxtapositions of geometric shapes.  His work incorporates various archetypes and elicits deep observation from his viewers in order to make connections. As a synesthete myself, I resonate deeply with Kandinsky, his color associations and use of archetypes.

As part of Ciel Gallery's collective, I am participating in Ciel's silent auction this year by donating an original.  All funds raised will go to the Arts & Science Council, an organization I have benefited greatly from.
This is a great opportunity to get your hands on an original for a great price while also helping out many artists. Click HERE to get details on how to bid online for all the art available. If you live out of State, special shipping arrangements will be made.

Accepting change is not always easy but often when you manage to do it, it is quite refreshing and usually a growth experience.
 
I am all about opening my mind to broaden perspectives, learn new things, and see things from different lenses. However, when the changes are major, numerous, all at one time, and you just do not resonate at any level with any of them, I take a long pause. Living in a time of never ending flux of uncertainty is rattling me in a way I think I’ve never experienced before.
 
When I was growing-up, time lasted forever, fresh water, fresh air, freedom, nature, animals, etc where all a given. In my view, they were permanent “staples” of the earth that would always be abundant and in endless supplies.  I mean I just couldn’t imagine our planet without them. I never took things for granted though. From a young age, I was quite aware of poverty and hunger and understood clearly that I was privileged. I couldn’t fully comprehend how some had so much and some had so little, but it was evident that those who lived on the fringes struggled to have those staples. Nonetheless, the staples existed abundantly.
 
As time has passed, we know the amount of people living on earth has swelled to a point of no return, so the exploitation of earth and all it has to offer, has multiplied exponentially.  In my middle age, as much as I retreat from letting any sense of doom and cynisism creep into my life, it continues to linger.
 
For the first time ever, I do feel threatened. Mind you, I am quite familiar with the sense of threat. I have been robbed, chased by scary people, experienced natural disasters, economic downfalls, life threatening car accidents and health issues and so on, yet this ominous sensation I am experiencing is on a different level. My defensive instincts seem to be in full force.   
 
I am not a violent person. I won’t rise in arms. I don’t like the spotlight and my usual position in life is very positive and neutral on all fronts; I don’t take sides and really try looking at things objectively no matter who or what the circumstance. So, this feeling is quite new to me. It is revealing, quite firmly, where I draw the line when my values, fresh air, fresh water, food and freedom are vulnerable. I suppose this is a good thing to really know. Asserting my point of view so publicly is just something I have refrained from. I know I express things through my art and have asserted my views but they have always remained behind the artwork, never at the forefront. 
 
As you all know, for some years now, people around the world and now, very much so, again in the U.S., continue to unite for important causes. Some people get vocal, some march, some pray, some tap into divine energy, some work behind the scenes, some get physical, some preach,  and so on. Love, light, wisdom and knowledge, among other things, have perhaps, as a culture, been swept under the rug a bit, but now have the opportunity to come out and thrive.

“Persisting” and “Channeling Light” both mixed media lithographs, spawned from the current socio-political dialectic, combining simultaneously with seeds of hope and positivity, where love, light, wisdom, knowledge and the rest of goodness prevails.

One can do nothing, which according to native beliefs is still doing something; it means we are passively accepting and agreeing with the decision to do nothing or one can take action, trusting one's core values and beliefs. We have a choice.
 
My art will continue to be the vehicle of my expression and I am working hard to continue trusting that there is light at the end of this dark tunnel. If anything, the current ‘climate” of world issues is bringing so many people together and that is a very good thing. Perhaps the darkness will implode and all will be on a better path in the end.
 
How are you feeling and approaching things considering our current state of affairs?

Thanks for reading and now back to my studio!

INTERACTING WITH YOU IS A PRIVILEGE!
 
Throughout the years, art has been a true journey of discovery and healing. A thrilling ride with colors, themes, textures, shapes, thoughts, people and cool materials.

It's finally here! I invite you to experience this thrill through the art of interactive journaling. It’s simply a  wonderful way to explore the depths of your soul and clarify your thoughts.

To be able to share a few of my journeys with you is quite spectacular! You can click HERE to learn about how art and journaling are my true healer

Susan Nicolai is a genius digital artist and she has put together EyeSusan; interactive art journeys from 20 different artists so you can enjoy thirty days of prompts around the theme of healing.

Ready to get your creative side flowing?  Oh, your going to love our prompts! You will truely find delight and will learn a ton!

Click HERE or on the image below to get started!  ENJOY THE JOURNEY!!

I'd love to hear back to see how your journey goes and please feel free to pass along THIS LINK to friends and family!

I was born in the U.S. but while growing-up I got to live In Puerto Rico and Colombia. My love for colors, folklore, stories and my sense of curiosity, and sensitivities to life circumstances all began during this time. I moved to Miami in time to start college and lived there for 23+ years.
 
It was during this time that I finally discovered art and decided to major in art education with a concentration in printmaking. Teaching children of all ages for over a decade infused me with delight. To see how art changed kids lives daily was a gift. It was then, I truly realized how powerful art, in all its forms is. It transforms lives and has literally saved mine.
 
I now live in North Carolina, and I am a full-time artist. I am primarily a mixed media painter. This means I allow myself to explore all sorts of media and combine them with paint somehow. Mostly, I paint on canvas but every now and then I get sculptural, explore with photography and dig digital art forms!
 
How does journaling fit in my life? I journal under each and every painting. My journaling occurs during my under painting process. I slap paint on without fear, I write A LOT, I collage with all sorts of meaningful/symbolic ephemera which include printed papers, letters, textiles, yarns, building materials, you name it. My expression may be about issues of the world, issues I am personally dealing with, random thoughts, etc.  The healing part continues when I cover it all (or most) with an idea for my series which begins serendipitously, and with which I flow with, sometimes for days, other times for months or even years. I really like to work in series and currently have 4 series/bodies of work going. I also love to be involved in collaborative projects and public art. My latest endeavour involves a digital art  affiliated with Eye Susan.  This project is in the works and will be up and running by January. Details will come soon!

As a 3-time open-heart surgery survivor, Art is my “center”. It has been and continues to be my healer and that “place” where I am free from the confines of society. It gives me a true doze of hope/light each and every time I am in my studio working.

As a recipient of a few ASC awards it's always great to give back and I have the great opportunity to do so. The Arts & Science Council has a mission to ensure access to an excellent, relevant, and sustainable cultural community for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Region.
The piece I have donated (in photos here) is titled "Crowded Space" 30hx24w...Old walls and cozy places with history and familiar stories inspire me always. I combine this inspiration with the ephemeral, and a constant sense of crowdedness. This constant tension challenges me to bring it all into harmony. Layer by layer, I attempt to do this, coalescing textural elements, color and shapes.
You have a chance to also give back! Have you wanted to start collecting or continue collecting work from your favorite local artist? Ciel Gallery is giving you that opportunity! Go to the link to place your bid and get that beautiful piece of artwork just right for you! Fine art, pottery, jewelry, mosaics, prints, you name it! http://www.biddingowl.com/Auction/index.cfm… ‪#‎cltARTS‬ ‪#‎artauction‬

Para Español, sique el enlace AQUI

Just off my easel today!
This painting I titled “Stacked Against All Odds”, it is a 30”x48” mixed acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas.

I derived inspiration from contradictory feelings I have experienced when I have been around slums. I have seen many in different countries and have interacted in a handful of them. I have always experienced several things at the same time and always just feel extreme wonder. Some of those feelings have been: fear, joy, beauty, dirty, misery, freedom, pain, appreciation, danger, and wisdom, among others.

It is hard to explain why these places fascinate me but I think it has to do, precisely, with those opposing thoughts I mention above. How is it possible to hold all of those positions at one time in one place? How are people smiling with the biggest and most meaningful smiles I have ever experienced? Why do people become so incredibly dangerous? How can one survive in such filth and difficult circumstances? People actually find joy in parts of their daily life, how? Faith plays a huge role and so many are devoted to God…how can they believe in the divine while living in the way the do? And my list can go on forever…you get the idea though.

This piece is created through the development of many, many layers. Each layer is an emotional response to those feelings.

My iconography usually involves color as the descriptor for positive feelings, textures are about harsh realities and tough situations, and the geometric shapes are the necessary structure to contain the “madness” and maintain some sort of sanity and stability.

As these layers of emotions accumulate, a story is told and in my final layer, I depict a place I create.
All compositions are derived from my head and I immerse myself into the “place” I am painting so I can feel myself “inside” it. It is how I fully know when the “place” I have created is finished. I  experience all those mentioned feelings in one place, at one time.

I combine this inspiration with current states of mind, which very often include the narrative that speaks deeply about how congested my mind often feels these days. The overload of information, traffic, new buildings, more people, more things to do, and just the infinite accumulation of more of “everything” starts crowding my emotional space. In my paintings I often “pour” this congestion out so my mind feels spacious and light…this is the feeling I get every time I finish a painting and it’s probably a BIG reason why I paint/create daily…oh what a feeling!

Para Español, sique el enlace AQUI

Many years ago I lived in Puerto Rico. I left the island as a little girl but returned several times throughout my life to visit family. On one of those visits, my cousin and I headed to the beach. On our journey there, somehow we got lost and ended up in "La Perla" known as the slums behind the old fort wall.
I remember the incredible fear I felt because of the stories I had heard about the place. The fear almost took over my senses. Funny thing is, I guess all my senses were on high alert and I took in many details of my surroundings as we drove through it...textures, smells, tin roofs, weird, illogical stacking of dwellings and scary looking dudes (which thankfully I don't recall their faces!), which actually fascinated me and kind of helped me focus and not loose it. It was a vivid, sensorial experience I never forgot. Somehow, we figured out our way out of it and came out unharmed.
That particular journey has specifically sparked 2 paintings. One I no longer have and this one being the other. Not sure why this experience came to mind this past week but it certainly had me on a delightful journey for many hours!
As I have grown, traveled and been around "the block" a few times, I have learned to really try to be sure to look "inside" everything before forming an opinion, labeling it and stowing it away without further thought.
I have not gone to La Perla since, but did experience the slums in Bogota, as my school had an after school program that would take us into the slums a few times to play and teach children how to read. Some of the greatest smiles and sincere actions have stayed with me through life, I guess because they were such an antithesis to the surroundings they lived in and which I had judged and feared. I also experienced them visually as slums were and still are interwoven throughout the city, so it was inevitable to not see/feel what one would initially say is just total misery, and quite noticeable anytime you drove a few miles from home...a very privileged home in contrast.
I have found myself pressed to find and experience that vibrancy and sincere, total presence in my own privileged life. It is a daily goal and often, it is where I "go" in my paintings, that I experience this.
The colors and architectural elements in this piece are inspired by the vibrancy and positive takeaways from experiences like I had in La Perla, slums of Bogota, etc.
The textures, as always, are very personal and tell my story of living life with Marfan syndrome. 
The title "Reconciling"  seems to be the word that brings together all that I am coming to terms with while creating this particular piece. Though, most of my artwork, in a sense, is always reconciling with something.
If old walls could speak and tell us all they have seen and heard, we'd probably go crazy from info overload (a familiar feeling!) so I keep "my' old walls in my images with only a few sneak peaks (if any) to serve as your reminder to look past the surface of things to find real truth.
Enjoy your in depth journeys!