Exploring Personal Symbols

Ever since painting “Hitch Up to Your Own Special Star” I’ve been collecting “tropes” about stars.

The painting feels like it belongs on the cover of a book of star stories.
Please let me know if you have one to share.

I’ve yet to write a successful star story — other than my own, and that one’s a work in progress. Still, I’m enjoying the collection process and am hopeful something fun will come of it.

Recently, I woke up with this in my head:
”Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky,
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are.”

With that, I knew it was time to begin a new star painting.

I’ve long said I’m a “hearts and stars kind of gal,” meaning I like all things related to hearts and stars.

These iconic images are my personal symbols.

To begin, I sketched several stars on watercolor paper. Then I added texture and paint and let it dry.

Each painting is an experiment. I never, and I do mean NEVER know how it will turn out.

I have a keen awareness of color, which helps me keep them bright.

I learned how to design a page in my previous work life — another key component.

Color and Design are two essential elements I stress in ALL of the classes I teach.

This painting was created with the intention of turning it into a jigsaw puzzle.

That’s why I kept painting and painting and painting, finding more and more stars (and hearts) as I painted.

One of my very very good friends reminded me of a song this morning that illustrates why this kind of painting feels important to me.

On the surface, it’s a sweet little painting, a painting without much substance — different from some of my other paintings.

Please enjoy this version of “Accentuate the Positive,” music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by Johnny Mercer

Remember:
We’ve got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
And don’t mess with Mr. In-between.