you can see all of my paintings at www.DominiqueHurley.com

Journey Into Divine Oneness – Enter the Mandala

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Law-of-Divine-Oneness-Dominique-Hurley

 

This is the first painting of 12 in the Enter the Mandala Project.  I’m so excited to share The Law of Divine Oneness with you!

What a journey! Here’s what I’ve learned through the co-creation of this mandala.

Sourced from Divine Energy, all that is seen and unseen comes from the field of infinite possibilities.

Together, we move as Divine Oneness in a spiralling web of interconnectedness. As to one, so to all.

Click to Buy Mandala Prints

The Intuitive Journey

Visionary artists receive their inspiration in many ways: through dreams, meditation, mind altering substances, etc. I’m one of the rare ones who’s never even tried drugs. That’s not a good or bad thing – it just is.

For this series of paintings, I decided to use my intuitive journeying process (which I call my mini-movies) to dive deeper into the Twelve Universal Laws.

As you’ll hear, I first asked Source and my team of Divine Helpers to guide me.

I then travelled through worlds of imagery to collect messages and symbols related to the Law of Divine Oneness.

Since I asked on behalf everyone, you get to play detective with me as we decipher these messages. Have fun with this. I did!

Listen In:

While listening to this 15-minute audio, take a look at the Spirit Calling Cards below and the Creative Process photos.  See if you can find how I incorporated the symbols I was given. I’m not much into realism, so some symbols are, well, symbolic.

There’s no right or wrong way of doing this. If you’d rather just close your eyes and experience the journey that way, go for it.

The Spirit Calling Card Reading

These are the Spirit Calling Cards that acted as a doorway into the intuitive visual journey.

Spirit-Calling-Card-Reading-Dominique-Hurley

The Creative Process

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Click on an image if you want to go through them larger – it shouldn’t stop the audio.

The Spiritual Process

I’m sure you’ve heard that spiritual growth isn’t always smooth.

Have you ever decided to work on an issue only to start having opportunities to do so hit you in the face?  This form of “ask and you shall receive” can be challenging for sure! But the rewards are worthwhile.

It’s no surprise, therefore, that having asked to understand the Law of Divine Oneness, I got to do so – not only through my intuitive journey and painting, but in every day life.  Immediately!

Right after a very absorbing painting session, I went to the kitchen, where my housemate presented me with a huge mirror (no, not literally). She helped me see that I was not only disconnected from her, but also from the here and now.  I was still in my head and in my painting, reflecting on the meaning of Oneness.  Wow!

After a few seconds of shock, we both recognized that we were being offered a wonderful opening for connection, unconditional love, and understanding.  I suddenly realized on a cellular level (as my entire body was vibrating) how true it is that what we do to one person affects everyone and everything everywhere.  At first, I could almost sense the shockwaves traveling around the planet. But then, because we chose to lovingly deal with the situation, I could see this having a much greater effect that reached far beyond the borders of our kitchen and even our world. I was grateful to my Divine Helpers for showing me that.

There have been quite a lot of shifts in my personal world since I started this exploration into the Law of Divine Oneness.

I’m coming out of hermit mode after a winter of diving more deeply into my Self and my art/business.  I’m feeling called to being of service at a greater level. I’m reconnecting to the infinite possibilities, to gratitude, and to people. I’m letting go of fear, of judgment, of limiting beliefs.  Great stuff!

Your Turn

I’d love to hear what this post/painting inspires in you. Please share your perspective, insights and comments in the discussion below.  Your contribution is a valuable part of this community process.

 

What will your journey through this first Universal Law open up for you?  

You are such a beautiful and important part of the Divine Oneness.

What you and I do to raise our level of consciousness will help us all.

We are all interconnected.

 

Go to Project Introduction
Go to Mandala #2: The Law of Vibration
Click to Buy Mandala Prints
Purchase the Collection of Original Paintings.
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Painting: “I’ve Got Your Back”

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Ive got your back-Dominique HurleyHere’s a clear example of creating out of necessity.

This painting was born from a state of desperately needing to reconnect to Source, to Support, to Purpose, to Love during a period when I’m spending 10-16 hours a day learning and building my new website.  I get overwhelmed and scared much too easily when it comes to technology.

So I took Easter Sunday off the computer to dive back into the creative realms that nourish me on so many levels.

Can you feel the energy that was channeled through this blessed image?

It spent the whole next day beside me at the computer and my eyes sought it often as panic and frustration mounted.

It reminded me to breathe and connect on a moment by moment basis. Very empowering!

I’m glad to say I’m in a much better space now because of it (although still only making baby steps towards my goals). Still, it’s progress.  Thank you dear God and Guiding Spirits, Angels of Light and Love.  I know you’re here – all I need to do is remember to ask for help.

We only need but ask…

*

“I’ve Got Your Back” – 15″ x 30″ – acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas (no framing required) 

Original – Sold.  See  Prints in my online shop.

May this painting bring you whatever message you need to hear today.

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“Side by Side” – the painting

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Side by Side-Dominique Hurley “Side by Side“, 30″ x 40”, mixed media (acrylics, granular gel, light molding paste, glass beads, acrylic paints) on gallery-stretched canvas.   Go to my online shop for the Original and Prints.

Note: the photo does not show the reflective nature of some of the colours – this painting shimmers live and looks different from different angles.

The Final Day (almost):

What a blissful day on Sunday – I had decided to take a complete day off B-School to paint (and sing) – and that’s just what I did. I didn’t even check our 2 B-School Facebook Groups (they do get addictive…).

I started very early in the morning with Kirtan music (Sanskrit chanting) and switched to 50s and 60s music after lunch. I never did get around to taking my shower (not a common phenomenon!)…

After a late afternoon walk with a friend in Bowring Park (where I delighted in the endless parade of dogs of all kinds and sizes) and a bowl of healthy mung bean stew, I headed back to the studio and kept working late into the evening.

When I saw number 444 on my camera, however, I understood my guides were telling me it was enough for one day – it was already past 10pm and I’m usually in bed at 9. Plus, I was starting to get annoyed with myself – not a space to paint in.

The next morning, I woke up to the blizzard outside and my morning meeting cancelled, so I continued working on my painting for a little while before wiring and varnishing it.

The Creative Process:

I have had such an amazing time with this painting since the last Studio Sneak Peek. I invite you to join me in that creative process today. If you’ve missed the previous 2 posts and want to experience the progression from the start, you can access 1) “Love, Beauty & Mystery” by clicking here and 2) “Yinning and Yanning” here.

After finishing work on the couple, including the dots following the hairlines,

23_wip-Dominique Hurley-DLH_1533I continued working on the outer rings.  You’ll see the progression here – notice that I painted white under the orange because I wanted my orange to be nice and bright. It would have been much darker and muted if I had painted on top of other colours.  Also, I didn’t want to use the fluorescent orange I had speckled the base with because fluorescent paints aren’t lightfast. I may use UV resistant varnish, but I haven’t tested whether that would be enough to stop these accents from dimming with time.

I like to use the highest grade of professional acrylic paints available for a reason.  I’m reminded of the importance of that each time I visit my parents and see one of the faded paintings I made in the early 90s. It’s still beautiful, but some of the colours have disappeared. I’ve learned a lot since then.

Then I dove into Zentangles® in the corners.  I’ll confess, I was listening to one of the audio books for B-School that day and while my left brain was busy with that, my right brain got lost in the meditative trance of pattern making.  I had originally thought of just making a small pattern with ample space around the circle and around the edges, but as you can see, I got carried away and went all the way from the corner to the circle.

With dark against dark the circle lost its power. No worries. There are no mistakes in intuitive painting.  So out came the pearl and white.  I liked that and decided to balance the results with patterns in the opposite corner, but not as heavily there.

Great!  After looking at it for a while, I decided to grace the couple with a halo.  This representation of unconditional love naturally glowed. 🙂  I used zinc white for this because, unlike Titanium White, it’s transparent.  I went around the circle twice before adding rays of Titanium white lines.  Remember, you can click on an image to see it larger.

I then decided to empower the painting with one of the sacred sigils I developed in Vienna (learn how in a previous post).

How many times have I said there are no mistakes in intuitive painting?  Well, there aren’t.  After spending the afternoon working on these symbols (and even signing it), I realized that they pulled the eye in all directions.  The painting was much better (visually speaking) without them.  Just look at these side by side.  Do you see what I mean?

So I spent the whole evening starting the process over in those two corners- warm colour marks, followed by cool colour marks, followed by a gold glaze to unify.  Here’s where I understood advice I once heard – take notes.  I couldn’t tell which of my 3 golds I had used in the previous glaze…

It wasn’t quite right – too orangy and too flat.  I compared it to my early shots and much preferred it before.  So more mark-making to bring some of the magentas in and another couple of glazes – violets and golds (2 kinds).  In total, there are about 10 layers of paint on top of those two sigils, but if you look very carefully at the live painting, you can still see their texture – wonderful! Their energy is still there, even if their visual representation has been covered up.

What this last part process reminded me, however, is that it’s no use wanting to go back in time and try to recreated the exact same results.  Attaching to the way things were only brings misery (isn’t that so true in relationships as well?).

The painting has evolved. It’s different – it’s not really a case of better or worse. It just is – and I love it!

What about you?  Does this painting or process speak to you? How? Feel free to comment below.

Side by Side-Dominique Hurley

Title: Side by Side
Year: © 2015
Size: 30 “ x 40“ (76.2 cm x 101.6 cm)
Artist: Dominique Hurley
Materials: Professional acrylics, granular gel, light molding paste, glass beads & channeled energy work on gallery-wrapped canvas with painted edges. No framing required. 
Genre: intuitive painting, visionary art, energism art, spiritual art, inspirational art
Price: $3,700 CAD
Buy Original and Prints.
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Studio Sneak Peek: Yinning and Yanging

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Studio Sneak Peek: Love, Beauty, Mystery

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perfect senseMy newest work in progress started with a gasp as I was watching the movie “Perfect Sense”, one of the offerings on Waking Up to the Movies (see previous post).  I don’t know if I need to credit the director, David Mackenzie, or the cinematographer Giles Nuttgens, but when this shot came up, I paused the movie, apologized to my housemate, grabbed my iPhone, and took a picture.  All week I had been contemplating how best to represent the faces of a couple inside a circle. This was it! Isn’t that just the perfect shot?!

I worked on the drawing and stencil in my room while the repairs were being finished in my studio (new water pipes, ceiling, fresh paint).  I knew I wanted the forms to be raised, like in a cameo, so I needed to cut the stencil in something thick.  Unfortunately, the only large sheet of foam that I could get at Michaels was black (comes in a roll), which made tracing a bit tricky, but I managed with white transfer paper (which didn’t work very well on foam) and then a white paint marker. After that, I used an X-acto knife to cut it.

01_wip-Dominique Hurley-IMG_8916Originally, I had sized the design for a 24″ x 48″ canvas, but when I got down to the studio, a 30″ x 40″ canvas called to me.  I listened.  I invited my Guides and Angels to join me in the co-creative process, smudged myself, the canvas and the studio with sacred palo santo smoke, added some blessed water from the Chalice Well in Glastonbury to my spray bottle, created my intentions, and chose my initial colours.

Apart from the central motif, I had nothing planned for this painting.  I approached it similarly to how I describe the process in my Guide to Intuitive Painting.

This time I started with puddles of water and Golden High Flow acrylic colours.  I just wanted to play. Layers and layers of play as I massaged and moved colour and loving energy onto the canvas.

I know I “waste” a lot of very expensive paint the way I do things, but letting go of all that is definitely part of the creative process.

Once that was dry (which took so long, even with the hairdryer), I added layers and layers and hours and hours of mark-making. This is a truly meditative practice that brings such a state of inner peace. It’s all about being right here, right now. No planning, no knowing where it’s all going – I rarely do. Intuitive painting is all about loving the mystery.

07_wip-Dominique Hurley-IMG_8915Once that was dry, I added a very watery glaze of gold over the whole painting to unify it. Adding water to fluid gold paint by Golden Artist Colors Inc. releases the tiny mica particles that float, disperse and puddle. It’s magical to watch. Mica is a group of multi-layered transparent minerals that symbolically and energetically infuse the the painting and those in its proximity with awareness, love and compassion. Appropriate, don’t you think?

Last night, once the glaze was dry, I used a spatula knife to fill the stencil with 2 kinds of acrylic mediums. I used Light Molding Paste for her face and his hair and used Clear Granular Gel for his face and her hair.  I then peeled it back to realize that leaving the mouth and space behind him empty weren’t a good idea.  No worries, by this morning, the mediums were dry enough to put the stencil back on, and I filled those spaces with Glass Bead Gel.

I still have no idea where this is going, but that’s perfectly fine – it’s actually more fun that way.  I’ve already had all sorts of ideas while rebounding on my mini-trampoline and looking at it.  But I’ll wait until the mediums are dry before making any decisions. Although the molding paste will dry white, the granular gel and glass beads will be clearer (although I’ve never used them this thick before – we’ll see!).  I ‘m having visions of pearl, gold, and dark blue, but I’m not committing to that yet.

15_wip-Dominique Hurley-IMG_8929Well, now is the time for patience. I need to let that dry for the day, so it’s back to the books in preparation for B-School.

Are you loving the mystery?

CLICK HERE FOR PART 2

 

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New Painting: “The Holy Instant”

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The Holy Instant-views-Dominique HurleyIntroducing:  “The Holy Instant”, 15″ x 30″, acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas (no framing required) – SOLD

I keep thinking every next post will be a short one, but there’s a whole story behind this painting – one that started way before I painted it and continually evolved during the process. I’m sure it won’t end there either.

Fortunately and unfortunately, I got so much into the painting process that I forgot to photograph many of the steps along the way.  In the end, however, this painting has between 12-20 visible layers and countless invisible layers that I have yet to discover.

The Photo That Started It All:

I was at my housemate’s son’s girlfriend’s apartment for dinner one night.  Actually, she was renting it from one of her friends who happened to own two of my paintings – cool, eh?  It was a lovely evening – the company, the food, the atmosphere, the music.  I’m not sure how the technology worked, but I think the music was connected to the large flat screen TV on the wall that had a rotating wildlife photography slideshow on it. I recognized a few as famous shots.

A male red bird of paradise performing the practice of plumage display at a tree-top lek, where the males gather. The two central tail feathers, which are black and ribbonlike, have a plastic feel. Credit: Tim Laman

A male red bird of paradise performing the practice of plumage display at a tree-top lek, where the males gather. The two central tail feathers, which are black and ribbonlike, have a plastic feel. Credit: Tim Laman

There was this one photo, however, that literally took my breath away.  I had a difficult time being present with my hosts every time this image appeared on screen.  It was as if it was sending vibrations of pure love through every cell of my being, elevating my spirit beyond the here and now to a space of timelessness.  Try navigating that while trying to hold dinner conversation…  I finally went up to the TV and waited for it to reappear again so I could take a picture of it to take home with me. I knew I wanted to paint it. I seem to have 3 themes going in the studio: spirit trees, messenger birds, and stylized humans having spiritual experiences.

It was only after I had finished the painting and put Google magic to work (using the words “red, yellow, bird, long tail feathers”) that I found out that this was a red bird of paradise photographed by Tim Laman in the rain forest of Papua New Guinea as part of a National Geographic project.  What would we do without Google!

Personal Symbolism:

The Holy Instant-Dominique HurleyAs I was painting it, it dawned on me why the image may have had such a powerful effect on me.  I kept feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit and figured out that something about this bird reminded me of the many images of a radiating dove with its wings spread open that I had often seen in school or at church as a child – the image that often represents the Holy Spirit.

Before I had figured that out, however, I also felt a Christ-energy coming from it.  Although the head was down, it awoke in me the image of Jesus on the cross with his arms spread open. That wasn’t quite it though. As I was connecting to the energy, it occurred to me that it was more from the story after that story (not of the crucifixion or even the ascension), but when he came back down again.  There was this whole Heaven to Earth movement going on, a download of Divine Energy that I could not begin to describe (although I have done my best to do so…).

This is the kind of space I was painting in this past couple of weeks, layer after layer.  The fact that the main tail feathers ended up more like a pear-shaped mermaid’s tail is somewhat of an accident. I guess I subconsciously wanted or needed to put a bit of myself in there – the pear-shaped part, not the mermaid.  That brought the union of Heaven and Earth even deeper into the creative process. Then to frame all that with the two long ribbon-like feathers that were almost heart shaped was perfect – especially since I finished it on Valentine’s Day.

Cultural Symbolism:

Of course the name of the bird was perfect for what I’d been experiencing – bird of paradise. I was not surprised, yet totally thrilled to find out that it has had similar symbolism attached to it for two thousand years.  My Google research revealed that it was rumoured to have come from the Heavenly realms, from paradise, and symbolized the miracle of life on Earth.  The bird of paradise brought with it closeness to God or even favor from God.  And as I found on on many tattoo websites,

Because the bird is usually depicted in flight, those persons wearing a Bird of Paradise tattoo may be announcing to the world that their psychic kinship is with beings who prefer to ‘rise above it all.

It also has a deep spiritual significance for all peoples of Papua New Guinea, who use their feathers and dance their dances to get back the part of themselves that living takes away – a flying spirit.

The Name: “The Holy Instant”

The first name that came to me for this painting was “Holy Spirit”, but I changed my mind as I was listening to my friend read from her study group’s notes on A Course In Miracles (a unique, universal, self-study spiritual thought system that teaches that the way to Love and Inner Peace is through Forgiveness). You may know about the Course in Miracles through the work of Gabrielle Bernstein and Marianne Williamson (who will be in Ottawa on April 30, in Montreal on May 1 and here in St. John’s on May 4th – see details here). As my friend read about the holy instant, I recognized that expansive feeling inside me when I first saw the photo.

“The holy instant is a miniature of Heaven, sent you FROM heaven. …  in the absence of thinking, in the absence of reasserting the magnificent frame around the limited tiny miserable experience of life that you’re having, instead of that, you simply say, “Father, Holy Spirit, what is the truth here?  What is God’s truth here?”… Without that huge frame and all the meanings that you have all agreed to, there’s nothing to stand in the way of the direct experience . . . the simple direct experience of the divinity of everything and provide yourself the avenue for Awakening….The holy instant is a miniature of eternity. It is a picture of timelessness, set in a frame of time.  . . . so the whole of Heaven lies in this instant, borrowed from eternity, and set in time for you.” ~ Paul Tuttle channeling Raj (another name for Jesus), June 18 2011

Doesn’t that sound like what I was trying to describe?  I wouldn’t describe my life as a “limited tiny miserable experience”, but in comparison to living in the holy instant, I get what he’s saying.  My friend was reminded of that passage as I talked about the ornate frame of tangle patterns that I had painted outside of the quiet radiant space in which the bird of paradise existed.  I’m not sure if you can see it, but it all just fits and so this became “The Holy Instant”.

The Making Of:

As I mentioned, I worked on this over the span of a couple of weeks and layer upon layer. I don’t have many photos of the creative process, but have included what I have.

 

And here are a bunch of detail shots from the finished painting.

The cool thing, as always when I use Golden’s interference paints, is that in certain lights and from certain angles, you cannot see the radiant iridescent blue glaze on the left side of the canvas and violet on the right. The painting transforms as you move. It’s truly magical. That’s why a photo of many of my paintings cannot yet replicate the experience of being with an original. Still, I tried to capture it here for you.  These are not before and after shots, but photographs taken at slightly different angles.

The Holy Instant-sideview-Dominique Hurley“The Holy Instant” – SOLD
15″ x 30″
Acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas
(no framing required)

Go to my shop to see all available paintings & reproductions.

What do you think?

Or, more importantly,

how do you feel as you look at it?

Feel free to comment below.

 

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New Painting, New Teacher

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Flight of Fancy 2-Dominique Hurley-Introducing: “Flight of Fancy (2)” – 12″ x 16″ – acrylic on canvas

What a process! The last couple of days were as much about the spiritual process as they were about the painting process.

I’m very grateful to this painting for all it had to teach me during this period during which I’m refining my business plans and vision.  I’m also grateful that my first painting in this series, “My Prayer For You“, was created with such ease and grace because that gave me the strength and confidence to experience what I did through this one.

It all started with the intention to create a few small pieces for an out-of-town gallery that will carry my work this summer.  The owner had mentioned that the pieces that do well are those geared towards their extensive tourist market looking for Newfoundland memorabilia.  Painting towards market demands certainly isn’t my usual approach, but I was open to exploring it as earning a sustainable income from my art is very much on my mind these days.

P11Mirage_Dominique HurleyI started with watery layers of colour sprinkled with sea salt (appropriate for life here on this island in the Atlantic ocean). The salt can create beautiful effects – like on “Mirage” (on left), the gallery owner’s favourite piece in my collection.

But that didn’t work.  It created a mess.  That’s not usually an issue because I usually build up layers, but because of all the caked-up salt, I put the whole thing under the tap and scrubbed the canvas clean before the paint dried.

That was my first sign that I should let go of others’ expectations (and some of my own too – such pressure!).

So I started again – letting the first watery layers work their magic and dry.

I love the mystery and co-creative energy in this technique. While contemplating the results, I saw all sorts of creatures come to life, including 2 birds and a dolphin.

I then used zinc white (transparent) to outline those figures and look for more, like fish, whale tales, and birds.  This is something I still find challenging, although it’s the basic technique I learned in Vienna.  Oh well.  It didn’t matter – I was starting to let go of what I wanted it to be to explore what it could be.  That’s when I decided to cover all the transparent white with opaque white designs. I then glazed over those and went back in with teal and crimson accents.

By the end of that first day, however, I was at a loss again. I felt discouraged. In my prayers that night, I gave it up to Spirit and asked what else that painting might have to teach me. Total surrender.

I woke up 8 hours later with a message coming in loud and clear: “Cover everything but your 3 main characters in white dots”.  I was open to a meditative exercise and so gladly delved into dot-making. By the end, I felt totally relaxed. The dolphin looked truncated though, and so I covered it too.

The more I let go, the more Spirit guided me.

The minute I put it on the wall to photograph that step in the process, the minute I got the next instruction.  One step at a time, when ready.  All I had to do was trust.

Gold dots in the secondary features. Red and black dots to add swirls. Paint around those with black and teal to add contrast.  Go in with your 3-D paint to add even more layers and swirls.  Add the final jewels in ruby crystal gel.

This painting had very little to do with the final result. It’s not about judging whether it’s good or bad or appropriate for a gallery geared towards tourists.  This painting is all about being in the moment, listening to guidance, trusting, and loving what is.

It’s about allowing and accepting.

Once again, I’m so grateful to be reminded that my studio is my sanctuary – the place where I create for myself first and foremost. If that in turn serves someone else, wonderful! How that fits into a business model, I’m not quite sure yet.  Having said that, this was such a useful spiritual and business exercise as I continue to ponder some of the questions I was asked during my first consultation at the Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneur (NLOWE).

I’m not putting limits on what and who I create for, of course. But sometimes, it’s necessary to let all that go for the lessons to be learned within the creative process itself. Art is very much a part of my spiritual practice – it’s my teacher, my mirror.

I chose the name because of the birds and the fact that it’s highly decorated (on a literal level), but also because of the meaning of this idiom: “a soaring mental journey above or beyond the normal everyday world”.  That pretty well describes my experience.

“Flight of Fancy (2)” – 12″ x 16″ – acrylic on canvas – SOLD

Go to my shop to see all available paintings & reproductions.

Flight of Fancy 2-Dominique Hurley-

 

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New Painting: “My Prayer For You”

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My Prayer For You-Dominique Hurley

Introducing “My Prayer For You” – 9″ x 12″, acrylics on gallery-wrapped stretched canvas  – SOLD

Go to my shop to see all available paintings & reproductions.

I started with layers of dark blue and purple washes before taking my homemade snowflake stencils out again – those I created for “Divine Union“.

I had been looking forward to playing with those some more.

This time, I used iridescent paints to create the designs in the four corners, in different colours, overlapping each other. I then spent hours decorating these with dots before adding the fifth stencil on top in blue.

IMG_8834I then got on my rebounder to dance a few songs while contemplating it, asking how it wanted to evolve.  That’s when I saw in my mind’s eye the little angel that my housemate Orinda has on the kitchen table.  The day before, she had put it on the Canadian Tire flyer to point out the table on sale for me.  So I went to get her (the angel, not Orinda) and kept sketching until I had stylized her in my fashion.  From there, I traced her onto the canvas, painted her, and decorated her.

The cool thing about Golden Interference paints is that they change colours or appear/disappear depending on the light / angle.  If you look at these two photos below, they were both taken at the final stage of the painting.  You can’t see the blue iridescent shadows on her lap and in the creases of her dress in the photo on the left.  But they appear on the photo on the right, photographed from a different angle.  Cool eh?

As I looked up from the other paintings I’ve started working on, I would see her on the wall and smile every time.  She just filled my heart with joy.  She emanates with a simple iridescent beauty, and her prayers are filled with a love that feel quite palpable to me.

Can you feel it?

IMG_8827P.S.

It felt so good to be painting again this weekend after a couple of weeks of working at the computer.  I had a business proposal, grant submission, guest blog post, newsletter, tax return, and curriculum development project to work on. There’s so much more to being an artist than painting…

There’s a new addition in the studio. I purchased a 6-foot table that folds in half for easy carrying / storage. Although I’ll still gladly sit cross-legged on the floor for the first very watery layers of some canvases, I’ve learned to be more careful about my posture. I don’t want to repeat last year’s back issues.

Go to my shop to see all available paintings & reproductions.

 

 

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New Painting: The Way of the Phoenix

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The Way of the Phoenix-Dominique Hurley

Introducing:  “The Way of the Phoenix” – 24″ x 48″, acrylics & glass beads on canvas (SOLD)

Go to my shop to see all available paintings & reproductions.

The Way of the Phoenix is about transformation, rebirth, mystery, and creativity. It’s also about taking leaps of faith to explore beyond our comfort zones in order to follow those strong inner calls of the soul. It asks us to let go of all that no longer serves us in order to be reborn in the flight of Love and Light. 

Actually, this isn’t a new new painting.  I finished it in November, but had to keep it offline as a condition for submitting it to a province-wide competition.  Alas, it and 96 other entries didn’t make it to the final round. That’s simply not where it was meant to be. No worries – it means that I can finally reveal it to you now.

The Fire in my Life:

I have long identified with the Phoenix as a symbol of transformation – I’ve painted a few in my time…  I also discovered along the way that it’s one of the symbols for my western astrological sign: Scorpio (the only sign represented by more than one creature: serpent, scorpion, eagle, and phoenix).  As Lynn Hayes explains,

At the end of its life it built a funeral pyre and burned in the flames, only to regenerate its progeny from those very flames. The Scorpio nature cannot run from the destruction of the fire of its emotional intensity, but within that fire is the secret of immortality and resurrection. Scorpio is a water sign but Mars bestows the essence of fire as well and with it the courage to enter the fire and become transformed.

Paired with being a Fire Horse in Chinese astrology, there’s simply a lot of fire in me.  It’s what you would call a recurring theme…

If you recall my writings from Bali, my skin issues (eczema) stem from having an excess of fire in my system (as told by a traditional Balinese medicine man, an Ayurveda doctor, and traditional Chinese doctor). The first medicine man told me I had to find ways to be even more creative, so that the fire doesn’t consume me. I’m working on it! Come to think of it, a spiritual advisor told me more than a decade ago that I had a volcano inside that simply needed to erupt, and that if I healed my skin in one area, it would simply find another exit.  I needed to go deep and deal with the fire at the core.  Still working on that too!

Although I don’t recall exactly why, I strongly identified with the story of Joan of Arc growing up (represented in one of my early paintings). Later, through past life regressions, I connected with several lifetimes in which I met my physical end through fire. When I let go of the drama of the details in those stories, I was left with an understanding of the power of detachment and rebirth.

As Dominique Hurley in this lifetime, the way of the phoenix has materialized as distinct chapters marked by various geographical locations, personal circumstances, and careers – yet with a strong underlying storyline of learning to be True to Who I AM. My life seems to be one of constant transformation – as they say, there’s nothing constant in life but change itself.

I do not fear the fire – it is my teacher, my rite of passage, my gateway to freedom.  I am still learning, however, to release it from my being through self-love and self-expression. As I continue to follow The Way of the Phoenix, I will continue to rise above the complex patterns of human behaviour to a state of higher consciousness and pure unconditional love – in this lifetime or beyond.

Do you relate to anything in that story or in this painting?

THE MAKING OF:

The underlying layers of fire were created through a very watery process. 🙂 Yes, we live in a world of contradictions.

I then used stencils that I made to create the face and figure out of glass bead gel.  In terms of spiritual meaning, glass represents truth or transparency. It’s the passage/barrier between the physical and spiritual realms.  It also carries the energies of transformation, rebirth, focus and communication.  I love glass bead gel (which is white when applied, but dries transparent) because in certain lights and at certain angles, it reflects in a most magical way that my final photos simply can’t show.

I then used tar gel in a squeeze bottle to design the phoenix and the flames. I wanted these to be raised and filled with the fire patterns from the first layers.

wip_IMG_8587Once these were dry, I applied several layers of purple and violet glazes around the raised elements.  These layers are not completely opaque as I wanted the spirit of fire to show through, unifying the whole.

I then had hours and hours of fun with a tiny paintbrush applying the patterns that make up our lives and environment.

I then glazed these in magentas and violet to push them back into the background – representing the fact that not all of our patterns are seen or clear. They also represent the mysteries of life.

wip_WayOfThePhoenix-DominiqueHurley-DLH_0395Once that was dry, I used a fan brush to add wisps of colour in the wings and tail – these are in an interference paint that can only be seen at some angles and in certain lights. This means that the painting appears quite different at different times of day.  Here it is in low lighting.

The Way of the Phoenix_lowlight-Dominique Hurley

Here are a few more detail shots of the final piece.

Both creating and beholding this painting have been powerful experiences for me – does it also speak to you?  Feel free to explain why in the comments below.

“The Way of the Phoenix” – 24″ x 48″, acrylics & glass beads on canvas (SOLD).

Go to my shop to see all available paintings & reproductions.

 

 

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“Divine Union”- A New Painting

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Divine Union-Dominique HurleyI’m thrilled to present to you the finished piece:

Divine Union – 30″ x 40″ – acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas (no framing required)

Click here to order prints.

Go to my shop to see all available originals and reproductions.

This is the fourth blog post about the creation and symbolism of this painting.  To read my previous Sneak Peek posts, click on the titles below:

  1. Snowflakes
  2. The Couple
  3. From Seed to Tree

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Here’s a bit more on the final steps of the process.

Below the Roots:

I spent 5 hours adding patterns below the roots, darkening that section to bring the eye back to the central figures.  I’ve decided that doing this with my tiny paintbrush is much better than the new Liquitex professional paint markers I ordered.  Some of the tips work better than others and they tend to fray quickly on canvas.  Also, I just don’t find they flow very well, as I had to keep pumping some of them without satisfactory results. I’ll keep testing them as I’ve only used a few colours so far.  As I’m not going for the absolute precision work of fine micron markers on paper, my paintbrush was just fine.  Plus I really like the consistency, saturation and overall quality of Golden Acrylics.

The Portal:

Dominique Hurley-wip_1270I have my housemate Orinda to thank for this interpretation.  I had decided to keep the space above the roots free of patterns.  At first, I envisaged it as freshly fallen snow – peaceful and quiet.  She saw it as a portal and the instant she said it, I felt it.

Finishing touches:

I mixed 2 of the blues used on the canvas to paint the sides before using my beloved 3-D paint to sign my name. I used a light blue that will catch the light, but be subtle.

How Long Did It Take?:

A few have already asked. I was going to write that this painting had taken about 100 hours to create. I then decided to be more accurate and was shocked to discover that from start to finish, I had worked on the physical creation of it for only 8 days.  Sure, I worked for more than 12 hours a day on some days, but in my mind, I had been at it for much longer than a week.  In total, then, I estimate closer to 60 hours.  Truth be told, however, like any painting, it’s taken a lifetime to create as it encompasses the totality of my talents, education, practice, visions, etc.  You simply can’t judge the worth of art solely based on hours of work.  Still, what a week!

Contemplation:

I feel so very honoured that this painting chose me as its channel for creation.  I have been blessed by the experience in many known and unknown ways. Just last night, I was contemplating it while lying in bed in the semi-darkness.  As the mid tones disappeared, what was left was the shape of a delicate orchid – inviting me in to discover its mysteries. I then understood why the tree guided me to shape it that way.

Divine Union-Dominique Hurley

Click here to order prints.

Go to my shop to see all available originals and reproductions.

painting spread

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