About the Art: Go vertically down each column, plus, progressing overall, from upper Left to bottom Right:
-Pandemic Easter Light: pastel; true life event of Easter alone- (photo days earlier; elderly mom). “We are not alone,” symbolized by light. (Or at least need not be). -Black & Yellow, Red & White: Strength on knees. Sent home for art college (pandemic), I selected only poses of figures on their knees, for drawings. Prayer for world. I've seen miracles, including the story behind these drawings (too much to explain here), for my Artprize 2021 display. Prayer is for real. -Fiery Furnace Emergence: Challenge to create pastel drawing based on the white manikin. I chose a meaningful, creative drawing, of a person 'becoming real' with divine help (like classic tales), based on personal experience of transformation. 'Hidden' symbols throughout (e.g. a 'destroyer' pushing rock formation off a cliff, etc). Setting: Arches National Park, Fiery Furnace, USA. (painting of Jesus not finished). -See (Red): pastel; with miracle story: Wanting a spiritual theme, I considered 'spiritual' poses (e.g. holding the heart), but they felt too cliche. I prayed for guidance, 'I'd prefer to draw the red head model." I next read a daily Bible devotion; it was in a prophetic book, with a discussion that warned to keep your eyes open, to God's instruction, & even referred to the color red as symbolizing warning!!! Perfect! Wow! Still Life Challenge: (A class still life setup; required to select from table of items/ most lacking pleasant color, but then I found this one area of great color!). Focal areas are close to 'photo-realism' but it is a painting, not a photo. -"Giant City Bunny Confuses Calder Grand V. for a Carrot": City of Grand Rapids, Festival of the Arts '21, Plein Air Event, participating artist. Assigned location. Collage; includes colored pencil 'rubbings' of textures from all over Calder plaza onto rice paper, including the words on the bunny: "The great swiftness." (I enjoyed going beyond reality, to make a creative painting. This painting is joyful to me, of the bunny biting off pieces from the sculpture). -"Worth A Lot": Challenge: pastel painting on current issue, using 3 objects: (I chose manikin legs, metal trash can, Wizard of Oz red jewel heart box). In our 'throw away society' research shows a 'disposable' mentality can seep into the rest of life, in how people treat each other & do not respect the value of all people. The painting contrasts the problem, with the hope of rising up, out of the trash can (empty), walking into green pastures, fields of sunflowers, a fullness of life. Pottery Vase Challenge: Create a vase with given list of parts: body, shoulder, neck, lip. I was thrilled to find a creative solution: of sun rays (neck) poking through cloud (body); with a flat top (shoulder) having a great cloud 2D shape, plus mini clouds among the rays (= lip); (see miracle about clouds below/ section: 'about CC'). "Erased" mini platter (with foot); Another 'prayer' inspired artwork, with a daily devotion about forgiveness, which the idea of 'erasers' (and black pottery, with white erase lines) would symbolize. I plan to do a series in this style. CC (SeeSee) Hemmes is a spiritually focused artist by life calling, with college study in both art & theology (+ non-art B.S. degree). Seeing. Names can have meaning. I feel gratitude for a real faith experience, that led me to have my eyes opened to ‘see’ the deeper dimensions of life, giving a life calling to share hope to strengthen others by communication through art. This gives meaning to my name (C. Christina) abbreviated CC, ("SeeSeeArt"). “Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them,” & he prayed, "O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see." 2 Kings 6:16-17. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” Hosea 4:6. (Knowledge = seeing). I found, firsthand, when we progressively heal & expand & grow, by ongoing connection with God’s real presence & guidance in our daily walk of life, it leads to seeing more deeply & the fruit of a whole new purposeful, abundant, positive (even in negative circumstances), joyful, peaceful, hopeful, fruit bearing, loving level to life, greater than we may have imagined possible. I found help I never could have created for myself. The calling to be an artist: came through prayer to know God's will for my life, & next reading daily Bible devotions. Confirmed over 15 x’s, I immediately encountered a Word about artists. One time, after taking photos of clouds everyday for a year, (for painting reference), & praying to hear a ‘personal Word,’ the very next thing I read in a daily Christian devotional, said to "Paint the sky, so you will be an inspiration to others to look up, beyond themselves, to God." I liken much of my art to Bible stories where people created memorials (e.g. stones), in remembrance of encounter with God. Prayer is often a part of my actual art process, consistently yielding astonishing Words related to a given project, adding a dimension of a very real walk with God to my art. This spiritual journey has included a deep experience of tangible healing from severe life abuse. 2 Cor 1: 3-4, : "Praise be to the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion & God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received." You are truly, immeasurably loved by God. We are not alone. |