mercy/merci

i am happy with this painting i did yesterday for it captures an element of a place i have been trying to get to lately with art making, and for the most part floundering.
this came after weeks of making expressive layered paintings like so and a few flat ones and as i was cleaning my studio i was compelled to put everything aside and sketch quick and then paint this in a matter of hours... or with an unawareness of time... which is always the best place artwise. it just that it feels right. loose & tight. childlike, whimsical, feminine and a bit odd just like me:) i have been obsessed with big beehive hair and flowing skirts for what feels like years. the weight of it all. the pressure on the head. the bustle.

the first word i thought of was mercy... then i looked up the definition:
mer·cy
Compassionate treatment, especially of those under one's power; clemency.
A disposition to be kind and forgiving: a heart full of mercy.
Something for which to be thankful; a blessing: It was a mercy that no one was hurt.
Alleviation of distress; relief: Taking in the refugees was an act of mercy.

from Old French merci

is the lion having mercy on her? or is she merciful? or merely saying "merci"? or is it me that is thankful that the painting gods have mercy on me? hee. finally i'm getting back. if you are a reader of this blog you may notice that i've been lacking images and have been slightly blue, but am feeling renewed as of late.

oh and i put a print available in my shoppe! i want to do a series of them and then have a show... perhaps.

and here's a link to a kind write-up and awesome clearing house for kid goodness called optimism.

warmly,
mati