Hello beautiful soul! Yesterday a friend was asking me all about BEING HUMAN: Loved, and I realized I haven’t shared all the magic of this artwork here yet! You have to hear this story.
Here’s how it started… a mix of hurtful words, poetry, memories that were shared with me by people in my community. I mushed them all on this giant 7 ft canvas, and didn’t know what was going to happen next! One thing at a time, one bit of inspiration at a time, one follow through at a time! This was an experiment of trust and alchemy. Could I turn people’s pain (and my own!), into something beautiful… while still allowing those parts of us to be present?
I knew that I wanted to create this artwork specifically to be displayed at the Pride Art Show in London during the festival, so I also held in my heart the pain that we all feel when we are marginalized and pushed aside – and this happens a lot for people in the LGBTQIA+ community. I wanted to make something BIG that would be seen and show people that it’s all okay (big also means… I couldn’t do most of it in the studio! Cue painting outside and in the kitchen again!).
After all the words were there, I covered with watered down black, grey, and silver paint to soak deeply into the raw canvas (the darkness can still be seen on the back of the artwork behind the canvas!), and splattered it with more black. I don’t think I’ve ever started with such a dark base. It really, really felt like a big mystery – Is this going to work? Did I just ask people to share vulnerability with me and now it’s just a huge mess? Can I really do this?
In most of the artwork I make, you’ve probably noticed that I include words at some point. The Coral Is Still Alive has the word ALIVE hidden all over it, and often I’ll mix up all sorts of positive words as a base level. This time, one word.
Loved.
Gosh. OF COURSE! Of course, the painting holding pain and confusing and disconnection simply needs one word. The word that heals it all. Loved. Loved. Loved. Loved. Loved!
Sometimes, when I’m working with a piece I have pinch me moments. You know? Those moments you can’t believe are real and feel so connective and soulful? The word LOVED was a pinch me moment. Yes. Thank you! Thank you for showing me the way. Of course! I couldn’t believe I didn’t see it at first.
Once the base coat of black/grey was finished and the words, then it was onto some of the things you know me for… circles, and colour, and finger prints, and marks – lots of marks! This painting asked me to be so brave and to do things that I didn’t know where going to even work. Colours a little bit darker than my “usual,” things I wasn’t sure were going to work well together, drips that moved the “wrong way.” I am confident that the art will always tell me the next step. It’s my job to keep moving and keep trusting. I’m confident that the things I create are here for a reason and here to help you feel!
BEING HUMAN: loved was displayed at the Pride Art Show from June 8 – 19, and during the opening night I was able to connect with so many folks and share this story. I am so curious and excited to see how BEING HUMAN: Loved continues to bless people; so far, it’s been a beautiful journey so far…
“I finally got to see your pieces in person yesterday! They’re lovely! BEING HUMAN felt like a hug to be near.”
“I can feel the energy of this artwork and sense the magic of the healing here.”
“Thank you for putting my words onto this. Even sharing with you felt like a burden lifted, then seeing the final thing all together… I was moved to tears.”
If you’ve read this far, could you hit REPLY and tell me what you would want me to add to another BEING HUMAN piece if I asked for additions again? Does having me see and hold your pain in this way make you feel something? It’s an honour to hear your stories, and I love when I get to be a part!
Much love,
Alexis
P.S. VOTING is also OPEN for the People’s Choice Awards for the Kellogg Art Comp. I’m one of the top 100 current finalists, and I’d like to win! Will you please vote for me here: Vote!
P.S.S. I love displaying my artwork, but some folks have been asking me lately… is it for sale?! Yes! Everything I make is for sale, and I’m confident that every item I create always finds its perfect home. Magic is like that!
P.S.S. Do you like how I teased you and the FINISHED piece of artwork is all the way down here….. ♥ Love you!
Alexis Christine Wild 