Patricia Zilinski

Choreographer Twyla Tharp referred to "muscle memory" in regard to dance moves, positions. If a dancer practices, repeats sequences enough, the muscles remember. I think of "muscle memory" in regard to how to put paint on canvas. If an artist makes enough brush strokes in her life, an internal knowingness makes future strokes easier. And will "muscle memory" take over when blocks to painting appear?

I have been trying to start the last painting in the series, "On the Fence."

The sketch is in; the dark colors are the advance team and they are ready. And you can see the luminous colors of the Fushia in the go-by photo. There are not "fences" blocking the way. The blocks are only my own.

Stuart Lord, President at Naropa University once said: "Show up. Make things happen. Get things done." I keep that quote on the wall at my studio. I show up; I make things happen. Sometimes "getting things done" lags behind. Fear of what next? What if the painting is not successful? Do I feel the need to be in process, in the flow? If I finish will the flow stop?

I continue to go to the studio. I work on other projects. Paint mixes and flows all over my palette, and onto canvases. I prepare for the moment when I get things done.

Patricia

PS: I have been painting Mushrooms today; the colors are pretty subtle! Maybe working with earthy colors will be the impetus to finish the Fushia.

Besides where I paint? In May, you can see this collection at a feature show at NEXT Gallery in Denver. I am painting my fingers off to get the work finshed for this show!

Besides the show? The collection emphasizes hard edged floral images taking over rounded ornamental fence fragments. Drifting green and sketchy foliage play back-up. Contrasts are common in my work...in this case, distinctive florals against playful loose grounds.

Where are these flowers? A garden or some other green universe? Fence cages never work; sometimes they become gates...ways to get somewhere else.

Let me know what you think,

Patricia

PS: Peony was the third piece I finished for this collection. She was a delight to paint!

So what about the drips?

Seems like my actual images want to "stay within the lines." Remember coloring books?!  So when I first started dripping paints, I felt like a kid; finger painting is a good analogy. Total tactile, total freedom. Well, for the paint that is! Colors fall off my brushes; they roll and tumble, depending on viscosity, humidity, canvas texture. I LOSE CONTROL! How cool is that?

In White Tulip and Crocus Too the drips are really apparent. With other paintings, the subject matter takes over.

"On the Fence"....I've been told that is where I paint. Somewhere between reality and fantasy, almost to the surreal. My backgrounds become creations of their own, barely reminiscent of the garden they could be. My flowers scream COLOR RULES...shadows are problem children.

 So, what about the fences? Wrought iron images brought home in photos from my travels, as far as Kiev and Rabat, as close as my neighborhood. More on that when it comes to mind....

 Orange Tulip was the first of this series...painted from Brooklyn Botanical Garden photos. Garden photos are a pure celebration of Spring. This painting almost had snow flakes painted onto it! But I couldn't bear to proceed with that idea. When snow goes, it should GO!! The fences took the place of snowflakes. Floral images in Nature and those I paint deny the fences, grow through them. Nature often overtakes fences. Something important there. Something about Nature and Man. I'll let you work on those concepts yourself!

 Patricia

 PS: My "drips" often take over my canvases...where does that come from? Check in with me later this week.