It's Been Too Long

It's Been Too Long: 57"x57"
Painting: Acrylic on Canvas

This piece developed shortly after my husband's 2 week leave in July of 2003. The time we had together just flew by and there was never enough time to make up for the 6 months he had been gone already. We needed to get to know each other and explore how we had changed so we could make a new solid connection then "poof" he was gone yet again. It was like being cruely teased. Time seemed to be the enemy and his return seemed too far away. I turned to my paints to express the desire to stay strong and not to give in to the welling despair and loneliness. Prior to this period in my life, I had no idea that you could miss someone with your entire physical self and the seemingly endless pain that could manifest because of the absence of a loved one. This must have been his struggle as well because the calls came more frequently and the discussions much more meaningful. I developed a richer, deeper and soulfull definition of our relationship through this personal struggle. Now that he has been home for a year that new definition remains now our relationship is much the richer because of the war. This image serves to remind me of this struggle and redefinition of my souldmate. It is only now that I realize the deep impact and longevity of my experiances.

About Celestial Correspondence Series

I thought I'd share on this blog a very personal and emotionally charged series of paintings. The following several posts will involve this series but here is some background on the pieces. These pieces are older than the flower series I am currently working on, but I thought you would enjoy these too.

"Celestial Correspondence” by artist Michelle Leivan, is a series of paintings which are a product of a spiritual search spurred by the war in Iraq. This work documents her reactions to the complex social and emotional environments of the absence of her husband, Captain Lenard (Chuck) Leivan of the 2/130 FA, who recently returned from a 12 month deployment in Baghdad. Michelle’s abstract nudes capture the private conflict and attitudes that women face with an abrupt and undesired separation.

Pride opposed by desire, Michelle refused to be crushed during this separation, a refuge was found in documentation of her private struggle through painting. Within the subtle essence of facial expression and gesture, Michelle invites you to find the empathy and understanding of a soldier’s wife’s inner voyage during this time of great national importance.

Educated at Fort Hays State University, Michelle has been distinguished as the featured visual artist at the Kansas River Valley Art Fair, Topeka Jazz Festival and has been nominated for the Kansas Governors Artist Award. She has participated in one person shows and exhibits at the Manhattan Arts Center, Art Council of Topeka, True Art Gallery and Topeka Performing Arts Center. Her work is represented in the Ellis County Historical Archives as well as in several corporate and private collections.

Demure

Demure: 30"x30"
Painting: Acrylic on Canvas

This purple cone flower reminded me of being an adolesent. My son is just starting this period in his life, so I'm reliving that period in my life to some degree. I remember being a bit shy, kind of a wallflower hence, demure and mysterious... because reality is I didn't have a clue what was really going on.

This piece seemed to be so fluid when it was created, which is such a change from the reaction I had viewing the finished product.

My Florals

Responsive

Responsive: 6"x4"
Painting: Acrylic on Canvas

Complete attention to a subject will make you responsive. This purple cone flower made me wonder what it was reponding to. Is it just the sun that brings out all of it's beauty or is it really trying hard to be the prettiest on flower in the field?

My Florals

Resistant

Resistant: 4"x6"
Painting: Acrylic on Canvas


This purple cone flower shows exactly how I feel when I'm resistant to things, especially change. All the flags go up and I push out to keep the new event away, far away.

More Floral Paintings

Reactive

Reactive: 4"x6"
Painting: Acrylic on Canvas


This painting is of a purple coneflower. I felt that it seemed to that I had just caught it at the beinging of reacting to a uncomfortable situation. Some of the leaves are relaxed but a couple gives away the beginnings of as stressful situation.

More Floral Paintings

Explosion

Explosion: 36"x48"
Painting: Acrylic on Canvas

We all experiance the bottled up energy and the beauty that is the result of releasing it. This sunflower seems to me to be at the pennicle of explosion. The ooh, and ahh of fireworks, or the glorious crescendo of an orgasim.

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Triumphant

Triumphant: 36"x48"
Painting: Acrylic on Canvas

With every triumph is those small nagging regrets, like a double-edged sword. We all want the glory of winning whatever the contest. This sunflower is learning that valuable lesson.

More Floral Paintings

Windswept

Windswept: 57"x57"
Painting: Acrylic on Canvas

This was one my first of the sunflower pieces. I painted it outside and the wind found itself a subject of inspiration. This piece I wanted to make sure it captured the wind and that meditative state when blown by a fall breath from mother nature.

More Floral Paintings

Permissive

Permissive: 30"x30"
Painting: Acrylic on Canvas

I planned this piece much more meticulously than I usually do. This little sunflower had to give me permission to leave it in it's current state and is much more meaningful and expressive than the planned piece. It seems the more I plan a painting the more I struggle to get it right. I leave myself so much less lattiude for failure when I make plans, maybe this piece was trying to teach me a lesson, like I needed it again... fear not failure.

More Floral Paintings

Coy

Coy: 30"x30"
Painting: Acrylic on Canvas

This purple coneflower piece was in such a hurry it nearly painted itself which is a complete contradiction to the name I gave it. It was on an easle at the same time as my "Permissive" piece and was actually painted with extra paint left on the pallet for the more planned piece. It's sneakiness is to be considered in juxaposition between it's conception and the finished product. It speaks to me of the manipulative side of someone being coy. Again this piece also trying to teach the lesson of allowing for mistakes.

More Floral Paintings