Constitution Hall Mural here in Topeka

I had the opportunity to work on this project this week. I have been spending evenings going down to help finish this project. The lead artist Cally Krallman and notable Governor’s Muse, Don Lambert were great to work with and I believe we did justice to this historic event. I got to spend most of my time working on the Dragoons at the south end of the mural shown here.

Excerpts from the CJ online article concerning the piece:

“The painting began June 19. Krallman and Chris Meinhardt, who is an architect and leads the Friends of the Free State Capitol, did the sketches that volunteers are painting.

On the south end of the mural is the depiction of Col. Edwin Sumner, who led the troops sent by President Franklin Pierce to break up the efforts to write a free-state constitution.

J.P. Root, who was at the convention in Topeka on July 4, 1856, and later was Kansas' first lieutenant governor, recalled Sumner's words:

‘This is the most painful duty of my life, but the president of the United States has ordered it, and I must obey.’

Root went on: ‘At the same time the voice of the 'Old Bull of the Woods,' as he was called on the frontier, trembled with emotion, and the tears in streams ran down his sun-burnt cheeks as he gave the order dispersing the Free State Legislature of Kansas.’

The Friends of the Free State Capitol's goal is to have a site open year-round to publicize Topeka's role in the history of the state and the nation.

‘This is where Kansas got its start,’ Meinhardt said. ‘We should be proud of what our forebears have done.’

TO HELP

Friends of the Free State Capitol welcome donations at P.O. Box 2551, Topeka, 66601.

CELEBRATE

A ceremony for the 150th anniversary of the dispersal of the Free State Legislature and the dedication of the Constitution Hall mural will be at 11 a.m. Monday in the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library rotunda, 1515 S.W. 10th.

To see the whole story:
http://cjonline.com/stories/062806/loc_historicmural.shtml

A little more history from Wikipedia.

‘Constitution Hall’ was the name given to a two-story building at this site, 427- 429 S. Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Shawnee County. In 1855 Free State settlers wrote a territorial constitution (‘Topeka Constitution’) and elected a legislature that met in Topeka to demand the admission of Kansas to the Union as a free state and challenge the fraudulently elected proslavery legislature. The Free State constitution prohibited slavery in the territory. This building became known as the Free State capital. On July 4, 1856, federal dragoons dispersed the Free State legislature when it met in session.

‘Constitution Hall’ served as a center of community activities in Topeka during the Bleeding Kansas period. From 1864 to 1870, the capital of Kansas enclosed old Constitution Hall and extended at each end. The enlarged structure housed all the offices for the state government until a more prestigious capital building (still in use) was constructed.

Untitled (Help me title this one)

Untitled: 24"x30"
Painting: Acrylic on Canvas

Oh, I can't express how much I like this little lady. I think I fell in love with this piece about half way through. Her pose is so relaxed and exudes confidence and stability with self. And there is a bit of sparkle in her eye daring you to cross her and see just how well she can handle the pressure. She even reminds me of a comic book superhero such as Witchblade, Aeon Flux or maybe even Storm.

The biggest problem I have is that I do not have a clue as to what to name her. It is a very common problem among artists and so I'm posting this and maybe you all can help with my naming process. I guess that is what the "interactive" is all about.

While painting her I struggled a bit with the feet. Initially I had more foot and leg showing below the crossing leg and it looked like a strange bit of flesh filling in the bottom. So like a good artist (if it doesn't work fix it) I went back in and completely eliminated the foot, at this point she looked as if she was floating in the air and she had reached the top and was banging her head against the boundary... Not so good. Then I decided to replace the foot, this time curved the toes giving the front foot more character and brought her back down to earth. This simple change made all the difference in the world on the success of this piece.

I think that I'm actually getting a little more comfortable working at this size. The slowness of the drying time is still frustrating at times but I find that working on another piece while waiting or just simply taking a break and looking at it has it's advantages as well.

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Afterglow

Afterglow: 30"x24"
Painting: Acrylic on Canvas

"I'm so happy just to be with you, Just love'n you the way I do." Have you heard or do you remember that little ditty by White Snake? This piece speaks to me of happiness in the moment, not caring about the rest of the world and expecting the happiness to last forever. I think maybe it goes beyond expecting but looking toward the future for happiness as well as in the here and now.

I'm not quite comfortable yet with this particular size of canvas, I so wanted to make large bold strokes and use my entire arm to express this piece. I found that smaller brushes allow for more arm movement and a simulation of working on a larger piece. I am sure it will not take long for me to find my niche working with this limited size.

I handled the background in this piece much like the last one, just exploring the options you might say. I believe it gives it some depth and stabilizes the figure within the space. You will probably see a fluctuation between these backgrounds for a while as it will probably depend on what the piece seems to want.

experimentation is what living as a creator is all about. Each piece begins with the exploration or adventure concept and builds upon itself toward completion. Unlike a scientist, initially I do not always know what the thesis is but eventually it reveals itself. In the end I either successfully have a finished piece or it goes into the rework pile. Either way I've learned something without regret. Enjoying the process of putting brush to surface with what ever result is important and necessary to being a creator which can give you some insight on the divine.

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There You Are

There You Are: 30"x30"
Painting: Acrylic on Canvas

This gem is one of my new June paintings. It resembles the pieces in my Celestial Correspondence series but is much, much smaller. I wanted to challenge myself to paint smaller. The experience was a little frustrating as I missed the full arm brush strokes used in my larger pieces.

I have also changed the way I have been handling my backgrounds by making it lighter and giving a darker base for the figure to lay on. This gives the piece a sense of grounding and is a little more comfortable for the viewer to identify with the figure.

My husband was really uncomfortable with this change and felt that I was moving away from my style. I believe it is just another step in the ongoing experiment that every painting seems to be a part. This makes me think of Stephen King’s Dark Tower Series and how many of his stories throughout his body of work somehow intertwine with the larger storyline. You can see that all of his characters are somehow related which logically they have to because they are all connected through him. This is my story in pictures and somehow all of my paintings reflect some aspect about myself that is a result of continuous research to reveal the human condition and what is sacred about each of us.

This lady reflects the degree of comfort I have recently found in myself. Becoming more comfortable in your own skin is worth more than gold. Of course looking carefully into the eyes you can see I'm not quite there yet but working hard to find the inner peace that comes with age and experience. I am not sure if the eyes are ever watchful and vigilant or full of continued curiosity and wonder about the world. What does the eyes say to you?

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A Recent Biography

Educated at Fort Hays State University, Michelle Leivan 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 Governor’s Artist Award. Michelle 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. She has also exhibited in several juried competitions on the internet. Her work is represented in the Ellis County Historical Archives as well as in several corporate and private collections.

Most recently, she has expanded her exploration to the floral form with the challenge of creating an expressive and distinctive womanly style. Her bold pallet and energetic paintings weave philosophical and intuitive compositions for modern contemplation of the sacred feminine. This style has been cultivated by her life long artistic expression through spiritual reflection of everyday experiences and environment. Four of these new sunflower pieces were honored by being selected hang in Kansas Governor Sebelius’ conference room for the second quarter of 2006.

See my website for more.

Opening to the Sun

Opening to the Sun: 24"x24"
Painting: Acrylic on Masonite

This simple tulip was painted plein-air. It opened and finally began to close during the course of my work that day. It was exciting to see the uncomplicated logic behind nature and the little magic that you find when you take the time to truely observe.

You might notice too that this piece is on Masonite it has been a long time since I painted on this kind of hard surface and I was reminded that the paint acts so much different depending on the surface on which it is applied. Fun!


For those who don't know what plein-air is; its a fancy French term which means painting out of doors under natural light with the subject in front of the artist and the piece is usually done in one sitting.

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NYC Representation

I am almost speachless. After many years of toil I have finally found representation in NYC through Agora Gallery, 415 West Broadway, Soho, NY.

My exhibition dates are August 25th, 2006 through September 16th - Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 6pm
The reception will be August 31st from 6pm to 8pm.

The Gallery's site is: www.agora-gallery.com
Their companion website for buying art online is: http://www.art-mine.com/ArtistPage-ID-54559.aspx of course I am going to send you to my page on the site first.


P.S. They said some really nice things about my work, I finally got my laptop back so now I can pass it on a quote.

"Your Work: The paintings exhibit strength in a resolute and innovative style of work, with radiant forms emerging out of a maze of color and conveying an infinite number of emotions. One soon discovers that the work is not about the recognition of form but about a formidable energy that saturates and permeates all of the paintings. Excellent Work."

Pretty awsome if you ask me. I am looking forward the this year's adventure.

It Can't Be Said

It Can't Be Said : 57"x57"
Painting: Acrylic on Canvas

This is another of my Celestial Correspondence series. I believe it was the first of the series. I painted this about the time I found out that my hubby was going to leave for Iraq.

This piece speaks to me on so many levels. There is the ominous lighting that creates the illusion of being silenced by the hand. It reminds me of the esoteric symbolism of the 15th card of the major arcana of the Tarot or "Devil Card:" the situation is not always as it seems.

"This card would warn someone of a deception of appearances in a person or situation. Someone or something is not what they or it appears to be. This card could also alert someone to negative emotions that are oppressive and hindering growth. It would be wise to look within and see why or how these feelings are being motivated and deal with them in a positive manner."
http://www.psymon.com/tarot/15-devil.html

At the time, life seemed completely out of my control. I felt "gagged" by the situation. I had no choice in the matter and was placed in the position of forced acceptance. After I finally decided to give in and truely accept the situation rather than wallowing in my own self pitty and frustration because those negative feelings would serve no purpose. I found an inner peace and the knowing that my husband would return and we would both grow from the experiance.

As I look back the hidden gift was the discovery of my own inner strength and a deep well of patience that I found during this trying period in my life. As things turned out I am stronger, more confident and very resiliant as a result.

Please take a moment and let me know how this image speaks to you.

Sunflowers for the Govenor

I currently have 4 of my sunflower paintings (posted below) displayed in the innersanctum of the Kansas Govenor's office! They were selected by the one of the Govenor's personal friends who helps to concieve of themes for quarterly rotation of images inside the Capital. Luckily several of my paintings were on display at SouthWind Gallery in Topeka and she selected all 4 of my pieces to hang in the meeting room just outside the Governor Sebelius's working space. The huge space was perfect for my large format paintings. They will be on display through June.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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