Story Summary
This creation was designed to create pause and reflection so you can connect back to internal equilibrium. As we discover equilibrium internally, we begin seeing more of it externally. Art reflects life, various details that may seem disconnected are all connected in some way. As we connect to ourselves, and expand that connection towards others we make larger connections to our global community.
Story
Equilibrium was the one word theme for 2025 that was discovered on a hike in Shevlin Park in late 2024. Theming my year has been a practice for years and has assisted certain areas of my life that needed more focus. This year would be no exception and equilibrium would be a lovely reminder AND challenge throughout the year. I began preparing this creation on August 30th for an install in for the Shevlin Crossing Gallery of the new gorgeous Taylor Brooks office building, Shevlin Crossing Building B, in Northwest Crossing. Due to the large lobby wall on floor one, I decided to create my largest to date painting 72×84” size to bring balance in the space.
Subliminal Story Art is art with intention, embedded with meaning. The intention began with inspiration from a new line of art I am creating, I’m calling it my Time collection. Time is something that has always fascinated me. I developed this creation as part of my inaugural install with my theme for the year. I applied concepts that would align with the aesthetics and artistry of the extremely beautifully constructed sustainable office building. I was installing my art as part of a new Art Curation program for Taylor Brooks, called the Artist in residence program designed to offer beautiful office buildings to showcase local artists. In addition to creating my own art, the program is designed for beautiful office environments to rotate local art over specific timeframes. These Artist in Residence programs begin with showcasing my art, first, so we work through the nuances of the new environment and what works for the space.
The intention for creating was to connect to those that experience the creation and create a moment of pause, to create a sense of calm as observers paused to reflect in the moment. In life today, many can attest to the speed and details bombarding us at any given time. In a time of overwhelm, this creation causes a pause for all those that observe the 6’x7’ creation.
I often share that my art is more about connection, than it is about the art. While aesthetics and design are critical I invite intentional focus to look inward and reconnect. The more we reconnect to ourselves, as a community, the more we find the reconnection to those around us. As we discover equilibrium within, we will discover more equilibrium in our world. This creation was painted at a time while I worked on a client commission; and felt a need to reconnect back to my years theme. As Gandhi said, “be the change you wish to see in the world”…and find equilibrium inside.
On August 30th, this creation began with a large equal sign to reflect the scale of the painting and look to inspire balance. While time and life flows from one moment to the next, life can be viewed very mathematically or very ethereally. We can experience time moving slow as we view the clock hands moving around the dial, waiting in anticipation. We can also experience those moments, where hours go by in seemingly minutes, while we are “in flow.”
There are many nuances to time as we move from one moment to the next…so I created the equal sign with a “crackle” element that was extremely pronounced before paint was added. Time is here, now, and gone in an instant…only to be replaced with the next moment which is why life is so precious. Inside the two layers of thick crackle paste you’ll find the word “Equilibrium” in the lower right corner. To balance the equation and reflect on balance, I added the Bible verse “Proverbs 16:11” in the top left corner.
After the crackle treatments were made, two treatments of gold paint were added as part of the subliminal layer before painting. As I prepared for the paint treatment, due to the sheer size I realized I was going to need to paint the canvas in the vertical position. (Note: I usually paint the canvas in the horizontal position and have only painted one other creation, Energy, in that way.) I didn’t have an easel large enough to handle it, so I painted it while it hung on my wall.
I LOVE adding a lot of paint to a canvas, I laid down some protective floor coverings. To provide a richer texture and to depict the passage of time reflected in a sand timer, I decided to add a slightly different sand paste to the top part of the equal sign and a different texture on the lower equal sign. As we can all relate to different passages of time, life also has many different feels to it. Sometimes life can be challenging, and other times it’s euphoric. Through it all, we are invited to find the equilibrium. Reflecting on the pause and looking inward, there is an amazing deep sense of gratitude for being alive during this time, here on Earth. This creation with the various paint strokes and blending of pops of color and muted greys provide the variety of emotions that can be experienced in any moment. Or because I live in Bend, can reflect the variety of temperatures and seasons experienced in one day. 😀
A couple days later, after reflecting on the work…to blend the colors more consistently, I added a Matte gel on the top equals sign and a Matte Modeling Paste on the bottom part of the equals sign. I selected a concentric circle beginning in the center of the painting representing the many ways our lives can go at any moment. Each day, we have 24 hours and since this is a part of the Time Collection, an ever so subtle circular texture which can reflect a clock with no hands reflecting the infinite with finiteness of a canvas.
This creation is a culmination of time, choices and opportunity that exists in each moment for each of us to discover and appreciate. As we reflect on what is important in our lives, the connection we have to ourselves, those connections impact the people we interact with on a daily basis which impacts the greater community of humanity together.
There are so many “what if’s” that can happen in your day and the beautiful thing is that each day, begins anew. What if = gives rise to opportunity to balance the elements of our lives. also an opportunity to see each others perspective.
May you find Equilibrium internally, to reflect that experience of the marvel of each moment to those you interact with and impact Equilibrium externally.
Without further ado…enjoy Equilibrium.
Behind The Scenes
Subliminal Dates
August 30, 2025 | October 2, 2025 | October 4, 2025
Painting Dates
October 21, 2025 | October 25, 2025
Music Playing
Stone Temple Pilots – Creep | LFO – Summer Girls | Mark Morrison – Return Of The Mack | Mariah Carey – Emotions | Del Amitri – Roll To Me | Pras/ODB/Mya – Ghetto Supastar | Deee-Lite – Groove Is In The Heart | Deadeye Dick – New Age Girl | Technotronic – Pump Up The Jam | New Order – Regret | Goo Goo Dolls – Slide | TLC – Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg | Reel Big Fish – Sell Out | La Bouche – Sweet Dreams | Diana King – Shy Guy | Coolio – 1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New) | Janet Jackson – If | Vengaboys – We Like To Party | Deep Blue Something – Breakfast At Tiffany’s | Tag Team – Whoomp! (There It Is) | Red Hot Chili Peppers – Give It Away | Dog’s Eye View – Everything Falls Apart | En Vogue – Free Your Mind | The Real McCoy – Run Away | Tony! Toni! Toné! – Feels Good | Gin Blossoms – Til I Hear It From You | Oasis – Wonderwall | OMC – How Bizarre | Boyz II Men – Motownphilly | The Smashing Pumpkins – Tonight, Tonight | Snow – Informer | EMF – Unbelievable | Technotronic – Pump Up The Jam |
NSYNC – A Little More Time On You | Jennifer Lopez – Waiting For Tonight | A-Ha – Take On Me | Miami Sound Machine – Conga | Swing Out Sister – Breakout | Lenny Kravitz – Are You Gonna Go My Way | New Radicals – You Get What You Give | Sublime – What I Got | Technotronic – Move This | La Bouche – Be My Lover | Lou Bega – Mambo No. 5 | Vanilla Ice – Ice Ice Baby | Crystal Waters – 100% Pure Love | Vincent Ingala – Caught Me By Surprise | Cyrus Chestnut & Anita Baker – Summertime | Greg Chambers – LA Sunset | Blake Aaron – Wes Side Story | Marion Meadows – Just Doing Me | Us3 – Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) | Marcus Anderson – Just BeKoz | Jonathan Butler – Sweet Island Love | DW3 & Peter White – Ventura Highway | Puddle Of Mudd – Blurry | Flo Rida & Ke$ha – Right Round | Pearl Jam – Jeremy | EMF & DJ Milf – Unbelievable | Linkin Park – In The End | Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise | Nelly – Country Grammar | Hootie & The Blowfish – Hold My Hand | Black Eyed Peas – Where Is The Love | Bryan Adams – (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
Words
Proverbs 16:11 | Equilibrium
Visual
Equal Sign