In The Woods Series: "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not"

                            “In The wood Series: He Loves Me- He Loves Me Not”, oil on canvas, 48Hx36W in, private collection, MA, USA.

"The oil piece “He Loves Me – He Loves Me Not” is  part of a group of paintings called  “In The Woods”, in which I work with elements of the small woods that surrounded my first studio in Minnetonka. This series deals with my response to those handsome trees, the multicolored leaves, the sensuous lines of branches that, for almost six years, were an important source of inspiration for me.  And, as I realized some time later, influenced my art quite a bit.

 Looking through those large windows in my Minnetonka’ studio, I used to feel as if I were inside a Jackson Pollock painting, where colorful small drips coming from the trees would blink directly into my eyes (over the last few years I have had chance to discuss with my mentor and friend painter Marcie Soderman-Olson the multiple ways that those large windows facing the woods have influenced my art). Here in the “ He Loves Me” painting this visual sensation blends into personal memories of romanticism and chivalry. The image that emerged from this connection is this flower bouquet sitting in the middle of the woods,  being disassembled as if a young girl was playing the age-old game of  “he-loves-me, he-loves-me-not”.  

The color palette was inspired by the pastel tones of the historic Art Deco district of Miami Beach.  With this painting I had fun exploring the different degrees of values in the delicate hues of the palette I chose. The challenge here was to find the right balance between chaos and harmony. As I reflect on this series, I have come to realize that this tricky balancing act has always been the cornerstone of my works."