Wright Freedom

Arts & Crafts Paintings
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Wright: Freedom

This gouache painting features a quote by Frank Lloyd Wright. - Freedom is from Within. We each live in our own universe... of thoughts. Are those thoughts full of self-doubt, or self-worth? Are they full of negativity or positivity? Is our self-criticism debilitating & isolating, or loving & constructive? Are we letting our thoughts spiral unchecked, or do we take back the reigns when things so sideways? What limits do we set for ourselves that are fear-based, or lazy? What can happen if we open up to daydreams and 'what if'? This painting reminds me that there is light, warmth and discovery beyond the boundaries that we've set for ourselves. Do we even notice the bars sometimes?

I don't put down tape lines to make these straight lines, because they could ruin the more delicate gouache painting underneath. I use good old fashioned pencil and ruler for my work, and a lot of deep and steady breathing as I go. I use the side of my brush almost exclusively as I work on important straight lines because I'm relying on fewer points of contact by pulling a few side hairs of the brush along for contact, versus all of the uneven tips of the whole. Sometimes I'm more successful than others. When looking closely, you can see that many lines on my painting are not truly straight. To me, that shows the hand of the artist and represents our human “seeking of perceived perfection” metaphorically in the form of straight lines in nature, of which there are very few.

Artwork by Julie Leidel, 2024.