Hello, friends near and far, We’re adjusting into our quarantine life over here. Like so many of you, we are figuring out how to homeschool/ e-learning while navigating work/life responsibilities.
There feels like not too many things are guaranteed in these uncertain times, its the perfect time to cultivate tons of gratitude and hope for not only our immediate circle but the planet as a whole.
Of course, just before all this started, I was accepted into two shows and invited to a museum shows. Like many of you, small business owners and entrepreneurs, we all have dreams and plans we had hoped to do to grow our little businesses. These dreams we have might be postponed, or we may have to pivot; either way, it’s nice to have some aspirations to plant and tend to as we quarantine.
I’m doing some deep work around trust, trust the timing, trust the health and safety of our circles of family and friends. Trust in the collective healing and a worldwide wake-up call. Stress triggers my worry buttons. I’ve been waking every morning before dawn, wide awake. I am snacking throughout most of the day. Is chocolate good for stress, right?
I’m working on getting some much-needed website work done and cleaning my closets. I’m grateful for board games with my kids, homemade pizza, warmer weather, dear family, and friends.
May we continue to show up for ourselves and each other in ways that are deeply rooted in our truth and values, and full of kindness, generosity, and compassion.
When I was in my twenties I had this inward and outward pressure to be some kind of perfect. Whether it be a perfect student, daughter, artist or even a woman for that matter.
I thought I could just get close to the ideals then happiness would sure to follow. In some ways it did and in other ways, I was looking far too narrow at life and art.
A few years later I gave myself the challenge to learn oil painting by reading, experimenting and failing over and over again.
“healing sisters” was born out of 4 years of relearning how to paint and how to see. Healing Sisters is the painting where I felt like I was really onto something new and where I surprised myself.
With are and life I learned.. Happiness isn’t something to chase or get its a place inside we are always able to tap into.
Embrace the messiness and magic in life and in art.
“Dragonfly spirit” is an oil painting on panel with gold leaf. I hadn’t painted on a panel or with gold leaf before, I was concerned I might make mistakes, ruin it or even fail. (See the before below and after above.)
I soon reminded myself that there are no mistakes or failures it’s all apart of the journey of who I am and whom I’m becoming.
Take a risk and give yourself permission to be imperfect and to make messes.
Making art is like making magic I feel vulnerable, alive, free and love. What are your messy and magical moments?
Much love, Le’Ana
“producing perfection from imperfection is, after all, the highest of art forms.” –
Here is a little peek into my process for this painting titled ” Sky buffalo dancer” oil on canvas 24×30. This young man is part of the Sky City Buffalo Ram dancers who dance at the Pueblo cultural center in Albuquerque New Mexico. I painted this with permission from the Pueblo Cultural Center.
In 2018 I decided to push myself and give a go at portraiture, this both scared and excited me. I felt I had grown enough in my technique and skill level. I have no real formal training in how to paint the portrait. The art school I went to 20 years ago focused on drawing and painting instruction was more of a conversation and less of demonstration.
Dancing is both a personal and community experience. We are quit literally dancing in the footsteps, stories, and songs of our ancestors. All of the parts of dancing about culture, community and prayer, from the assembling the regalia to the drumming and singing. In my case painting native culture is both a meditation and a prayer for me. This painting was very technically challenging, children are not proportioned the same as adults. The background is a combination of brushwork and pallet knife. I really stretched my artistic self on this painting by mixing realism with the abstract background.
Here is what I’ve learned: Perseverance is the key to success. No really!
Allowing imperfection in my art process has allowed for exponential growth, and I ultimately end up creating what I need to learn at that moment. I got stuck many times and questioned myself throughout this painting but I didn’t give in or give up.
Each new painting shows me a new way to either apply paint, mix colors, use the brush, and so much more. The more I learn to paint, the more I realize I have so much more to evolve and experience in my art. Thank you for following along on my journey as an artist and blog writer.
Over here trying new things. New colors. New series. Evolving. I’m giving myself permission to change and to let go of the things that no longer serve me. Letting go of old worn-out beliefs or self-imposed limits. Permission to take more walks and spend less time in the gym. Taking the time to explore new ideas, new shapes, and new colors. Making space for new things to emerge, new ways to discover how I feel inspired.
“ Dragonfly Spirit” by Le’Ana Asher, 16 x20 oil on canvas 2018
During my daily walks with my dog, I’ve overcome by the beauty and grace of the trees, this autumn. Trees are lovely at letting go of what no longer serves them, making room for new growth. The beauty of this transformation is all around me. Creativity is all around us if we are just willing to open our eyes, our hearts a little bit more.
Over here trying new things. New colors. New series. Evolving. I’m giving myself permission to change and to let go of the things that no longer serve me. Letting go of old worn-out beliefs or self-imposed limits. Permission to take more walks and spend less time in the gym. Taking the time to explore new ideas, new shapes, and new colors. Making space for new things to emerge, new ways to discover how I feel inspired.
“ Dragonfly Spirit” by Le’Ana Asher, 16 x20 oil on canvas 2018
During my daily walks with my dog, I’ve overcome by the beauty and grace of the trees, this autumn. Trees are lovely at letting go of what no longer serves them, making room for new growth. The beauty of this transformation is all around me. Creativity is all around us if we are just willing to open our eyes, our hearts a little bit more.
Imagine your 18-year-old self at a community college in your town and you love art. You sign up for the only art class you can take, then you find out your teacher is actually an 80-year-old Nun. It sounds like a joke, right? Well, it actually happened to me and here is that story.
I thought of all the cliches, she would only show us holy art and be inspired by images of Jesus (didn’t happen). She would be out of touch with the art world I craved to learn ( that part was true) but felt optimistic. I loved art and I didn’t have to be a Christian to get something out of a class with a teacher that was a nun. It was art after all, right?
Unfortunately, she was a really really bad instructor and made my love of art difficult to digest. I did every assignment and tried to get something out of each lesson, but nothing…I mean nada! She was strict, monotone and unenthusiastic. It was art for crying-out-loud, how on god’s earth could you not get excited and teach art? She often would fell asleep in class, sigh!!
We didn’t paint still-lifes, or draw from models or even from pictures. She had us paint squares of colors next to each other over and over and over. I suppose she was trying to teach us color theory, but she lacked the teaching part. All semester all I could think was ” why me, oh god, why me?” and I am not religious. I have nothing against religion or nuns, just uninspired teachers. It was the most boring class and painful art class I had ever taken. I could not wait for the semester to end.
Towards the end of the semester I learned, we had to pick an artist and do a 5-minute slide-show presentation. This is where I began to plot my revenge. I wanted to pick an artist that would make her as uncomfortable as she had made me. This was war, so to speak. I pick Andy Warhol the Pop Icon artist who was known to push boundaries. This was exactly what I needed to make art class interesting.This was my moment to push boundaries, I loved going to my edges of what was expected. I dove into my research of Warhol and became inspired by his life and story.
Guess who the Nun picked to do her presentation last? Yup, you guessed it, me! I figured she planned it, so people would leave during my presentation, and I wouldn’t have an audience. It was the last day before holiday break it was snowing outside and the class had already run 30 minutes past. She kept most people to the there time limit. Every presentation was so bland, you could tell the students just wanted to get home and be done with this class.
I searched for all the juiciest details that might ruffle her feathers and to spice up class. I wanted to put a little shock and awe into this class. I wanted to see how far I could go. Remember I am 18 years old, and I think I know it all.
Here are some of the facts I shared in class
He used to urinate on his painted canvases and encouraged his friends to urinate on the canvases to create slightly different colors in the oxidation process and turn the copper painted various shades of green, brown and yellow.
He wore silver wigs to cover up early onset balding
He was shot and almost died from a radical feminist with schizophrenia
He was a devout Catholic, and he quietly continued to practice his religion as an adult. Regularly volunteering at church-run soup kitchens. (what? I didn’t expect this part)
Studio 54 a playground for sex, drugs, and disco.( now we are taking)
He was an artist, filmmaker, commercial illustrator, celebrity model and actor and more
His constant use of media changed the art world and how we consume art. ( major props here)
He loved to maintain an element of personal and professional mystery ( oooh I loved this)
He will always be known for his quirky and controversial prints ( some of the car crashes and dead bodies, celebrities etc)
Well my presentation lasted 30 minutes and to my delight, every student sat there mesmerized by the life and story of Andy Warhol and my teacher didn’t fall asleep. I didn’t shock her as much as my 18-year-old self-hope for. But I realized I needed to take over my education even if I feel locked in someones else’s perspective. I still have the freedom to choose. The research I gathered inspired my art for the next few years. It took me years later to realize my revenge-fueled me to study artists and to get influenced by their work. I think the nun has the last laugh here. Drat! Here are some examples of Andy Warhol’s work that influenced some of my art years later at the University level.
two cones side by side in purple and yellow tobacco tins enlarged. pop art modern style.
Indian family 11×14 silkscreen on paper by LeAna asher
Andy Warhol flower series
jingle study, 11×14, silkscreen on paper, by Leana Asher
Andy Warhol, silkscreen of Marilyn Monroe One of his most iconic is the Marilyn Diptych from 1962. Marilyn Monroe died in August 1962
