ARTventures June 2021

Craig Family Commission

It’s my first month as an official nomad! I moved out of my house & studio in Tulsa, OK and set up my paints at the first stop- my favorite landlord-turned-friend’s hand-built cabin by the Cimarron River in central Oklahoma. It is quiet, peaceful, and filled with wildlife- I’ve seen coyotes, deer, beavers, many different types of snakes and birds, even a woodchuck! Of course nature comes with it’s challenges- I’m getting used to daily tick checks, sleeping throughout the night when all the nocturnal animals are out to play & navigating Oklahoma’s storm season. The cabin deck is nested among big trees and overlooks the river, I get to do yoga & have my coffee in the morning, and watch the sunset change the river dirt pink each evening. I have loved spending time in this serene & exciting haven, although due to some arising health concerns from a car wreck I was in earlier this year, it, I have had to split my time a bit more in Tulsa than I expected. But, I am reminded that the first lesson of living intuitively is staying flexible on life’s path. And health is top priority to be able to fully enjoy what’s out there. I still plan on a big road trip this summer, but am focusing on one month at a time so I can take care of my body & appreciate the present adventure. This cozy cabin has been such a treat- it’s quite the nature artist’s dream, and the perfect place to focus on a special commission series.

This commission is very near my heart, as it is for my friends of 10 years whose home burned down a few years ago. Thankfully they were safe, but lost pets and just about all of their possessions-their first home together. Their new house is now rebuilt and they asked me for 3 paintings for it. As we discussed the plans/details for the commission they told me they wanted something in my abstract plant style, full of life & regrowth, but they also want to incorporate the fire in some way…as painful as the experience was they explained that they are grateful for pushing them into the people they now are, it quickly shook their perspectives in many ways. They gave me complete permission to share their story, which is the next meaning of the painting- vulnerability. Their home has always been a meeting place for friends, community, and as someone who has personally spent many hours deep-diving into meaningful talks on the couch, this home has been a safe space for sharing. They expressed that they want this openness to all to continue in their new home, and these paintings can be a vehicle for that- an expression of their story.

The triptych will display a 30” x 40” and two smaller 18”x18” canvases on the ends. I felt that the two pieces on the end were intended to be for each of them, to honor their journeys individually. They agreed to do something different with me…I brought the two canvases to their house and mixed together a grey-ish purple color in acrylic paint, and brought in some dirt from outside (cause why not), and as they painted the first washy abstract layer, we talked about the fire. We looked at photos, they shared stories, I asked them questions about it…the intention was for healing…bringing up the pain, acknowledging it, then putting it onto the canvas. Healing is integration, not suppression (I hear in therapy lingo often). This was the element of incorporating the fire, the first layer that will get layers and layers of beautiful plants and warm sunlight over it will outshine the painful layer. But it’s okay that it is there. It is all part of their story, and who they are. And let me tell you- these people are the real deal. Their vulnerability & willingness in this project has been powerful, from the beginning I could feel that this painting series would inevitably have an impact on me as well. I am so honored to listen, share their story, and to create something extra special for this beautiful and continually evolving home.

In my next update I will show the process photos and breakdown of the layers. Until then I will be painting both at the cabin & home base Tulsa while I take care of my health, and hoping to hit the road to the north country (ND, MT, WA, OR & more) in July! After that, who knows??

May we all find ways to EXPLORE (bravely be open, follow the mystery) + CONNECT (share whole-hearted love with ourselves, others & nature) each day.

Best wishes all!

-Liz

*Other art Updates:

-My painting “Rise As the Morning Light” will be on display this summer at the new visitor center in the Keystone Ancient Forest in Sand Springs, OK- where it was inspired from & where I have been volunteering as a Trail Guide (so let me know if you need more info about this place!).

-Prints of this piece are available on my website SHOP section.

Oklahoma & Colorado

Getting on the Road

This past month has been a full load of things to work through to get going on my summer roadtrip. My car went into the shop twice, I moved back from the cabin by the Cimarron to friends’ in Owasso, OK, and was going to the chiropractor and doctor visits multiple times a week (nothing too major, but bad enough to disrupt my days). This all caused my trip to change and become delayed and I am still in the early phases of the 3-piece commission I described in last month’s update. It’s been a bit of a blur, and I felt like I lost my footing a few times…I wondered if pushing myself to go on a big road trip was a good idea still. But, I know I feel & function the best in nature- so in making decisions for what is healthiest- a cross country road trip actually is that for me.

I believe the quality of life I have or how I feel does effect my paintings; it’s not only if I am simply “in a good mood” or “super happy” because of course that isn’t the consistency of life; I paint best when I am healthy (physically, mentally, emotionally…), balanced, & in tune with myself. And for me- some solid adventure & nature time are huge parts of how that happens. So I look forward to jumping back into the commission with a fresh take when I return at the end of the month.

Even though it was a push to get here, I’m so happy to finally be on the road again and to spend the last week and a half of June in Colorado. I did a bit of camping & hiking in Allenspark in the Rockies, where I made a few drawings from the campfire charcoal (very fun outdoor art hack!). I visited friends in CO Springs & Ft. Collins, and went to Denver’s Pride celebration. One of the main creative projects this month was building a wooden car camping platform in my friend’s garage (thanks Garrett!!). I completely took out my backseats and build a 3-piece platform that is all easily foldable/removable for max versatility in a small hatchback car. Now I have a more comfortable sleeping arrangement, storage, and protected spots for paintings.

Currently, I’m on the road again heading north, stopping in a quiet campsite near the Grand Tetons until I make my way to Glacier NP in Montana. I just picked up some fresh new wood panel canvases and am excited to listen to my body, ground in nature and to see what creations come out of that. In this phase of my life and my art- I am craving health and wholeness to be the place my paintings come from. As a landscape artist this excites me, because I know when I am strong, have a purpose, and am in my favorite places- the really good stuff happens.

May we all find ways to EXPLORE (bravely be open, follow the mystery) + CONNECT (share love with ourselves, others & nature) each day.

Best wishes all!

-Liz

Update on the largest/middle piece of the Craig family commission. It’s bright, but a warm underpainting (foundational layers) will make the rest of the layers come to life!

Charcoal from the campfire to draw the nearby boulders at Olive Ridge Campground, Allenspark, CO

Swim + sketch time during a warm day at Horsetooth Reservoir, Ft. Collins, CO

Platform build for car camping! Handle lifts up for art supply storage, and then flat canvases will go in between the shallow space. Back piece is on a hinge to lift up, and all pieces can be easily removed with the drop pins.

Test run checks out! It’s tight but comfy & I have space for everything I need. First night stay in Pacific Creek Campground, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming

*OTHER ART UPDATES

-My painting Ataraxia (Collinsville Lake Trails, OK) is part of two separate international online art shows this month

-Eutierra (Woodward Park, Tulsa) is in the middle of it’s traveling exhibition with OVAC’s ‘24 Works on Paper’, stopping in Tulsa this month at TAC Gallery

ARTventures May 2021

Craig Family Commission

*Other art Updates:

-My painting “Rise As the Morning Light” will be on display this summer at the new visitor center in the Keystone Ancient Forest in Sand Springs, OK- where it was inspired from & where I have been volunteering as a Trail Guide (so let me know if you need more info about this place!).

-Prints of this piece are available on my website SHOP section.

Getting on the Road

*OTHER ART UPDATES

-My painting Ataraxia (Collinsville Lake Trails, OK) is part of two separate international online art shows this month

-Eutierra (Woodward Park, Tulsa) is in the middle of it’s traveling exhibition with OVAC’s ‘24 Works on Paper’, stopping in Tulsa this month at TAC Gallery

Links & information about all current & upcoming exhibitions are on my website (link below)

https://www.lizdueck.com/new-page

Any questions feel free to reach out (can’t guarantee phone service out in the wilderness but will try!)

Email: liz.dueck12@gmail.com

Instagram: @lizdueckart | Facebook: Liz Dueck Art

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