I’m a creative, experienced, multi-purpose artist and art director
who can take projects start to finish in a variety of styles.

Good designs sell –
my designs sell out!

Saturday, October 28, 2017

"Spooky"

DadadaDA!!  I finished my painting.  Woo hoo!  Yay!  A painting I realize has very little to do with "spooky" -- then I remembered painting The Ghost of Dibble Hollow, so I'm clearly completely legit about following the word for the week :)

There's a lot I could say about this painting, but I'm curious about what you think of it without anymore explanation than I've already given.  I've even got another painting  or 2 in mind that will follow similar themes.  Hopefully they won't take years to complete!

As for "spooky", when we were kids, Sis2 and her friends played "Who's Afraid of Bloody Mary?"  They took turns locking each other in a closet and scaring themselves silly.  I got shoved into the closet for a turn too.  I reluctantly said the words 3x and felt torn between terror and healthy skepticism.

The other girls wouldn't let me out.  As the youngest, they thought they could get me to scream the loudest, and they kept me incarcerated for a very long time.  I amused myself by examining the contents of the closet by candlelight.  By the time I was allowed out, I'd lost most of my fear and come to the decision that the girls weren't really playing, they were just cruel.

The girls thought I lacked the proper attitude for play.  Maybe?  My 5-year-old self felt pretty sure about my conclusions though.  I told a school friend about the torture test and she agreed with me.  We polled our other playmates and everyone agreed, with an observation that most older siblings are mean.  We were sensitive middle children.

This experience oddly turned into a life-long interest in collecting other people's ghost stories -- not fake stories intended to frighten, but real stories.  It started that day on the playground when 2 of my classmates shared their experiences.  We were all awed and wondered together about the nature of reality and the afterlife.  I remain charmed by the unknown and magic in life.

My grandma died suddenly when I was in my 20s.  I still hadn't gotten my mind wrapped around this new reality on the day of the funeral.  My unusually well-dressed family picked up Grandpa at his house and loaded up the car.  Mom sent me back in to make sure the back door was locked.  It was.  With my mind on getting to the funeral home, I went through the kitchen, dining room...

"Linda.", Grandma said from the kitchen.

I turned around expecting to see her.  Empty air in the arch between the 2 rooms.  Uh?

"Grandma?"

Silence.

I didn't want to move.  Didn't want to break whatever just happened.  Mom tooted the horn, and I got in the car for a funeral I didn't want to attend.

For an extra oddity, Mom told me the same thing happened to Grandma when her grandma died.  She was playing piano and she heard "Laura."  That's it, nothing more.  I'm grateful Grandma said goodbye.

As for last week's rambling about giving kids candy on Halloween, Paula at Mindful Drawing shared a practice in Ireland of giving stickers out.  I think that's a great idea :)

8 comments:

  1. O my Linda this is just fabulous....I love your painting...so much to marvel at and so many layers...it really is amazing and could grace my wall any day. I do hope the new owner loves it as much as I do. Well done you! As for hearing your grandma saying goodbye that's spooky but wonderful. The idea of stickers is fab and you could even offer it as a choice with sweeets and then it pleases everyone. Have a spooktacular Halloween my friend xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Jane! I think it's going to grace my wall for a while, but someone could make a substantial offer for it? I like your suggestion to offer a choice of stickers or candy. I hope you have a spooktacular Halloween too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Linda, I'm having so much fun with this wonderful painting! I keep finding fun little treasures! I'm impressed with your patience and detail.

    Those ghost grandmas - aren't they the best?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Grandmas alive or ghosts are the best! Thanks for the kind words about the painting :)

      Delete
  4. It is interesting that Halloween is about ghost stories but we let our minds go return to ancestral spirit experiences. These beautiful stories that aren't scary at all and are told, according to Celtic Samhain festival participants, when on the 1st of November when the division between this world and the other world was at its thinnest, allowing spirits to pass through. At that time family ancestors were honoured and invited home. You got it all right, Linda, telling us this grandma story. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I suppose there are scary ghosts out there somewhere, but if we loved people when they were alive, why would we be afraid of them when they're on the other side?

      Delete
  5. This is a painting that lets the fantasy roam freely. First of all it sets me back to the 20's. It makes me think of Agatha Christie. All those details. I am not sure of they belong to a woman or man, but obviously he or she is intellectual and a nature lover. There is something daredevil-ish about it. Just gotta love the painting, all the telling details and the feeling of a fleeting moment captured.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I suppose in a way the painting is a mystery? It's all in code, with clues about much bigger things. It's an interesting way to think about it. Thanks for the kind words!

      Delete