The Dream beneath Trees, 36"w x 48"h, acrylic and mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood 2018

The Dream beneath Trees, 36"w x 48"h, acrylic & mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood copyright 2018

Oh, I want to paint more like this...and more paintings in this dream. I see so much dirt and mud...silt and brown mixed with minerals and metals. Bits of grit reflecting color. And water flowing... It's everywhere down here ...and The Mississippi is a stones throw away. Huge Live Oaks everywhere. Some of these trees have been estimated to be 800 years old.

Princess Saffron and the Queendom of Satsuma, 36"w x 36"h

Princess Saffron and the Queendom of Satsuma, 36" x 36", acrylic & mixed media on canvas, Andrew Portwood copyright 2018

Having fun making up stories around paintings, without going into a story with beginning, middle and end. The viewer, I suppose can follow a storyline of their own. I am tempted though...to make this into a book.
  I am going to. I just made up my mind to...a challenge to myself.
While here now in New Orleans...I am surrounded by beautiful architecture, traditions and culture from so many sources...Caribbean, African, French, Spanish, English and American. 300 years of history felt and seen in Nola....It is very easy to engage with all of this flavor and conjure up or brew up an interesting Soup. Stories fall out of the sky and hit you on the head every day.

An unspoken, hopeful gesture, 36" x 36"An unspoken, hopeful gesture

An unspoken, hopeful gesture, 36" x 36", acrylic & mixed media on canvas, copyright Andrew Portwood 2018

As of late, I have taken on some part time work for two reasons...to add some consistent flow of income ., and to get around people...That is to have more social interaction. When you paint and draw and work from the source of your own mind, you can get trapped in there. Living inside of your own head and solitude is wonderful, and better for some individuals than others, and I have always enjoyed my time...solitude to think and work...but real life requires balance...and this includes people in our lives. My analogy for this is a submarine exploring regions of deep water, using Sonar. Sending out beeps and receiving echos and beeps bouncing back in order to navigate in the dark and the deep. Same in life...you need feedback to better orient yourself and receive source for better health and happiness. So, the search and work goes on. Still painting and moving forward, and maybe breaking some of my own personal artistic barriers in the process.