Turbulent weather and times are marking the new year, I am hoping the scars will not linger. In the studio as always in January, there is the air of remorse over loved ones that have left from laughter filled holidays. I find it hard to center or find concentration, and level out my emotions during January. I usually begin to regain my composure around the third week of the new year, this year feels no different to me. I have finalized a couple of paintings over the holidays. I have begun a few new pieces of art this month as well.
I am constantly struggling with painting the feeling of the helplessness, that seems to be ever present in my life, as I get older. I can remember hearing older friends and family telling me of all the change they had seen in their time, and I cavalierly smiled and thought how silly they were. The mother ship has landed, I am there now. The things I thought unthinkable before, have now become intricately fabricated into my life. All of this to say, I feel a new series of works coming as an offshoot of my Weight of Balance Series, this one is based on what we see and are told; and how much of it is just to appease us, in an attempt to keep us from finding out the truth. This series will be called Red Herrings.
I wanted to have a textural background for this first piece, that would belie the theme of this series, in other words it would appear in one way; but would be serving as a cover up of something else all together. The substrate I chose was cradled wood. I covered it in newspapers and canvas, as these both signify bits and pieces of my past. I can remember as a child visiting houses that had used newspaper on their walls to help insulate them from the elements. I thought it was great you could read the walls! It was a poor man’s insulation; but I had no knowledge of what it meant. Other houses when I was young, would have pretty wall paper, which was applied over cheesecloth covered board walls. Both of these coverings served the same purpose to cover and insulate, yet each had a connotation of the homeowners financial status and place in society. They were in effect a form of red herrings in and of themselves. They in an attempt to do one thing covered up the real meaning of the home. As a child I liked them both equally.
Here is the timeline of Red Herrings and a brief description of why and how about the process of the first painting in this new series.
In the middle stages the elements of the design are established.
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Marks are added to enhance the figure. The marks are made to take away any pristine or controlled element of the painting.These will be covered and uncovered as the painting advances
the layering serves to diffuse and define the figure as well as add depth to the painting as a whole.
detail of the bottom portion of the painting
- Red Herrings by Cathy Hegman 40 x 30 mixed media on wood 2013
My solitary figure stands balancing in a turbulent world and searching for the meaning of it all.
I hope everyone had a joyous and blessed Christmas. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I hope it has in some small way been an asset to your art journey.
Take care,
Cathy Hegman Art and Life 
