Essentially, the message is about prayer itself…
and the answer is the other half of your heart echoed back to you.
I titled this piece, Two Way Prayer, because the concept and practice of two way prayer, originally a term coined by early AA practitioners, embodies my experience of painting. In two way prayer you ask God (or source, or life, etc.) a question, and listen for an answer from a most benevolent and kind voice and you write everything that comes to you until you feel done or clear on a next step for yourself.
In a similar style of communion, I approach painting with a sincere question or invitation about something I want to know, embody or understand. Then with curiosity and deep listening, I work through painting to discover some truth about my life, my soul, the mystery. I stay with the work until it comes full circle and somehow answers my initial query--which is basically a prayer.
While I am working in abstraction, the shape, color, line, composition entangle and detangle as I go rounds with the work. I often hear the small voice or get a sense of uncovering a narrative or a conversation with source.
In this piece, the revelation is the dark burgundy leaf shape in the upper left corner. It is mirrored by a black shape and the two together make a sort of heart. The black shape is also repeated two more times across the top of the picture, making a pattern or visual mantra. Essentially, the message is about prayer itself and the answer is the other half of your heart echoed back to you.