Introducing : Huerfano Natives

Well, my 6ft painting is all but complete; all that remains is to spray a satin finish on it. When I began this project, my intention was to give homage to the place where I was born and raised. I knew that I wanted to continue with the abstract work that I have been doing, but that is all I had in mind. My process is to begin with lots of texture made with layers of gesso and modeling paste. Then I pour inks and dyes over all and when all that settles, I begin to contain all of that "creative chaos" into some reigned in form.
This painting was difficult as it was so large and I really had no idea where I wanted to go with it.

After lots and lots of looking at it, various shapes and symbols began to emerge and I could see the landscape of my youth rising and thus "Huerfano Natives" was born and named! It was not an easy birth & I had doubts and even panic-y moments wondering whether or not I should let it be or rework it entirely. One night I was listening to the radio in the studio while looking at the painting and Gillian Welch's "Orphan Girl" came on. (Now Huerfano County is where I am from and Huerfano is Spanish for orphan.) It seemed like a message of support from the universe!

The photo above is not very good and the textures and colors cannot really be seen. This is a detail of the top portion where they are more apparent. I tried to "fight" the "southwest" look and tone of the piece, but then gave into it when I realized that my roots in southern Colorado are definitely southwest! There are lots of 'found" faces and figures to discover which is why after initially thinking I was painting a sort of self portrait, I gave it the plural title of "natives".

This is the bottom of the piece which I thought would be a diptych, but the top portion is organized into different pieces as well, so I don't really know how to describe it except "grid-like". The bottom portion is clearly an abstract landscape that seems to surround the viewer in a flowing panoramic presence.
I need to live with it a few more weeks before I send it off into the world. I think we might have a continuing dialogue!