Painting Poetry (The Demos)

Painting Poetry started with a poem.

Voice like Silk on my skin

Milk down my throat

Fire up my Thighs

Then I started writing music again. I had stopped playing the piano after the Jazz Musician.  Two songs came. Smile Back, and Don’t Get Me Started. The latter composed for guitar.

you gave me my smile back

I’ll never forget that

No matter what happens

between you and I

I’ll be there for you

Those two songs inspired sister paintings. A motif of a vulva prominently placed in the direct center.

In Full Bloom there’s a  dark, foreboding flower in the right hand corner representing a male presence. Some men are like that. Dangerously beautiful, in a way that isn’t at first apparent. It’s intuited and sneaks up on you, rendering attempts to not be seduced futile. I am the bouquet of blossoms, on full display. Waiting, desiring, to be seen.

Where in Don’t Get Me Started the vulva motif is not decorated by faux floral. It is cocoon like. The lips folded over one another, gently wrapped around it’s innermost parts, concealing the passion under innocence and piety. Lyrics from the song run alongside the motif.

I can see him there

At the piano bench

Come up behind him

Kiss him on the neck

Painting Poetry (The Demos) was a deeply healing collection for me to create. It gave me one of my favorite paintings and documents such an incredible period in my life where I took ahold of my sexuality and my self worth within a relationship that felt excruciatingly emotionally abusive. It was a return to valuing myself because I had been seen by someone who’s opinion I value. My artistic backbone had been strengthened and a femininity that had been long dormant was reawakened with beautiful results, spiritually, physically, and mentally.