Have you ever walked into a gallery in a museum and immediately known the artist before ever catching a glimpse of the signage on the walls? Even if it’s not a specific painting you are familiar with? You  could recognize a Degas or a Jackson Pollock work, right?

Well, as an "emerging artist," I think it's safe to say I haven't quite landed on my "look" or my "style" just yet. I’m still in student mode, studying those that I admire, and carefully trying to apply various 

I still love to experiment and explore different techniques, mediums and subject matters. And so, each time I submit to a group show at the Columbia Art League, I use it as an opportunity to push myself to try something new.

When the gallery scheduled a show built around the theme of touching (or not touching) artwork, I worked to create an interactive piece where the viewer contributed directly to the finished piece by carving a tally mark into the wax.

For the Tiny Things show, I experimented with adding hand-sawed copper pieces to my encaustic work as sculptural elements. The copper pieces allowed me to practice my sawing and soldering techniques, when I had been exploring the idea of working with silver in my jewelry. And since they were too big and clumsy for a piece of jewelry, I decided to add them to one of my textured encaustic paintings. 

And so when it was time for the Columbia Art League's Still Life group show, I spent quite a bit of time researching and planning my painting in order to honor the spirit of the show:

"Still Life is a testament to the power of observation. This show invites you to reflect on the beauty surrounding us in our everyday lives, often overlooked in the hustle and bustle of our modern world.”

It was clear I needed to pause and observe my world with a critical eye if I wanted to create a painting that wasn’t just technically beautiful, but also done in the true spirit of what a still life should be. So I reflected on the beauty in my everyday life. I sat up on the couch (where I spend far too much time binge watching TV shows I’ve already seen), and took a look around the room. 

What items catch my eye?

Of those, which can be grouped together under a single theme?

Are those items meaningful to me?

Are these items something that others can relate to?

I landed on the following three items:

• A LEGO Orchid- This was my prize in last year’s extended family “Dirty Santa” game, and it's been proudly displayed on my kitchen table since I built it in late December. When I was a kid, I would spend hours building towers and spaceships out of the giant pile of mismatched LEGO. I still have the beat up grey suitcase full of them, so the orchid is a not-so-subtle nod to keeping my inner child engaged and playful. I’ve found that being able to focus my attention on low pressure intricate projects does wonders for calming my mind and reigning in those intrusive thoughts. I also enjoy these types of projects as a reminder to not always take things so seriously.
• The Creative Act: A Way of Being, by Rick Rubin - This book sits at the ready on the red stool I use as a side table next to my reading chair, and was specifically selected because it’s such a great commentary on the creative life that I (and MANY others) are striving to create. And who better to seek creative guidance from than the highly-accomplished music producer Rick Rubin?! I also figure a #1 New York Times Bestseller is pretty relatable. 
• A framed portrait of my dog Gigi - This one is OBVIOUSLY personal, but so many people consider their pets to be important family members. This particular photo was taken by the lovely dog walker I hired to help me out when I was still working full time out of the home, so it’s a reminder to me of how my priorities have changed. (She’s a Lagotto Romagnolo, if you were wondering, and I highly recommend Creature Comforts if you are in Columbia, MO!)

The theme of all of these objects is my personal quest to find happiness and joy in the ordinary everyday. Hence the title: The Search for Dopamine. And when you view this painting, I hope that it makes you take pause to consider the ways you search for those little hits of happiness in your daily life.

The Search for Dopamine
$520
Encaustic, 16" x 20", Framed
Available at Columbia Art League until end of Still Life Show (6/5/24)