Not finished oil portrait

[Sharon Knettell]

Michele,

It was in French because it was a quasi-religious answer. I do not want to offend or proselytize in any way. I am not a fan of "spiritual" art or art that preaches in any way.

The translation:

I have practiced Buddhist meditation for many years now. I sit an hour before working.

There is a book that is very important to me, "Dharma Art", by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

I do not want to pollute the world with neurotic paintings. It is important to me to offer paintings both aethetic and beautiful, not like greeting cards.

There is a blowup of the head after the first small post.

I carry my picture in my head until one by one they end up finished. This only refers to the work I do myself. If and when I do a commission, I get an image immediately and do not veer from the course. That is not the way, as I have found to become a fabulously rich portrait artist.

I am inspired by Tibetan Tantric Buddhism and art. The picture on my introduction post is called "Red Dakini" . A dakini is the feminine wisdom priciple in Tibetan Buddhism. I have done a "Dakini" dancer with a magenta skirt against antique Chinese brocade. She is nude on top so I cannot post it. I am presently finishing an "Emerald Dakini" which I will post soon.

My colors are inspired by Asian philosophy and art. I have found no Chinese or Japanese color wheels. Color is internalized and refers to various things, ie. water, fire, seasons, states of mind, concepts.

I was inspired by a speech I heard in Boulder many years ago by Chogyam Trunghpa Rinpoche called "Art is Abused". Trunghpa was a high Tibetan Lama forced to flee Tibet after the Chinese invasion. I cried during the speech.

I was like many of the artists in this Forum looking for some inspiration for the work I love to do, surrounded as we are in a sea of ugliness. Art that did not surrender to the artists neurotic expressions or political rantings. His emphasis was on the power of aesthetics.

I try to do work that I absolutely love and do it as beautifully and fearlessly as I can.

Sincerely,