Tag Archive for: Dominique Hurley

Workshop Tour Day 4: Last Day on the Island

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I had such a great time on Saturday! More importantly, so did 13 participants in the community workshop in Grand’Terre.  The workshop was held in the same school cafeteria I was at on Thursday. It is also part of the community center in this town that you’ll find called Mainland in English on some maps.  This central location was chosen so that participants from Cap St. George, Grand’Terre, Lourdres, L’anse-aux-canards and other neighbouring towns could gather easily.  The youngest was 2 weeks old (accompanied by Dad, a teacher at the school I taught Friday, mom, and visiting grandmother from New Brunswick)! After 3 hours of fun, we again took the time to share what we had learned. I was thrilled to hear as the first comment:  “To not be scared”. (Thanks again to Leslie Quennehen of the FFTNL for the workshop photos.)

As you’ll see in the photos, there’s also a filmmaker in the crowd, who came to film me for a short clip that will air on TV5-Unis in December. I’ll get to share my story on TV. Fun! I’ll also admit that as a professional artist who relies on painting sales for her living, this kind of exposure is priceless!  We met Laurence Mathieu-Leger and her business partner of Bicyclette Multimedia (based in Ottawa) at the Cape Inn the night before.  They’ve been traveling the country with Laurence’s newborn to film footage for a series of clips that air on this French television station. Her featurettes are on teachers, French immigrants, grandparents/granchildren, and radio personalities. She was interested in the fact that I was a nomadic teacher, not just in the arts, but in English Second Language, and personal/spiritual growth workshops (intuition, simplifying your life, etc.).  Our conversations really helped me reflect on how I love to share what brings me joy and what inspires me.  It also helped me realize that I’ve spent most of my life either as a student or as a teacher all over this planet. It’s all about being inspired and opening others to potential inspiration.  Very satisfying!  I look forward to seeing the clip – she does an amazing job!  I’ll let you know when it airs, of course.  Even if you don’t speak French, her visuals are incredible!

After the workshop, Louis Christophe, Leslie, and I had a quick take-out meal in the cool breeze and then headed off the peninsula, with a few stops along the way to see Hidden Falls, the alpaca farm, and the dolomites along the side of the road.  The colours once we were off the peninsula were simply breathtaking – it was getting dark and we were on the highway, so no pictures of that unfortunately… By dinner, we were in Deer Lake, where I slept very well indeed! I leave in 30 minutes for the airport to fly to Labrador City where I’ll be teaching 2 workshops on Monday and Tuesday.

Happy Thanksgiving!  As must be obvious, I have so much to be grateful for.  As my reader, with whom I can share all this joy and adventure, I am also truly thankful for you!

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Down the Long Narrow Road in Port-au-Port

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I’ve already posted about the workshop on Day 3, but that was only a part of my spectacular day on Friday.  After breakfast, I grabbed my camera to pay homage to a wonderful sunrise over the ocean. A tripod would have been useless in that wind. Instead, I held my long lens against the corner of the inn to try and hold it steady.

The wind didn’t let up all day – quite a difference from the day before.  I left the tripod in the car and shot at high speeds with my long lens, hoping I’d capture something close to the framing I had wanted. They were challenging shooting conditions, but fun for sure! It was much cooler too and the ocean was dramatic. At one point, we got caught 20 minutes from the car in the pouring rain.  The rainbow over the lobster fishing station, however, made it worth it.  I am so grateful we had this sightseeing time in addition to the workshops.  In the afternoon, after class, our very knowledgeable tour guide, Louis Christophe (my program coordinator), drove us from Cape St. George all the way to the end of that long point on the map below- several kilometers down a narrow dirt road. It was a great adventure and new territory for me.

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Workshop Tour – Day 2 – Creating & Sightseeing

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What an amazing day!  It had been a rainy and windy night, and we drove to Grand’Terre in the thick fog, but after a great morning leading my first workshop, we reveled in the beauty of the Cape.

Les Mains dans l’Art – École Sainte Anne (painting workshop):

Leslie Quennehen FFTNL__DSC0172We all agree, it was a great success!  Three hours of high energy exploration of paint and colour with 11 students of the Saint-Anne school at the very end of the Port-au-Port peninsula. This was the first of several cross-province French workshops sponsored by Heritage Canada and organized by the Fédération francophone de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador. Thank goodness I had Louis Christophe and Leslie with me to help set up, clean up, and take pictures.  It was non-stop!  When the children had their 15-minute recess, I was busy with the hairdryer to help speed things along.  By the end, the students had played with 1) a layer of warm colours; 2) mark-making with cool colours and a variety of tools; 3) free mark-making time with more warm colours; 4) adding contrast and imagery with black & white, and; 5) glazing with a coloured wash (not everyone got to that stage).  We chatted about colour theory, depth, texture, intuitive painting, indefinite layering, letting go of expectations, the impossibility of making mistakes, and lots more.  The students had fun and now have the tools to keep working on their paintings if they choose to.  I’m really happy about how it all went.  A great morning!  Note: you won’t see any of the students’ faces to respect their privacy.  All workshop photos by Leslie Quennehen.

Great Scenery:

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photo by Leslie Quennehen

We got lucky.  It was still raining while I was teaching, but the sunshine greeted us as we left the school, and so we got some take-out and went by the beach to eat. After walking along the beach for a while, we drove through another bout of thick fog to the Boutte du Cap Park at the end of Cape St. George (between the school and our inn).  We walked through fragrant paths of wind-blown pines and along spectacular cliffs to the famous Boot.  What can I say, but WOW!  Enjoy seeing it all through my eyes.

Goodnight. It’s 8:30 and I’m ready for bed!

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The Painted Drums Series

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DLH_8061I couldn’t show you pictures of these drums before my project partner saw them live, so now that I’m done and she’s seen them, you get the full show & tell! Please comment below to let us know which you prefer and why.

Katie Power of Alive Adventures asked me earlier this summer if I would be interested in painting drums that she could sell to her clientele. She’s an inspired and inspiring woman who is really making a difference in our community.  She’s also been a fan of my work for a few years.  As this project brought two of my loves together – painting and drumming  – I didn’t hesitate to say “Yes!”  Drum circles, both of the community and shamanic kind, were an integral part of my life during the five years I lived in Saskatoon.  When I moved to St. John’s in 2011, I was thrilled to learn of Katie’s work and am now happy to be collaborating with her. I trust that these five unique hand-painted drums will enrich the drumming experience of those who choose them as well as enhance the beauty of their environment.  If you’re interested in them, contact Katie.

My process started in ceremony – to prepare both the drums and myself for the creative experience. Each drum was blessed by the elements: earth (from this energy-rich Rock called Newfoundland), wind (sacred palo santo smoke from Peru and the strong breeze blowing through our valley), fire (from a pure beeswax candle), and water (from the sacred Chalice Well in Glastonbury, England).  I asked God, my Guiding Spirits, and Angels of Light and Love to help me create imagery that will speak on many levels to those who experience it. I then played each drum to familiarize myself with their voices (I am thoroughly impressed by these synthetic drumheads which, unlike real skins, won’t react to our local humidity).  I also did lots of research and used the very best professional quality acrylic paints to adhere to the Remo Buffalo Fiberskyn® drumheads.  Although these Golden fluid paints are known for their flexibility, durability, and lightfastness, it is important to note that all hand-painted drums will eventually show signs of wear (if using hands instead of the mallet, please remove rings).  I worked in several thin layers, requiring 15-20 hours of work on each drum. Basically, a lot of love, care, and intention has been infused into these drums and will accompany them on their journeys.
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Note: The Remo Buffalo drums themselves have been inspired by the indigenous cultures of the Americas. These are all 22 inches in diameter and come with a covered rope handle and mallet.
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Without further ado, here they are…
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1.  The Communion Drum: SOLD
Dominique Hurley_Communion Drum

The Communion Drum by Dominique Hurley

This drum is infused with the spirit of communion: between the self and Higher Self, between the conscious and subconscious, between Humanity and Nature, between yourself and your Creator –  between all that is in Oneness.  This is represented in the faces gazing at each other and in the spiraling flow of their hair uniting them.  This drum is also about balance, represented here in the roots and branches of the tree of life and in the double spiral repeated three times- both Celtic symbol of balance.  I used a little metallic gold paint so that the drum would catch the light within you and your surroundings, no matter what the lighting conditions are.

work in progress

2.  The Astral Drum: SOLD

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The Astral Drum by Dominique Hurley – SOLD

The woman on this drum has again been stylized in a manner that represents humans as both physical and energetic / spiritual presences.  She is standing on the crescent moon, a symbol of new beginnings and the transformation of dreams into reality. The moon itself is a symbol of the deep, intuitive, subtle, and feminine energies in our lives.  Reaching up in exaltation, her heart-shaped hands are framed by the sun, a cosmic power representing vitality, clarity, action, and resonating with masculine energy.  This drum is about the inner and outer influences in our lives – whether these be spiritual, planetary, or environmental.  The orbs represent both the planetary movement and its influence on our lives and the presence of seen and unseen helpers on our life’s journey.  It is also about our own personal commitment to love, growth, and making the choices that are right for us.  The many light-filled spirals represent evolution, personal growth, surrender, letting go, awareness of the whole, union with cosmic energies, and natural progress.  Again, the use of both metallic and interference paints gives this drum different appearances at different angles and in different lighting conditions.

3.  The Destiny Drum: SOLD

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The Destiny Drum by Dominique Hurley – SOLD


The horse is an ancient symbol with a multitude of meanings in various cultures.  I have chosen to paint it on this Destiny Drum because it is an emblem of life-force and the four elements.  It is also a symbol of power, grace, beauty, nobility, strength, longevity, and wisdom – all necessary in the co-creation of our destinies.  While I was painting this drum, I felt deeply attuned with certain aspects of my Fire Horse energies (in Chinese astrology, that of those born between January 21, 1966 and February 8, 1967 or January 25, 1906 and February 12 1907). Much is said about this sign – both with great enthusiasm and dire warning.  Painting this drum called me to read about the Fire Horse again and to reflect on how we are all predisposed to certain destinies by the circumstances of our birth, but that with awareness and Guidance, destiny is really a co-creation, not inevitable fact.  Indeed, our destiny is shaped by vision and choice and enhanced by being in tune with both our strengths and our weaknesses. It is also best shaped by loving what is and moving from that space. In other words, we may be influenced by intricate underlying factors (represented here by 8 hours worth of zentangle patterns in white on turquoise that I glazed in magenta), but there’s more to it than that.  I have represented this here with the phoenix, a mythical bird that sets itself on fire and re-creates itself from the ashes.  It is a symbol of life, rebirth, renewal, power, transformation, clarity, strength, and creativity.  Both the horse and the phoenix face the future, inviting you to embrace their energies within you.

4.  The Vision Drum: SOLD

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The Vision Drum by Dominique Hurley – SOLD


This drum also has a very rich deep voice that is sure to ground those that play/hear it.  Being grounded, I find, is a necessary factor in connecting us to both our True Selves and to an overall vision for our lives.  This is what this drum is all about.  The hawk, one of my childhood totem animals, was often sent off on its winged missions to fly above the myriad of details (represented here by 6 hours of zentangle patterns in the background) to see the bigger picture.  Indeed, we often are so caught up with our noses stuck in what’s right in front of us that we can’t see the beauty of the tapestry we are weaving with our lives.  It’s all about the forest for the trees.  It’s all about that deep inner knowing that all we are and all we do is leading us down the path to something we currently can’t see.  This drum’s imagery calls us to both love the mystery and connect to a higher vision.  It’s about faith, trust, and listening for that hawk’s cry as its clarity of vision leads and reassures us.  This drum is also about being like the tree – solidly rooted and reaching for the heavens, perfect in who and what we are as we naturally and inevitably grow on our path to our Highest Good.

5. The Gratitude Drum: SOLD

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The Gratitude Drum by Dominique Hurley  – SOLD

The woman dancing in bliss on this drum is facing the Heavens in gratitude for all forms of abundance in her life.  The spirit of appreciation that courses through both her physical and energy bodies (represented in my stylization of the figure) in turn attracts a continued shower of love and blessings from the Universe. These orbs of light also represent Divine presence – be it angels, universal energy, the Holy Spirit, etc. Through the yin yang symbol, this drum is also about the interconnectedness and interdependence of all things. Indeed, it is about the complementary forces within the Wholeness of our Selves and the world we live in.  It is also about opening up to both giving and receiving.  As such, this imagery is about the perfect harmonic balance of all that is.  The use of both metallic and interference paints gives this drum different appearances at different angles and in different lighting conditions.  It has a very deep rich voice, aligned with deep gratitude.

In darker lighting conditions

 

Here’s a note from Katie:

Alive Inspired Drums…
The first time I ever experienced a Native Frame Drum was when I was at my first evening of Community Drum Circle Facilitation Course in Calgary with my teacher Judy Atkinson and she came around to welcome each of us who had arrived to become certified in connecting and inspiring community through drumming. As she walked around the room beating the drum I felt a deep connection, the sound of the drum was penetrating and powerful, as she came close to me and my heart I felt a warm energy and a ray of sunshine enter my soul. I left that weekend with a hand painted frame drum to bring this beautiful energy to Newfoundland.
I was inspired this past year to want to bring these beautifully painted inspiring and powerful drums to people who have been wanting them at our drum circles and other events. I knew Dominique was the perfect artist to express Aliveness and pure inspiration as her work has always brought this out for me.
We are so excited to share these drums with you and look forward to meeting the new owners of these originally painted and blessed drums.
www.aliveadventures.ca and http://www.facebook.com/aliveadventures .
These drums can be used for healing purposes, teaching, recreational use at drum circles or music circles, or even on display in your home spreading energy and light. “
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Please feel free to comment below to let us know which one you like best and why.
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Photo Break – Petty Harbour

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Once again, am I ever glad I said yes.  I was fully absorbed in another painting marathon day recently when the phone rang and a friend invited me to drive out with her to Petty Harbour.  She wanted to see if she could find fresh fish.  I decided to take advantage of the warm sunshine and this ride out to one of the most scenic little villages near St. John’s.  It’s close to Cape Spear, the most easterly point of North America.  It may be small, but I’ve always come home from there snap happy.  Thanks Eva – for the ride, the company, and the soft serve ice cream! What a refreshing 1.5 hours!

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Playing With Textures – 5 New Pieces

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Art To Soothe Poster small2Yes, I’ve been accused of being a little obsessive with my projects…  I have a new and very interesting one to tell you about in a few days, but when I realized that there were still a few blank walls at Soothe Spa for my exhibition “Art To Soothe”, I embarked on another painting marathon to create these five new pieces before the Open House.  What bliss!  For these, I delved back into my love of textures, using various gels and mediums to create the desired feel or shimmer, according to what each piece was calling for.

You can see these and most of the paintings I have for sale at the upcoming Open House at Soothe Spa in downtown St. John’s.  It’s on Wednesday, October 1st from 4-9pm.  Please tell your friends.   You can read an earlier post about the Open House (with photos of my set-up).

Here are my new pieces:

1. “The Colours of My Soul” – 24″ x 36″ – SOLD (acrylics, granular gel, mica, blue topaz on gallery-wrapped canvas. No framing necessary.)  I’ve mentioned it before – I love trees and see so many parallels and links between trees and humans. The mica on this colourful piece infuses it and its environment with love & compassion.  Blue topaz is all about the relationship with our Creator, relationships in general – and helps with soothing/calming, the throat chakra, the rising of our vibratory rate, truth, honesty, openness, and forgiveness.  It also helps you discover your own inner riches.  Does it speak to you?

“Colours of my Soul” – 24″ x 36″ – $1,350 (acrylics, granular gel, blue topaz, mica on gallery-wrapped canvas – no framing required) Mica: Love & Compassion Blue Topaz: relationship with our Creator, relationships, soothing/calming, throat chakra, rises vibratory rate, truth, honesty, openness, and forgiveness, helps discover your own inner riches

2.  “Silver Thaw” – 18″ x 24″  + hst (acrylics & glass beads on gallery-wrapped canvas. No framing necessary.)  The glass beads on this piece infuses it with light; when you walk by it, it shimmers and changes – reflecting inner and outer moods. “Silver thaw” is another expression for “silver frost” or “glitter ice” – that thick shiny ice that covers each blade of grass and twig if the weather is just right for it.  Imagine this one on a coloured wall.

“Silver Thaw” – 18″ x 24″ – $575 – (acrylics & glass beads on gallery-wrapped canvas – does not require framing).

3.  “When Dragons Sigh” – 12″ x 36″  + hst (acrylics & tar gel on gallery-wrapped canvas. No framing required.).  I stopped counting the layers on this one. Just as I thought the next layer would finish it, I felt inspired to try something new.  Are the first layers totally hidden?  I doubt it – all that has gone into it has had its effect on what you see now. On a less philosophical note, I’m very glad I always check Google after I am inspired to name my paintings.  My original idea was to call this “Dragon’s breath”, but when I looked it up, I was shocked to find out that it had many awful definitions in the urban dictionary, the mildest being “To have breath that of which smells as if one has licked the butthole of a dead skunk for several hundred years.”… the others can’t be repeated here…  As I said, I’m glad I checked.  “When Dragons Sigh” is more poetic anyway…

4.  “I See You” – 24″ x 36″ –  +hst (acrylics, pumice, blue topaz on gallery-wrapped canvas – does not require framing).  I watched “Avatar” again last week with a couple of friends and was as moved by the beauty as I was the first time.  More so, however, I was moved again by the characters’ greeting “I see you” and so was my housemate, who recommended this name for this painting.  “I see you” represents being seen, accepted, and loved – as above so below – through the depths, textures, colours and fruit of our very beingness.  It’s about connection to Self and all that is.  On a technical note, I’m so grateful for de-humidifiers as this would have taken weeks to dry otherwise, its’ so thick.  The blue topaz on this piece are very subtle and can only be seen in certain lights and at certain angles, but they certainly affect the energy of the piece (see #1 above for their metaphysical properties).  The pumice helps us rise above our challenges by giving us the insights necessary to move forward.

“I See You” – 24″ x 36″ – (acrylics, pumice, blue topaz on gallery-wrapped canvas – does not require framing) Blue Topaz: relationship with our Creator, relationships, soothing/calming, throat chakra, rises vibratory rate, truth, honesty, openness, and forgiveness, helps discover your own inner riches Pumice: insight, helps rise above challenges

5.  “Time of Transitions” – 15″ x 30″ –  (acrylics & tar gel on gallery-wrapped canvas. No framing necessary).  This is one I started a while back, but was waiting for it to let me know what it wanted to become.  Here, I’m showing you the the before (several layers of acrylics) and the after (with tar gel and more layers of acrylics).  You can really see how earlier layers influence the final piece – creating depth, texture, and intrigue.  This is a time of accelerated growth and change – not only in nature, but in humanity’s consciousness – the name refers to both.

 

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Nature Break – Photo Walk in Chapel’s Cove

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Dominique Hurley_Chapels Cove_DLH_7729I can’t believe I almost said no.  Glad I didn’t though.  You see, it’s often challenging for me to transition from one state to another, especially when I’m focused on a project.  It’s rare, however, that that I’m not absolutely thrilled to get out of the house and into nature. What a blessing I did this week – especially since I haven’t done this kind of thing as much this summer as I’m used to.  Sure, I’ve walked through Bowring Park and downtown, where I stopped at The Rooms to look at the view of the harbour on one day and went to sit on the dock another to watch a cruise ship leave St. John’s. But without a car, I haven’t headed out of town very often since I returned in July.

Truth be told, with so many fulfilling projects in my painting studio, I’m definitely going through a hermit phase. Since I started painting full time, I’d say I average a 60-hour work week. I’m often in the studio by 6am and stay there until 10pm.  What can I say. Time flies when you’re having fun.

Dominique Hurley_Chapels Cove_DLH_7522 copyAnyhow, I’m so glad I said yes to a ride out of town this week.  My housemate and her sister were going blueberry picking and asked if I wanted to come along.  Winters can be very long in Newfoundland, so the mild sunny weather alone could have been enough to get me up and out the door.  The thought of walking by water with my camera & tripod, however, were what really pulled me out the door.

Dominique Hurley_Chapels Cove_DLH_7472While the sisters reveled at the abundance of blueberries on a burnt-out wooded hill by the ocean in the Town of Harbour Main, Chapel’s Cove & Lakeview (about 30 minutes out of St. John’s), I walked along the road from the ocean and past a series of ponds (lakes, really) all the way back to the main road.  Although I had more than one lens, I shot everything with my 70-300mm. What beauty! And what a great picnic too- Orinda had baked ciabatta bread that I had lathered in pesto and filled with roast chicken and organic romaine lettuce! I also had one of her famous spelt bran, wheat germ, flax seeds & blueberry muffins with me … just in case.

Dominique Hurley_Chapels Cove_IMG_8276Dominique Hurley_Chapels Cove_DLH_8005When I got to the main highway 5.5 hours later, it was getting dark.  I sat on a unique bench at the end of someone’s driveway for an hour, listening to the sounds of nature and neighbouring households, but then thought it best to knock on a door to ask to use the phone to see what the girls were up to.  By the time they came to pick me up, we all had lots of stories to share.  Thanks Charmaine & Orinda and thanks to the folks of Harbour Main, Chapel’s Cove & Lakeview! I invite you to experience this beautiful part of the world through my eyes.

 

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Introducing my “Faces Series” – 4 new paintings

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"Maiden Voyage" -12" x 12"- Acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas (no framing required)

“Maiden Voyage” -12″ x 12″- SOLD. Prints available.

At night, when I dream of trying out various haircuts, I know I’m gearing up for some major changes in my life.  This is true for many in their a-wakening state too.  If you look up “hair symbolism” on Google, you’ll find a lot on the subject (I couldn’t pick just one site to link to).

In this “Faces Series” (which I’m sure I’ll continue to explore), I am using my figures’ long hair blowing in the wind to express a movement upward and forward into inner and outer worlds beckoning for discovery.  Feel free to comment on the symbolism that each inspires in you.

Go to my shop to see all available originals and reproductions.

  1. “Maiden Voyage” – 12″ x 12″ (acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas)
    This young woman is being carried forward by her dreams, her emotions, her inner nature, her intuition, her core, and her soul. These are all symbolism for the ocean – the waves of which are calling her to the life she was meant to live – some going outward and some turning inward.

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  2. “Zippora” – 12″ x 12″ (acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas) 
    When I see red, black and gold together, I associate it with a mix of western and eastern meanings: love, passion, vibrancy, excitement, good luck, happiness, longevity, abundance, and mystery.    For me, this brave spirit is being led boldly and confidently by her winged guides as she embraces the mystery of the unknown. Her inner fire has fueled the flames of a passionate, fulfilling life.  When it came time to name this painting, I searched for a woman’s name that meant “bird” – and found “Zippora” – a hebrew name that means just that.  It was also the name of the wife of Moses.  Can you see the two birds flying high above, aware of the bigger picture?
    “Zippora” – 12″ x 12″ – Acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas. To purchase, please contact me via my webpage at www.DominiqueHurley.com or www.facebook.com/DominiqueHurleyArt When I see red, black and gold together, I associate it with a mix of western and eastern meanings: love, passion, vibrancy, excitement, good luck, happiness, longevity, abundance, and mystery. For me, this brave spirit is being led boldly and confidently by her winged guides as she embraces the mystery of the unknown. Her inner fire has fueled the flames of a passionate, fulfilling life. When it came time to name this painting, I searched for a woman’s name that meant “bird” – and found “Zippora” – a hebrew name that means just that. It was also the name of the wife of Moses. Can you see the two birds flying high above, aware of the bigger picture?

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  3. “Make a Wish” – 12″ x 12″ (acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas) This piece is all about manifestation.  The bubbles represent our deepest wishes released into the Universe and let go.  It’s also about the wonders of prayer and the limitlessness of the mind.  The figure, the bubbles, and the blossoming background of the Universe are all made of the same fabric – worth pondering on…
    “Make a Wish” – 12″ x 12″ – Acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas. This piece is all about manifestation. The bubbles represent our deepest wishes released into the Universe and let go. It’s also about the wonders of prayer and the limitlessness of the mind. The figure, the bubbles, and the blossoming background of the Universe are all made of the same fabric – worth pondering on… To purchase, please contact me via my webpage at www.DominiqueHurley.com or www.facebook.com/DominiqueHurleyArt

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  4. “In The Moment” – 12″ x 12″ (acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas) 
    It’s amazing what happens when you’re living in the moment and loving what is instead of being tied to stories of the past or hopes and fears for the future.  The dragonflies in the background are also symbols of transformation, adaptability, joy, and letting go of illusions and delusions.  This piece is about going with the flow and allowing your true colours to shine – all of them.

    Go to my shop to see all available originals and reproductions.

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The Making of “Flower Child”

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I have absolutely loved birthing this child – a symbol of rebirth into a life aligned with Love, Peace, Truth, and Nature.  Here she is, “Flower Child” (48″ x 48″) – Acrylics on gallery-wrapped canvas. Click to purchase.

Dominique Hurley_Flower ChildDominique Hurley_Flower Child_direction4I’ve decided to present her to you diamond-shaped, but the fortunate art patron who brings this piece home could choose to show her in any direction – that’s why I often sign my paintings on the side.

I started working (or should I say playing) on this canvas a little over 5 weeks ago, almost as soon as I got this huge canvas home by bus.  I’d say there are about a dozen layers of paint on it, if not more.  As with many paintings, I had no idea where it was going when I started. Just to give you an idea of the process, here’s how she came into being.

  1. After the usual smudging (sacred smoke ceremony) of the canvas, paints, and myself, I hung the canvas on the wall of my newly christened studio.  With eyes closed, I simply played with paint, using my hands and warm colours.  I then added various other marks and drips.

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  2. I then used all sorts of tools to add several layers of cool and warm coloured marks all over the canvas. For some of these, I left the canvas hanging and for some, I was sitting cross-legged on the floor with it (my favourite painting position).  This is really fun – no thinking, just playing.  After that, I added a few layers of coloured glazes to unify it a bit and to cover any spots of blank canvas.

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  3. WIP_IMG_8042After gazing at this canvas repeatedly for a long time, sometimes in a meditative state and sometimes while walking past it to the laundry room (and everything in between), I finally got a sense of what it wanted to become.  Although the vision wasn’t clear, I felt the presence of woman inside a flower.  The feel was quite symmetrical, like that of a mandala – a restful, meditative state.  After an hour or so of Googling for a photo model (since I no longer have weekly life drawing classes like I did last year at the Vienna Academy of Visionary Art), I found the one I wanted and spent an evening sketching her in my own style.  It took several hours as I worked and reworked the proportions and spacings.
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  4. After that, I used an X Acto knife to transform my sketch into a stencil, which I placed in the very center of the canvas, following the diagonal axis.  I then used a sponge and white paint for the first layer (in various thicknesses, depending where I wanted more shadow) and pearl iridescent paint for the highlights (which are only visible in special lighting – shown here on the finished piece).  Because I used a sponge, some of the background remains visible, not only through her body, but in the spaces between body parts. Once again, this is my way to represent that we are not only physical, but also energy-based, spiritual being. I used interference violet for the first layer of hair.

    I then spent a very meditative evening filling the big circle with tons of little gold circles (3 shades of gold).

  5. For the hair, I used a brush to apply the magenta and then one of my many new refillable paint markers for the violet line work – great for Golden High Flow paints, which are very liquid.  Love them!  Thanks to Shannon of Urchin Art Supplies and Papery for gifting them to me for my large paint order. I then created a dark halo around the body and a light halo around the hair – dark against light and light against dark.

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  6. I wanted to add more contrast around the figure and so I spent another few hours adding dark spirals and various other patterns inside the gold rings.  I then placed some of my beloved acrylic skins to add both colour and dimension.

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  7. The fun didn’t end there. Then came the petals – several layers of different viscosity of paint applied with a variety of tools.  I worked on these for a couple of days and the painting got sunnier and sunnier.

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  8. Last, but not least, I added 3-D paint to the inner petals and to parts of the body and hair, glazed the third level of petals to be darker, painted the deep edge of the gallery-wrapped canvas so that it doesn’t require framing and retouched many of the details for the umpteenth time (because I really like those markers and it’s a very meditative process).  I’m sure I forgot to share some of the steps, but this gives you a good idea.

    *  Well, there you have it – the making of “Flower Child” – a very enjoyable creative process and art marathon – life is good!

  9. varnish timeNow, all I have to do is wait for the next warm sunny day to apply several coats of archival varnish for added UV protection.  This is the not-so-fun step and highly toxic… check out the outfit I designed for that step… Hee hee.

 

Click to purchase.

Title: Flower Child
Year: © 2014
Size:  48“ x  48 “ (122 cm x 122 cm)
Artist: Dominique Hurley
Materials: Professional acrylics & channeled energy work on gallery-wrapped canvas with painted edges. No framing required. 
Genre: intuitive painting, visionary art, energism art, spiritual art, inspirational art
Price: $7,000 CAD

 

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Introducing 7 New Paintings

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Exaltation

Go to my shop to see all available originals and reproductions.

I’m no technical wizard (yet), but I finally managed to get through the robber’s password lock on my computer, to reload a new operating system, to erase all traces of his presence (a misspelled user name that kept popping up everywhere), to reload all my programs, and last but not least, to do some major troubleshooting that finally allowed me to open Raw photo files from my good camera.  It took me a week, but only cost me $6 for a replacement cable.  I also learned a lot in the process… Not bad for someone with a mild case of technophobia, eh?

The Painting Process:

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my new studio. I started off by consulting my Spirit Calling Cards to come up with guiding affirmations that I painted on the wall tarp (note: I still have 8 full sets left of these limited edition gems if you’d like one), did a little dance, smudged the space and my materials, experimented without expectations – even painting with my eyes closed at times, got down on the floor cross-legged for many a painting marathon, gazed, meditated, and played with all my new supplies.  It’s been 5 weeks of focused fun!

The Paintings:

  1. “Guardian Angel” (12″ x 24″) – SOLD (prints available)
    This is the first painting I completed, and I must say, I love it.  How could I not? It’s an homage to my and all guardian angels. Their presence has been truly felt in my life, and to them, I am grateful.  There are several layers of paint and glazes on this painting, as well as evidence of the Mischtechnik I learned in Vienna (albeit in acrylics instead of oils).  Another of my goals while studying overseas was to develop my own style of drawing figures – I am really enjoying continuing that process.
    Dominique Hurley_Guardian AngelDominique Hurley_Guardian Angel_detail
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  2. Exaltation – (24″ x 36″) – SOLD – prints available
    This piece was created in the state of bliss and gratitude that carried me through our robbery experience. It was the moment-by-moment reminder that suffering only happens when we attach stories to our experiences.  While working on this piece, I was as far from suffering as I was from my missing computer.  In fact, it helped me reconnect to a state I have often experienced in recent years as I have followed my heart’s calling and inner guidance – connected to my True Self and to joy.  It helped me love what is.  The imagery was inspired in part by a greeting card I have long had on my altar – the work of visionary artist Francene Hart… the same greeting card that I saw on the bedside table of the director of the Awakening Arts Center in Italy, where I spent an awesome week as Artist in Residence in May.
    Dominique Hurley_Exhaltation Dominique Hurley_Exhaltation_detail*
  3. Dancing With My Inner Child  (18″ x 24″) –  – SOLD
    This playful piece had me journeying to sunny beaches to frolic with the waves and the wind.  Warmed by the sun, there’s a definite sense of freedom and fun here.  You’ll have noticed by now that my figures aren’t solid in nature – they’re more of a representation of both the physical and non-physical energies that make us who we are.  It’s a bit of quantum physics meets spirituality all mixed together with colour and play.
    Dominique Hurley_Dancing the Inner Child Dominique Hurley_Dancing the Inner Child_detail
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  4. The Messenger  (9″ x 12″) –  – SOLD
    This is the first of two pieces I created to honour the birds that so often visit us in our back yard.  My new environment here in St.-John’s has been such a blessing on so many levels.  Although it started much before that, my experience in the land of Saint Francis of Asisi has made me even more aware of my special connection to our feathered friends. Standing on the back deck in the last 8 weeks since I have returned to Canada, I have received many messages from the so many birds that pass through.  For example, a hawk visited us on the day of the robbery and an eagle flew by above the river the day I recovered my computer.  To me, these are all helpful messages.
    Dominique Hurley_The Messenger
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  5. Come Play – (18″ x 24″) – SOLD
    There are many mixed opinions about blue jays out there, but I think they’re gorgeous! Plus, they’re perfectly being what they are – blue jays.  No other creature can be as perfectly a blue jay as a blue jay can. What more could we ask of them…  I smile when I look at this painting. It’s not really the kind of piece I would have ever done before – but it makes my inner child smile and that’s a good thing.  It’s a “happy place” kind of piece.
    Dominique Hurley_Come Play Dominique Hurley_Come Play_detail
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  6. “Pixy Dust”  (15″ x 30″) – Mixed media: acrylics & granular gel on gallery-wrapped canvas – SOLD
    I have long loved using texture in my art and have been very excited since I received my gallons of Golden mediums and gels from Urchin Art Materials and Papery, my local supplier.  Last week, I returned there to purchase some new clay shapers since I accidentally left mine in Italy. I was then able to finish the last layer of this mystical piece using Clear Granular Gel.  Its transparency allows the rich colours of the world behind it to seep through, straight into our own auric field.  Its dragonflies are now free to travel above and below, through the pixy dust that helps us all to journey with them beyond the world of illusion and delusion. It’s hard to describe how this piece impacts me energetically and aesthetically – one thing for sure is that the greens go straight to my heart chakra.
    Dominique Hurley_Pixy Dust Dominique Hurley_Pixy Dust_detail
    If you’d like to add this piece to your collection – or start your own original art treasure chest, please contact me.
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    7.  Walking the Moon Path –  (18″ x 24″)  SOLD – prints available
    Many times over the years, I have looked up at the sky knowing that the moon I was gazing at from one location was the same moon that my beloveds could see from their location around the world. The moon not only connects me to them, but to my Self and Mother Earth- to the rhythms that make us whole.  This painting is an invitation to reconnect to all that is, inside and out, and to walk on the journey of Love, Beauty, and Truth.  I have to add that it’s also an opportunity to embrace the mystery and rejoice in our sensuality.
    Dominique Hurley_Walking the Moon Path Dominique Hurley_Walking the Moon Path_detail

There you have it – my 7 new pieces.  They’ve taken both 5 weeks and a lifetime of journeying, training, and painting to create.  I am thrilled that I was finally able to present them to you today.  I have 2 more on the go, and many more to come.  It feels so good to paint – I hope you too are finding ways to express your innate creativity.

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Go to my shop to see all available originals and reproductions.

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