An unframed 205 x 114 cm original artwork by Laurie Shapiro.
The Story
Artmaking is my therapy, and a truly spiritual place for me. "Don't You See, I Am A Pacifist," is about a spiritual surrender. The idea for the piece came to me at a moment where I was feeling very sad. I made a drawing of the idea, and then made reference images by creating a video of myself in a kneeling prayer position, where I would rise, open my arms to a higher power, and rest my hands on my lap. I was reminded of being in a mosque in Turkey, and the ambience of prayer and it's physicality in a spiritual structure. It was only in the creation of this piece, that I noticed the reference to Durga, the divine feminine warrior Indian Goddess. At that moment, I wondered if the Goddess actually has many arms, or if her arms are as well, simply moving.
After sketching and planning in my sketchbook, I draw the figure and background with chalk on muslin. I then begin painting and hand-sewing my screen printed drawings onto the piece. I am a fan of overpainting, where I use contrasting colors to create vibrant images.
While I plan my paintings with a baseline sketch and idea concept, I never know how a piece will turn out. As an artist, I enjoy the process of the piece guiding me, rather than the other way around.
In addition to the work available through H&E, this artist has an extensive portfolio available on request. Please contact us at service@harrisanderelart.com for a copy.