My Maine Home

This week I've been looking at some older paintings. I still get a kick out of this one.

Look at this one for a while before you read on. What do you see?

The original drawing in my sketchbook came from a model session at the late Round Top Center for the Arts. I set up my easel and paper, and the model positioned herself. I was startled at first. The view of her vulva was unexpected, and I wondered if I ought to move.

I took it as a gift. I never get to see that view of a body, let alone draw it, so I drew it with abandon, and made a few paintings and sculpture inspired by the pose. Let me here honor once more the generosity of models who lend their beautiful bodies to artists.

This painting is a favorite among my fans. It amuses me that some people see the figure instantly, and some never do, even if I tell them. I have spilled the beans to you, but I want to share an inside joke. I made this landscape a puzzle of my neighborhood, where the mountains meet the sea, with lakes, coves, and rocky cliffs I can see on my drive to town. The houses are all Hope houses visible in my view, or on the road. I am amused to imagine the very conservative town fathers and mothers if they saw portraits of their old farm houses nestled in a woman's crotch, or on her knee. This painting also reminds me of the Baudelaire poem, Giantess. My Maine home on Mother Earth's Stupendous knee.

Comments

[Angela]

Wow Carla, it's gorgeous! And all the more so for knowing the inspiration. A true honoring of the feminine form.

[Carla Sanders]

Thanks Angela! I love painting the figure and landscape as ONE. I have several, maybe I'll post them all.

[tammy vitale]

Awesome! I just saw your post over at ArtBiz and thought I'd come visit and catch up with what you're up to and say hi.