Spirit (Mother Spirit)

I’ve been enjoying painting expressive and emotional abstractions – open, loose/free, intuitive, generous and often alla prima (unless I later decide to add another layer/coat or paint over it completely and start again). I enjoy discovering and learning new techniques. And I love how my painting process/flow sometimes reveal new ideas/directions, and give random clues and visions/images that grow unexpectedly, unconsciously and magically. Abstraction is a vast and diverse world. A lot to read, study and learn. (I do miss painting more representational works, but I’m enjoying my process/path atm and will balance my practice out.)

I often start around noon/early afternoon and paint into the late afternoon/early evening (when the sun outside starts to set and it’s time to feed Dove and prepare dinner) with breaks/intermissions. Sometimes, I paint into the late night after a dinner break. It’s a different mood and atmosphere at night. There’s less clear/sharp bright lighting and I’m a little weary, especially after eating, but it’s often more calm and quiet.

I’ve often made excuses to paint only during the day when it is nice and bright and well lit naturally and I feel fresher. I wish I was a morning person and start at 8AM everyday for example. Each to their own. And I’m working on it. I’ve been focused, productive, with good lengthy, uninterrupted sessions. I still love my music so much and have my playlist on loud most of the time, but sometimes I have it off for the peace/silence, focus, meditation/contemplation of the work, and connection with the place/space, and a quiet/clear headspace.

I’ve been interested in the idea of Spirit with my art practice for some time. Not just the persistent/enduring human spirit (and soul), but also the invisible divine Spirit/spirits and forces that surround us. Whether it exists as a one God entity/identity or multiple forms/definitions, I’m intrigued and fascinated by the magical (invisible and difficult to define and describe) forces and energies that coexist with the physical and visible world. I believe there’s a space/plane or realm where it exists. One can imagine, observe, tune in and experience it, and it often involves us being open, free and a believer. I feel that life is interconnected with this divine Spirit web.

I first started this painting in late 2024 when I was going through a difficult and emotional time, dealing with my mum being unwell and coping with GBS and her lower body paralysis. It was a difficult time for everyone in the family because of the pain and suffering that Mum endured and how we were unable to properly/fully help and care for her and find a cure/fix and relieve the pain.

At the time, I was working on simple design abstract fineliner drawings on graph paper, and that inspired/influenced my paintings on canvas – simple abstract designs and some expressive and emotional monochrome works. That first/initial painting (which I wanted to create and title Mum/Mother Spirit) was painted loosely, expressively and intuitively. I wanted to create the painting to share the message with others that our Mums are forever with us – beyond time, space and distance. The connection/bond and love between Mum (and Dad) and child is eternal, divine, deeply spiritual and enduring. Mum Spirit is forever with us and within us – guiding, caring, loving and protecting. Always close to us and our hearts. Never far.

My mum’s first name begins with the letter O, and in that initial painting, I sketched/painted the O based symbol to create/mark this connection/association to/with her. (I’ve noticed that the O symbol [which is a powerful, universal/omnipresent symbol] often appears in my work, especially abstract works, oftentimes unconsciously, and now I see and remember Mum and her presence with it.)

That initial painting, while created/charged with energy and emotions, was thinly and quite roughly painted/made, in mostly yellow ochre/dull colours and looked a little thin and flat. I wasn’t focused enough to further and finish it (there’s unfinished canvases piling up everywhere here), so I decided to reuse and revisit the canvas and idea. (I’ve got a photo of it for reference and may revisit the same idea in the future maybe.)

With the second/latest painting on the canvas (painted on the 29th of January 2026), I had in mind to create a painting about/of Spirit (not necessarily/specifically Mum Spirit, but of a broad general idea/concept of that divine invisible guiding force/power) in an abstract manner. I started and painted openly/loosely, intuitively and mindlessly to see where it would lead. And eventually, into the night, that’s what and how it turned out to be.

As the painting progressed, the features of a face started to appear/manifest. It took more shape/form and evolved, complete with technicolour hair (waves, locks, curls and strands), infinity/limitless spectacles and skin tones, and Spirit and/or Mum/Mother Spirit was born. One version of it at least.

I pushed this painting to its current/finished form close to midnight. There were moments when I was happy enough with it; its details, composition and overall feel and presence and energy but I pushed it just slightly more to make sure it was finer without being overworked/overcooked. I think I did ok with it and didn’t go too far and it looks fine. Though afterwards and the morning after in brighter daylight, I remember I did think it can do with another paint over or touch up. But I like it enough to let it be for now, dry and I’ll find something else to paint on.

The colours in some parts of the painting look a little dull/grey and muddy/muted because some of the paints I used were a little old and some of the colours over mixed/blended in the process, but it’s fine and I like it. I think it adds to the mystery and gives the skin tone/complexion a lovely natural, dark, earthy, olive-like colour.

With all the chaotic and psychedelic brushworks and rainbow colours and expressions, it does look a little spooky/scary and fierce, but I’m not scared of it. From what can be defined, the expression in the eyes and the smile does remind me a little of Alex from A Clockwork Orange X the Joker in Batman (they all played him so well). I’m especially fond of the figure 8/infinity symbol in the glasses. I had a lot of fun painting it and am quite chuffed with how it turned out. Thank you Mum. I love you so much and forever and ever. Let the Spirit guide me. Btw, my Mum looks nothing like this. It’s an expression and interpretation.