February 2025
A meaningful search
Books of note
Art in Process
Exciting news!
Hello!
Have you ever stood in front of a painting and just gotten lost in it? Maybe it were the colors, the emotions reflected in it or something you could not quite put into words. Most of us look at the finished piece, but how often do we think about what it took for the artist to get there?
Art isn’t just about the final product: it’s also about the process, the struggles, the moments of doubt and despair (yes, I know it sounds dramatic, and still…) and the unexpected turns. Every artist, no matter how skilled, wrestles with these emotions. Imagine staring at a blank canvas or panel, a block of marble, a blank page! With these empty landscapes in front of them, the artists want to create something meaningful while often having no idea where to start. Worse still, getting halfway through the art and realizing that it’s not working at all. It happens more often than one would think. Many pieces get scrapped before the artist finally lands on terra firma.
Art isn’t just about technique. Behind it there are emotions, a message, a personal story. Some artists create to process grief, some to make a political statement, some just to capture a fleeting feeling. That splash of color might be a rebellion. That moody landscape could be a quiet reflection. Even abstract art, which can seem random, often has deeper meaning – it might be how the artist sees the world or remembers a meaningful moment.
And sometimes, “mistakes” lead to magic. Many great works started with an “accident” – spilled paint, an unintended brushstroke, a last-minute change of heart. Some artists even embrace mistakes while letting them guide the piece in a new direction.
So next time you look at art, try to see beyond the surface. Art isn’t just about what you see – it’s about everything that went into making it, daemons and angels hovering about. And sometimes knowing that makes the work even more beautiful in your eyes.
MY SEARCH
I’ve been working on taking my work in a more expanded direction. I want to be freer, bolder, more courageous and able to discard fear when expressing authentically. I seek meaning and expression and find them (for a moment), lose them and seek again, scratch my head trying to understand my straying from the chosen path only to find a nugget here and there, a breadcrumb that gently (or not so gently) leads me to the welcoming cabin in the forest – or, as often happens, to come face to face with the Wolf. If this sounds complicated, it is. A Search involves so many aspects of us, and it is easy to lose or miss the signposts.
This month I’ve been focusing on a few 20″ x 20″ canvases, seeking for boldness, freedom and the discovery of aspects of me I have not yet met. Layers have come on top of layers that express what I am seeking. The search is an unpredictable process. I don’t always know where inspiration will come from, where it will lead or even the look of what I am searching for. There is a push and pull between wanting something deeply, desperately even, and not knowing how to reach it. I do not want to believe that there is no “there” there. The boldness I seek, however, teaches me to embrace uncertainty and to get out of my way. Except that I happen to be stubborn and not always do I yield.
Rather than expanding more widely, the growth consists of going deeper. And that’s a rabbit hole. I feel like Alice in wandering land
BOOKS OF NOTE
If you are interested in learning about the women who were the real founders of the New York School in the early 20th Century, I recommend “The 9th Street Women” by Mary Gabriel. You will be amazed at the authenticity, strength and intelligence of Lee Krasner, Grace Hartigan, Joan Mitchell, Helen Frankenthaler, Elaine deKooning. While the men in those years got all the credit, these women’s courage and artistry were the true pillars of Abstract Expressionism.
If you’re an artist and are seeking to improve your process and practice, I recommend “The Creative Path”, by Carolyn Schlam.
EXCITING NEWS!
I have been juried into The Ferrari Week, to take place March 20-23 at WestWorld in Scottsdale, AZ. This is a prestigious show, with over 100 worldwide galleries in exhibit. I am very excited to have my painting, The Space Within, participate in this show where art meets luxury. Featured photo in this blog is the painting that was selected to participate in the Ferrari Week.
For additional information and to see more of my work, please go to
Feel free to share this Letter with your friends! Your comments are always welcome at belafidel@gmail.com.