36” X 36” acrylic on canvas

This painting was created through an automatic painting process. In this approach, I do not start with any specific ideas. Instead, I allow memories and associations to emerge freely. This particularly memory was of summer days with a friend at a swimming hole in Tennessee. The water was cool and refreshing, yet there was an element of fear in not knowing what was beneath the surface—perhaps snapping turtles or other mysteries. Sitting beneath the falls a memorable time, with the rushing water giving a powerful massage. This piece reflects the excitement and fear of being a teenager about to leave home.