‘Chasing a Memory’ A large ethereal landscape painting by Gill Bustamante
‘Chasing a Memory’ is a large ethereal landscape painting. It is one of my own memories from some other lifetime. It shows a figure and a dog by a river in summer. It is 30x30x1.5 inches. This is a very real and happy memory to me and so, in a rare event, I decided to paint it.
The actual building is a real one near the river Ouse outside Lewes. This is not the place I lived but was a good enough place to paint to represent the memory. Hence it is called Chasing a Memory. The viewer is transported into this landscape with a series of random spirals, spots and lines which gives it an energy I am very pleased with.
It is predominantly green but you can see the yellow fields, the red brick of the building and the blue sky in the centre as well as wildflowers which grow at the edge of the river on both sides.
Dedicated to all those who are brave enough to look beyond the mundane. Painted on deep edge canvas, dark green edges, ready to hang and comes with a certificate of authenticity.
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Firstly, what memory inspired you to paint this artwork?
It was a former lifetime – possibly 17th century – where I was an old lady living by a river with a dog and a cat and other animals and a herb garden. I was very happy and could even smell the flowers and remember the feeling of my cat and the days spent gardening and fishing by the river. It is a memory I often revisit as it was simple and very satisfying.
It does look like I am glancing into a memory – how do you create this effect?
I built up a few layers of paint and for the final layer I put transparent green over the painting and then wiped off some of the paint to give the illusion of energy. I wanted it to be a bit unformed and ethereal, like the memory actually is.
Could you elaborate on the message in the painting, “brave enough to look beyond the mundane”?
I guess I am trying to present a spiritual message. I believe human beings are spirits in bodies – they are not their bodies. Too many people have forgotten this. Even as a child I suspected I’d lived before but it was not until I began reading some Scientology books that I found out more about the real nature of the human spirit.
Could you share any specific challenges or unique approaches you may have encountered creating this artwork.
I think it was that the second layer of the painting was quite ‘realistic’ which was fine, however it did not convey any other message than being a pleasant landscape. The challenge was in covering it in green paint which risked ruining the painting altogether.
Lastly, how long did it take you to produce this piece?
Around 20 hours I think but layers had to dry in between so this was over some weeks altogether.
SEE MORE PAINTINGS BY GILL BUSTAMANTE
