Chapters: Intro | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08
 



If Looks Could Kill

This painting begins a series of small images done from the viewpoint of a child. Dr. W. had suggested that I think, feel or act like a child at some time during the next week. I translated that to: paint like a child. I found my smallest canvas and decided that a child would do a family portrait. In this scene, my father’s feet are menacing because he is about to start kicking.

The dream and painting both say that there is a monster beneath the surface and it’s a part of me. It is my first clue that there is a pool of anger beneath my cool facade. When I talk of the past with Dr. W., I always disclaim any anger so this is an unsettling portent.


Dream:

I was riding with my husband, Dick, through the countryside. We came across an area of road that was flooded. It had become a lake. You could see that there had been a farm below the water. It was a sunny day and we took the detour. I kept watching the lake and noticed an area of great turbulence. I thought it was a horse running under the water but knew that was silly. As I watched a great water snake (like the Loch Ness Monster) surfaced. I said, “Oh Dick, Look--a monster. Did you see it?” I thought it was great that the lake had its own monster. We went on till we came to a farmhouse. We were supposed to clean it. It was very disorderly. Dick did the laundry and I started to fold it. Then Dick’s Mom arrived. I asked if she knew about the monster and she said “Oh, yes. We know.” It was obvious when I saw it that it was a benevolent monster in the sense that it wouldn’t hurt me.


Chapters: Intro | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08