Birth of a Painting Series VIII: Installation, "Water!".

Artist D.A. Hartley creates a series of empirical and experiential waterscapes in a video installation that explores the sights and sounds of water.

Water!: D.A. Hartley

Museumgoers might be expected to imagine entering a natural vista, experiencing the crashing of waves, the roar of a whitewater river, and the sounds of a brook working its way downward, in the cycle of movement, back to the ocean.

The viewers are invited to participate in a format of healing and reflection upon nature.

Water! A combination of large-scale videos within an installation format includes an inner meditation room, surrounded by paintings and the gentle sounds of water, designed to include the viewer in the artwork. The paintings are sculptural, created on large wood panels, with deep texture, oil paints, and gold leaf. The videos are of natural events; “Lost Canyon Falls”, includes water and fire, in a meditative film; “Lake Kaweah”, transforms two years of photos into a video time piece, recording the beauty of each passing day; “Douglas Creek”, includes streams, meadows, and the sounds of water. 

Lake Kaweah, 2007-2008, large-format video collection of stills.

Conley Gallery, CSU Fresno, 2008.  One Woman Show.

A video of stills, documenting the rising and

lowering of the waters of Lake Kaweah,

from the wild flowers of early spring,

to the snow-capped peaks in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California.

Paintings: 

"Cypress and Basalt", mixed media on wood, 4'x6', 2006. Private collection.                 

"Aspens", oil paint, gold leaf on wood, diptych, 6'x8', Private Collection.  

"Mountains, Clouds and Streams", mixed media on wood, triptych, 4'x6'. For Sale.    

"Silent Passage",oil paint on gessoed wood, 4'x6', 2004. Private Collection.                       

"Koi", oil paint, gold leaf on wood, diptych, 70"x 68", 2008. For Sale.

                                           

Copyright© Denise Hartley 2018
all rights reserved 

Birth of a Painting Series VII: "Douglas Creek". 2015

         Douglas Creek is one of many small creeks that come directly from the high-country snowmelt and natural springs. It is our drinking water for our cabin in Stanislaus National Forest, located at 6,700 ft. where the water is delivered by gravity flow. After passing by our cabin it enters the South Fork of the Stanislaus River, which begins at (9,635 ft. (2,937 m) Leavitt Peak, in Tuolumne County and eventually enters the San Joaquin River, and drains into the San Francisco Bay.

          This little mountain stream and river have sustained life well beyond our time. There are parts of wagons used by the settlers trying to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains. There are obsidian points from the Miwok Native American tribe and grinding stones. The tiny stream banks are lined with willow, horsetail herb, mints, orchids, and many other wildflowers. As a child I wandered where ever I wished, with the caveat that, if lost, head downhill. I have slept outdoors with bear and mountain lions as possible visitors. Deer have taken a nap beside me. Chipmunks and Golden Mantle squirrels have sat in my hands. I trust the four- legged critters but keep a wary eye on the two legged.

          Climate Change is changing our landscape quickly. We had to saw down six large beautiful Ponderosa trees this year alone. They are dying at a rapid rate, from bark beetles (love the heat), and a fungus, which spreads from fir tree roots. This was all predicted by a U.C. Berkeley scientist that wrote about how pollution affects the photosynthesis process, especially in the Ponderosa Pines. I watched a fire burn this summer across the river, tree torches burning brightly in the night. 

Denise Hartley

Birth of a Painting Series V, "Golden Falls".

As an artist I seek balance in my life. As a healer, I use healing in my art process.
As an artist I seek balance in my life. As a healer, I use healing in my art process.
As an artist and healer, I address the healing of our planet. I try to approach Climate Change, and our damaged environment, more as a spiritual issue. First, we must heal ourselves, and by doing so we will become aware of the reality of the global stress that humanity has caused.
My paintings are often bought by healing organizations and individuals. "Golden Falls", was a corporate purchase by Kaweah Delta Medical Center, Visalia, California. They have bought several of my paintings. 
Please promote self-healing by visiting beautiful sites in nature. This artwork was inspired by a small waterfall in Stanislaus National Forest. The trail to the falls was a delight, each flower will delight and encourage you, and the sounds of the forest, and stream, will lead you back to your true self. 
My paintings are often bought by healing organizations and individuals. "Golden Falls", was a corporate purchase by Kaweah Delta Medical Center, Visalia, California. They have bought several of my paintings. 

Please promote self-healing by visiting beautiful sites in nature. This artwork was inspired by a small waterfall in Stanislaus National Forest. The trail to the falls was a delight, each flower will delight and encourage you, and the sounds of the forest, and stream, will lead you back to your true self.