1 / 2 Marilyn J. Welch According to Nathaniel Brandon, author of Honoring Thy Self “Every new invention, every true work of art, every genuinely creative act-any commitment taken by anyone anywhere, to his or her own evolution –is an act of self assertion and healing.” I paint because I like the process: to shatter the mirror, jump into the void and witness perception coming to form. I work subjectively with bold color and form to create an emotive abstract expression of a direct experience, thought, or memory. Observations, daydreams, and long walks in nature, encourage my creative endeavors and kindle a desire to paint. My paintings are the outward conveyance of an inner process of thought and consideration of the occurrences of a sometimes-bewildering world. The creative action of brush to canvas stems from my love of nature and its healing gifts that have always soothed my spirit. My paintings are motivated by these observations in hopes that, a certain sanctity or pause –a stilling order from a chaotic world. I am aware that, an unconscious impetus to create and address our ecological need to heal our planet and communities has manifested in many of my paintings. It is my hope that within these contemplative moments there is offered a spark, and a desire to discover solutions for our troubled lands, polluted air, and toxic waterways. Solutions! Solutions that help all peoples to live a harmonious peaceful life with reverence to Natures gifts! As Piet Mondrian stated in 1907, “The position of the artist is humble. He is essentially a channel.” And because a viewer’s reaction may vary greatly between any two individuals perhaps the paintings accomplish and question what a statement may only serve to constrain or limit. If however, there can be a stated objective here it is not to baffle, obscure or force-feed the viewer, but rather to encourage a pause and perhaps a journey into an arena of memory, thought and individual perception. My hope is that we begin to fully recognize the value and beauty of nature’s gifts, before it is too late. ! My work offers me a vehicle in which to examine the world and the resulting paintings stem from these experiences. For me, the completed work offers a satisfaction that something has been released, transformed and stilled. I live in the great state of Maine where I may still observe nature’s pristine beauty and be immersed in that revealing stillness of her environments. I continue to seek and dwell in that revealing stillness that nature’s beauty offers, therefore, I paint and relish in the space where thoughts can wander uninhibited and forms can unfold freely on the canvas.