Behind the Easel

Durham Dreams: painting the dreams of Durham’s visionaries

This month’s “dream portrait” features the interpretation of Bill Shore’s dream for Durham. His dream  to see “young people know the opportunities available to them and to be guided through the maze of challenges that often surround the difficult circumstances of their lives.”


I'm on vacation this week so I thought I'd simply post some of the photos of the process of Bill Shore's "dream portrait" with you. Next week I'm back in the saddle beginning the portrait of Reverend Ernie Mills! This man is truly a dreamer of devine dreams!

Read More

Behind the Easel

Durham Dreams: painting the dreams of Durham’s visionaries

This month’s “dream portrait” features the interpretation of Bill Shore’s dream for Durham. His dream  to see “young people know the opportunities available to them and to be guided through the maze of challenges that often surround the difficult circumstances of their lives.”


Four out of nine

Well, there’s four paintings finished and nine more still to be painted! Durham Dreams is moving along! What an honor it is to paint the dreams of these visionaries.Bill Shore’s “dream portrait” is completed and next month’s  featured dreamer will be Rev. Ernie Mills.

What does it all mean?

In this post, I wanted to take the opportunity to give the full meaning behind the completed portrait of Bill’s dream for Durham, titled, “Dreams of Opportunity”. In paying tribute to Bill’s extensive collaborative efforts of joining corporations’ assistance with public schools , I painted overlapping gears. There’s an intricacy to the layers of these gears, depicting the depth of Bill’s collaborative efforts and the breadth of his commitment. 

Got hope?

The overall theme and focus of this painting is the idea of having hope for the future. Choosing the female form to represent the face of youth, her uplifted face reminds the viewer to look up to see opportunity. She gazes at a flying bird overhead which symbolizes hope, freedom and movement. Her hopeful aspirations are represented by images of a key, an open door and unlocked padlock, as well as a door knob and keyhole. 

Don’t look down! ....Look up!

The female face looks upward and dreams. Orange and golden orbs, representing dreams, cascade through the composition. The orbs in the upper left of the canvas, have clearly defined edges which undergo a transformation towards the lower right  corner of the work. The dreams, clear and concise, while she gazes at them, transform her reality; the clarity of the ribbon’s edges in the lower right corner represent the dream becoming reality. 

A maze

The bottom third of the composition is laced with decorative maze-like detailing which refers to the “maze” of difficulties and challenges  through which many young people must navigate.

Coming soon!

I will be making this image, as well as all Durham Dreams images, available in print form within 6 weeks. It is my sincere hope that these “dream portraits” will serve to encourage and inspire many!

Hope is not a dream, but a way of making dreams become reality.

Read More

Behind the Easel

                         (*This is only an excerpt from the composition of this month's painting.)

Durham Dreams: painting the dreams of Durham’s visionaries

This month’s “dream portrait” features the interpretation of Bill Shore’s dream for Durham. His dream  to see “young people know the opportunities available to them and to be guided through the maze of challenges that often surround difficult  circumstances of their lives.”

Unfolding the interpretation:

Bill’s “dream portrait” is coming together wonderfully. With only three more days until it’s unveiling during my monthly open studio at Goldenbelt. Painting these portraits is such an honor. I feel as though I am having the privilege of entering into the labor of these incredible people’s work for the city they hold dear. I must say that in doing so, however, there are times I feel swept up into the vortex of the drama these dreams represent. This month’s is certainly no exception.

Facing the giants:

Bill’s dream of seeing young people know the opportunities available and seeing them guided through the maze of challenges that often surround difficult  circumstances of their lives, is pregnant with incredible difficulties. As I painted, my mind wandered to a young girl I met several months ago through a friend of mine. At 14, she was a Mom, trying to grope through this “maze” of difficult circumstances while she went to school, worked an afternoon job, caught buses, all while navigating through a physically abusive home  that she shared with an unhealthy number of non-family members. As I painted, tears blurred my vision. This “dream” of helping these young people looms large. How can it be done? I’ll leave that to those far smarter than I am! Painting this dream  is my small contribution.

Focus!

The focus of this “dream portrait” has been creating  hope.  Within the 36”X48” borders of this canvas I have implemented this goal by drawing from metaphors of the opened lock, the open door, the open window, to name a few. It is my opinion that the creation of hope is fundamental.

“Say so”

Watching the children enrolled in Geoffrey Canada’s school in Harlem NY  boldly confess their plans to excel academically and attend attend college confirms the importance that the foundation of hope plays in creating a future for these children. (Click here to watch a short clip of this amazing school he’s created.)

And the title is..... “Dreams of Opportunity”

In selecting a title for this portrait, I have chosen “Dreams of Opportunity”. It is my intention that this image would create windows of hope in the imagination of  young people. Facing the mazes of opposition and challenge, may they begin to look up over the hurdles they face and see viable options   for creating healthy, whole lives. May they dream of opportunity!

For your own dreams:
My gift to you, dear reader, as you pursue your own dream:
Writer Richard Bach  asserts, “You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true.”

Read More

Behind the Easel

Durham Dreams: painting the dreams of Durham’s visionaries

This month’s “dream portrait” features the interpretation of Bill Shore’s dream for Durham. His dream : to see “young people know the opportunities available to them and to be guided through the maze of challenges that often surround difficult  circumstances of their lives.”

Unfolding the interpretation:

In unfolding the symbolic elements for Bill Shore’s noble dream  of assisting the young people of Durham, I have chosen to use a repeated motif of gears. These gears not only suggest the work and labor involved in creating and seizing opportunities, that also suggest the interlocking collaborative efforts Bill has created in his efforts in collaborating with companies of all sizes to assist Durham’s public schools.

Unlocking the future:

When opportunity intersects with hard work exciting things happen! In order to create this message clearly, I’ve placed an opened pad lock in the “focal point” of the painting in the upper left quadrant.

My personal message:

It is my personal desire that this painting would create a feeling of hope and inspire fortitude in persevering through difficulties and hindering circumstances. 

This completed portrait of Bill Shore’s dream for Durham will be unveiled June 18th at my studio in Goldenbelt, room #114 during this month’s  “open studio” 6-9. It will be on display there and joined each month by the nine other Durham Dream participant’s portraits. In addition, full images will also be posted on my website after the unveiling.

Encouragement for your dream:

(In this spot, you’ll find inspiration for your own dreams. )

A friend of mine is an amazing motivational speaker. She’s one of those rare breeds that has the ability to make you feel like anything is possible. She recently posted a great blog post about biting off your dream a little at a time. I think you’ll like it - especially if you’re a chocolate lover like me!

Breaking Your Dream Into Bite-Size Pieces

What is not started today is never finished tomorrow. Johann Wolfgand von Goethe

Happy dreaming.

Eleatta

Read More

A Dream of Hope

Durham Dreams: painting the dreams of Durham’s leaders

This month’s “dream portrait” features the interpretation of Bill Shore’s dream for Durham. His dream : to see “young people know the opportunities available to them and to be guided through the maze of challenges that often surround their home life.”

 The Dream’s Interpretation

Firstly, I must make a disclaimer that these are simply my own thoughts of interpretations. I’m sure there are many other perspectives that might be considered!

Seeing opportunities

In painting this dream, I have considered what  facilitates “seeing” opportunities. The thought that came to me is this: In order to contemplate the possibility of change, no matter what the situation, one must change the direction of  focus. If there is going to be any type of change or transition, one must purposefully stop looking at the defeat -filled problem and turn their gaze onto something that holds potential for change. Therefore, I am composing two figures, one male and one female, with their gazes fixed upward as if in anticipation or contemplation.

Next, in considering opportunities, I thought it fitting to use symbols that would represent the aspect of work and effort. For these two ingredients are the companions to opportunity. Representing these, I am painting interlocking gears in various sizes to connote the variable degrees of labor involved in creating a  life-transition.

Seeds of hope

Interestingly, I find myself getting so caught up in each of these dreams in Durham Dreams as I paint them, that I begin to feel the burden of bringing them to fruition. But, alas, I shake myself,  being reminded that I am simply the painter! It is my deepest desire, however, that these images would somehow spread like seeds of hope across Durham and that there would be a surge of future passionate leaders that will pick up the baton handed off by these Durham Dreamers, and that they would run the race even harder and help build upon the vision of these paintings! That is actually MY dream!

Encouragement for your dreams!

What is YOUR dream? In this section I am posting fertilizer for your dreams to grow!

Tonight’s thought :

The future belongs to those who believe in (the beauty of) their dreams. ~ Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart.  Pick your dream carefully because we can become no larger than our vision. The size of your dream limits the size of your accomplishments. Although poor eyes limit what we can see, poor vision limits what we can do.

Eleanor Roosevelt

May you continue to have  Abundant Dreams in Blue !

Read More

Behind the Easel

Durham Dreams: painting the dreams of Durham’s leaders

This month’s “dream portrait” features the interpretation of Bill Shore’s dream for Durham.In reviewing my interview with Bill, his sincere desire is for the betterment of the youth of Durham. Specifically, he longs to see “young people come to know the opportunities that are out there waiting for them. I want to see them somehow guided through the maze of challenges that often surround their home life.” In interpreting this dream, a few of the symbols I am using are such images as  locks, keys and mazes. I will be posting portions of the portrait here. In addition, I’ll be sharing even more “behind the scenes” info here: The Art of Eleatta Diver Info | Facebook

An announcement:

Since developing the “Dream Series” paintings, my greatest joy has been talking with people about their dreams, hopes and aspirations. As an example, a piece like,The Power of Dreams has been a spring board to some amazing conversations with patrons and visitors to my studio.

 When I get an email telling me how one of my prints has inspired someone to believe in their dream, I am so excited. In fact, I get so much feed back from folks telling me about their dreams, I’ve decided to tweak this blog a bit. I am going to begin offering book reviews, excerpts, articles, quotes etc. that I’ve found to be encouraging in light of pursuing a dream. I hope these will be fuel for your own dream pursuit. 

An inspiration :

Recently I found this great little poem about stepping out of the “comfort zone.” Since pursuing a dream starts by deciding to step outside this box of defeat, I thought I’d offer it first.

Comfort Zone :  Anonymous

I used to have a Comfort Zone
Where I knew I couldn't fail
The same four walls of busy work
Were really more like jail.

I longed so much to do the things
I'd never done before,
But I stayed inside my Comfort Zone
And paced the same old floor

I couldn't let my life go by,
Just watching others win.
I held my breath and stepped outside
And let the change begin.

I took a step and with new strength
I'd never felt before,
I kissed my Comfort Zone "goodbye"
And closed and locked the door.

If you are in a Comfort Zone,
Afraid to venture out,
Remember that all winners were
At one time filled with doubt.

A step or two and words of praise,
Can make your dreams come true.
Greet your future with a smile,
Success is there for you!

Why do you think it’s so hard to step out of that “zone? I know for me it usually boils down to fear. What do you dream about doing? Are you inching out of your “zone”? I’d love to hear from you.

Read More