Inspirational sisters

6 X 6 INCHES paint and collage on panel
Some of my most self-defining moments have been caused by seeing my reflection in the eyes of my baby baby sister. We have almost a decade and a half between our ages, and that space has grown and shrunk over time. The questions she would ask, (and still asks), as well as the lessons she teaches, are never simple. She has, without meaning to, caused me to identify where I stand in terms of my spirituality, my courage, my faith, and my devotion. I know this sounds tantalizing, and it is hard to put to words... Just say there are images of visiting her lab in grad school where she soared efficiently above my intellect, her sweet eyes as she, a young kid snipped the umbilical chord after the birth of my son, the tears she shed, as a small child, in fear for my soul at the kitchen table, the imaginative narratives spoken as a toddler on the hillside overlooking the marsh. She is something else. I hope to be the person she believes I can be.

Painting fanatic before birthday

I've been painting more and posting less- with a lack of time and too much drama in the home life to do both. Here are a few of my small paintings- I am challenging myself to paint 48 self portraits for each year of my life by next Friday. I have 23 done and so...need a few more.
My son Max believes I can do it...So here are images of me... as a three year old and a 16 year old... and 25. They each have a story but I must be forgiven for not writing it all out. I am exhausted, and it's enough already that I painted 6 paintings in two days!
6 x 6 inches panel with acrylic paint and newspaper headlines.

Anxious Chickens hang at Berkshire Art Kitchen

Opening tomorrow night from 5-7 on Main street in Great Barrington, Massachussetts. Google gabrielle Senza or berkshire art Kitchen to see all the neat stuff going on. At the opening tomorrow there will be the reading of erotic haiku and Brazillian drumming....hmmm. Sounds as though my chickens could be switching from anxious to erotic?
Neurotic?

Road maps with hen and suitcase

It's Wednesday already?! I haven't had much studio time this week so far.
I am blissfully happy that everything is going well with my sons. And their school work. I don't really feel like this painting/drawing/collage has any truth to it- Just a random combination of images and words from the newspapers.
I am trying to stay the course, and contrary to the chick in the painting, not look too far down the road!

6 x 6 inches, mixed media on wood panel.

A milestone with the boys- no time to paint

NDP

This weekend our eldest son will graduate from high-school and he is just days away from turning 18 years old. We have cleaned the house, mowed the lawn, marinated the dinner, and are waiting for extended family to descend and celebrate. No time to paint! It's all about family and milestones. Stay positive!

Grayer and Wiser, Time

SOLD
There has been a lot of focus on age and aging in our house these last few days. My eldest son (who WILL graduate high school this weekend!) turns 18 in a few weeks. He feels the liberation of it in his bones. It brings back memories to me of that summer when I turned 18 and had the car keys in my hand and a soft breeze in my hair. He has the world in it's widest sense.

My father-in-law, on the other hand, is struggling with his age. His 84th birthday is on Tuesday and he just shakes his head at the mysterious new limitations to his movements. His world is shrinking to fit a chair, a beam of sunshine, and his cane. I spent a couple hours yesterday driving him for his lotto tickets, and bill paying, and after two hours he was exhausted and eager to get back to his window seat at the rehab center.

I feel caught between the two polar ages. I want great things. I also want normalcy and peace. As much as I can identify with my son and my father-in-law, I feel as though MY age is the wondrous adventure of a lifetime.

9.5 x 9.5 inches
This is a piece started from a recycled antler painting that I cut up and joined with text from Los Angeles Times newspaper headlines.

Baggage Train

5 x 7 inches
Just a little painting.
On a California Map. On a panel of wood.
I've sketched this scene out the airplane window a couple of times... wondering if my suitcase is actually on the train or not.