INTRODUCTION Art in a Colorfield style is a type of abstract art that emerged in the United States mid 20th century. At that time, the hub of art for this particular style was in New York City. It is closely associated with the Abstract, Modern and Expressionist art styles. Colorfield paintings have several elements. They often include large areas of solid color. These are usually placed adjacent to or juxtaposed against each other. Overall, the emphasis here is in the process of the work placing less importance in the detail of brushstroke. In this way, this art style tends towards abstraction or figuration. In addition, the emphasis here is in the strong colors and how they reflect and interact with each other. Why is that? In my opinion, these emphasis evokes more of an impression of a feeling rather than a calculated thought aimed at analysis, in this case, of a work of art. In my experience, what these paintings are supposed to do is more related to emotions and how our eye, mind, experiences and attitudes respond to art rather than our calculating brain responding by analyzing a work of art in terms of it's craftsmanship and detail. When I first saw Colorfield style paintings, I enjoyed them. Notably, they rich in color! And so, inspired by such artists as Mark Rothko, Morris Louis, Josef Albers, Kenneth Noland, Helen Frankenthaler and others, I decided to learn this style and paint a series. The paintings here are some of the paintings that came out in this series. And how did the process for these paintings evolve? First, every artist is unique in their interpretation of art. In my case, I focused on the world "FIELD" to decide what the subject of my art would me. And for me, and for this art style, a "field" was interpreted as an earthly landscape. In this landscapes I use the Colorfield techniques as delineated above. I used extraordinary rich, natural, textured colors. What I would refer to as colors filled with passion and intensity. Therein lies one of the great aspects of the Colorfield art style, the use of colors to evoke emotions and sensations. These series of paintings are smaller measuring 16x16 to 16x20 inches. They are painted on wood surfaces with a mixture of media including acrylic, oil and texture. And most could also be labeled "FIGURATIVE." That is because they have concreteness in some ways and are recognizable. In this way, I distinguish these paintings from those of other artists who chose to or opted to interpret their personal artistic experience solely in abstract terms. Finally, I decided to turn this into a book and to include poetic thoughts and meanderings. That way I use not only art to express myself but I also engage in a conversation with a figurative viewer! I hope you enjoy this art. Grace Divine
About the Author: I am a survivor who believes in the inexorable power of the human spirit. I am a believer who has seen through tragedy into the eye of the setting sun knowing that the morrow can bring a new and brighter day. I am a compassionate human being who wants to be there for others. And I do this by writing transformational stories filled with passion and love. I was born in California. At five, my parents divorced. My father then abducted me and took me to Mexico. He then flew me to Spain and left me in a catholic boarding school for several years during which time I didn't see my mother. Then, when I was ten, my paternal grandmother took me to Mexico. There I was exposed to the mysticism and magic of the native Indian cultures. When I returned to the U.S., I was a teenager who couldn't speak English. Happily, I saw my mother again. But then she disappeared. Her body was never found. I went to ten schools for the first twelve years. During this time, I had to contend with a father who was a dangerous sadist. I was barely eighteen when he threatened to kill me with a 38 revolver. I left home and moved to the university dorms. Years later I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree and the ability to speak six languages. And while at UCI, I married. My first baby was stillborn. Notwithstanding this and other hardships, I enrolled and graduated from UCLA Law School. Afterward, we moved to Texas. While raising my children, I received a Masters in Art and I began a career as a visual/writing artist. I've shown at centers and commercial establishments. I've also taught art in public access TV. One of my paintings is featured in the documentary by the BBC: THE PRIVATE LIFE OF A MASTERPIECE: THE KISS BY GUSTAV KLIMT ICON OF THE 20TH CENTURY. Then, after years of marriage, I divorced and I began to write. A year later I had finished my first novel, APPLE TOWN, CALIFORNIA. I also drew and painted hundreds of illustrations. And where do I get my inspiration? From childhood, I had a vivid imagination. Incredibly, my nighttime dreams would manifest in the physical world. Today, I work as a psychic medium. APPLE TOWN, CALIFORNIA comes from this inner place and includes several of my dream sequences. It is a story about facing insurmountable challenges and succeeding; a story of light and hope amidst utter darkness that speaks of the human's souls' capacity for incredible transformation.