How To Put Emotion In Your Art

I come from a family of artists. My sister has a Master of Fine Arts degree & works as a teacher, instructor & visual artist for schools. My brother holds a PHD in Art History & serves as head of the Art History Department at a major university in Georgia. I never really pursued art seriously, though I should have. Because of my short attention span, I found it extremely difficult to complete an art project. I found my creative place in writing & speaking.

I found some paintings recently. These are works of art created during an earlier time of my life. The first two represent an era that had a great impact on me: the 1970s. I'm also sharing 4 other watercolor paintings I found tucked in a folder. I have no recollection of ever painting these. I believe they are from the darkest period of my life during my journey through depression. I know I painted them sometime between 1990-1996 because of the signature. Other than that, I don't remember creating these works of art.

Allow me to share my long-lost works of art.

The painting above, with it's many sharp, pointed mountains was representative of my fantasy world during the drug culture of the 70's. I'd often daydream about a place & time such as this, wishing & wondering if I'd ever find such peace. I believe I was trying to reach this place, but never found it until I met the Lord.

 The above painting was never finished.  Notice the only spots left unpainted are in perfect symmetry with the rest of the painting?  Something else unusual I noticed here.  I have a symbol in the center of the painting, over the peace sign.  I think it means either my astrological sign, Gemini, or I was expressing my desire for unity with a lifelong mate.  Notice how the figures are connected in the middle?  Very interesting, I never noticed before now. Also, the heart shape beneath the figures could represent a longing for love.  One more thing to point out: the three connected ovals at the bottom of the painting.  I use a lot of "three's".  Could this represent Father, Son & Holy Spirit I'd soon find?  See how the ovals are incomplete?   I didn't know God at this time.  Perhaps there is more symbolic nature to this work of art than I imagined. 

 Again, I don't know when I painted this.  I used some hopeful colors, especially in the center.  Notice the "three" birds flying peacefully above the dark water?  There  it is again!  Maybe I was holding out hope for happiness.  I'll never know, my memory is blank.

This seems stand for a more cheerful outlook. Perhaps I had a good day, or was reflecting on my life. Could the many branches reflect the different paths my life had taken to get me to that point? All I can say is I'm glad to see I could "see the light" at this point. I don't know what this picture means. But it's happy.

Well, what can I say? Is this self-explanatory, or what? Could only mean the storms of my life. It's realistic, about a real event, but what was I trying to say here?  See the dust cloud blowing up from the bottom of the funnel?  Could I have been in the middle of the worst storm of my life, or was I trying to show a real event I'd been through?   I'll never know....I don't remember doing it.

Honestly, this looks like my sister's work. But I KNOW it's not, I found it with the others in the series. I got the style from her, for sure. Something about it is reminiscent of her early work. It's interesting, for sure, but I cannot say for sure that I completed this piece of art with my own idea. I believe I subliminally used her style for this expression of my emotions. Regardless, it's a cheerful painting full of "feel good" feelings.  I also noticed, I used a lot of green.  Green is a good color, especially for those who are sad or depressed.  Hmmmmm..