Motherhood Hit Me Like a Train, Cross-Country #2, 2021-22, Watercolour on Paper, 36" x 36" is the second large painting in this series. This abstract painting has been commissioned by RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) for a limited edition fine art print for its corporate collection of fine artwork.
Please note that this original painted artwork on paper is framed. Delivery is free within the Greater Toronto area. Other locations may incur additional shipping costs.
The Inspiration and Background Story of the Abstract Painting
Rolling a toy train across my artwork is a not so subtle metaphor for being a mother and artist. Motherhood hit me like a train. My art completely changed course when I became a mother. Toys have taken over my home and my artwork and they are always in mind and in my way. So for this artwork I tried to reverse the ubiquitous toy train and turn it into a paintbrush.
My children often join in on my painting and drawing, and other artwork. Usually I do not appreciate this overtaking or co-collaboration in my art. Over the years, I have tried to accept that children thrive on creative art projects, so I have started incorporating them into certain projects, both for family fun and for school (theirs and mine!).
To express motherhood in body and gesture, I used a small toy train with six wheels to make fluid marks across a large 36” x 36” watercolour paper. I tested various brush strokes and differing marks with the toy train, including quick pushing of the train to letting it move on its own across the page. I decided on a sweeping arm motion as my one mark. I found the rolling motion to be a more satisfying way of using the train, as compared to dabbing it like a stamp.
This chosen rolling motion required loading up significant water and pigment for each mark run. In order for the paint colour to show up on the paper, I had to heavily press down on the toy train during the entire rolling mark movement. Though I heavily pressed into the train for the duration of the motion, I was usually unable to equally apply the paint throughout the same mark. I made the large arm movements both while standing over the paper and also while sitting or kneeling beside it.
The mark making proved to be unexpectedly tiring for my arm and back. Ironically, working in this way caused the same physical exhaustion, aches and pains as those I experienced after childbirth, as a mother to a newborn. I had to work in short bursts and take many breaks while creating this painting. Resting alone and respite from one’s own kids is also highly recommended when mothering.
Read about my first Motherhood Hit Me Like a Train painting, which was sold to a New York art collector, in this Blog Post: Recently Sold Painting.
This abstract toy elephant painting was exhibited in:
2022, Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Booth A-24, July 15th to 17th, 2022 in Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario