new work: 'opening up to soften'
‘opening up to soften’
relaxing into things, taking the step to open up, pushing into resistance to find softness
This morning in yoga class my teacher said, “when we get stronger, the world gets lighter.”
My journey the last few months has been one of strength; the message that keeps coming through is “strengthen yourself” and it has manifested in all senses of the word: emotionally, spiritually, physically. I’ve been meditating on grace, on ease, on how much easier things are the stronger you are. On how you have to give something to the universe in order to receive.
I’ve been meditating on birds of prey: the eagle, the hawk, the vulture and their ability to glide on gusts of wind. If you watch them, their flight looks effortless. But the more you watch, the more you realize that to hold one’s arms out like that amidst a force as strong as the wind requires immense power, immense muscle, immense strength. It is work to glide. To glide, you must rely on the strength of your own wings. To rise, you must first strengthen yourself.
So what of softness, then? Softness, in many ways, has been my journey of the last few years. Softness with myself, with life. Embracing rest, allowing myself to open, allowing myself to cry. Welcoming vulnerability — having the strength to open to that. Softness to strength is more sister than stranger, the necessary antagonist to push the protagonist’s journey forward.
And so we continue to be soft. And we continue to be strong. And we glide on the effort of our own wings, surrendering to whatever gusts carry us on our path to ascension.
‘opening up to soften’ (acrylic on canvas, 24” x 30” canvas in pale maple float frame, 2023) is available for $1550 and ships framed. Price includes US domestic shipping and tax. To purchase, please e-mail 📧 hi@alexmaceda.studio.
Commissions Open
Wow, what a wild February. Between my shows, a feature on Artsy, and the launch of the first batch of sky paintings I have been truly humbled and surprised by all your inquiries! Thank you so much for the support.
I’m opening up 2-3 more spots for commissioned work for late May/early June delivery. This is a great option if you have a specific space you’re trying to fill or if you love my work but haven’t quite found the perfect piece yet. With commissions, we’ll work together to pick a palette, style, and size based on past work you like and customized for your space. Commissions are priced similarly to studio paintings, $1550 for a framed 24” x 30” piece.
In the past year I’ve done commissions to commemorate fertility journeys, weddings, growing families, first offices — for over couches, over beds, or recently, a large 48” x 48” for a particularly large landing. Anything is possible! If this resonates, please reach out to me at hi@alexmaceda.studio and I can send you more information or fill out the commission inquiry form here.
Sending love from the desert,
A