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In Your Own Words $$PLAIN_TEXT_PREVIEW$$
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I started off making this piece about me and the voices and languages I grew up with - English mixed with the native languages of my parents - Farsi and Croatian. I largely strayed from that original vision, to a painting that has no words, no voice, no language or borders. The nightingale, a surprise I seemed destined to find - coincidentally serves as the national bird of both my parents’ countries - Croatia and Iran. So tell me, sweet nightingale, what is it that you want to sing? Something uniquely yours, bigger than your tiny frame, something not loud in decibels, but in spirit? Not the black and white of pen to paper or keys to screen, but the volume of full color; the meaning not always clear yet largely apparent. Has this song been in you the entire time, or only once you journeyed to the precipice? Will anyone hear your song? Or see it? Is it for anyone, or only you? Does it float, or will it land? Is it static or does it evolve? Your song double-sided - two colors at once - simultaneously dark and light, warm and cool. Your language alone. Your desire to communicate despite the barriers, despite the lack of fluency. Fluent in color and beauty, expression, to your inner compass and the pursuit of hope.⠀⠀⠀
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In Your Own Words 48x30 Diptych, Acrylic on Canvas, Original available⠀⠀
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In recent months I’ve come to recognize and accept the simultaneous presence and balance of both light and dark. I am in constant pursuit of “light” - taking forms such as joy, balance, success, calm, clarity, connection or hope - but often forget that the “dark” - in the forms of fear, sadness, failure, challenges, anxiety, impatience or imbalance - are very much a natural part of our journey and a necessary element for growth. The dark provides a sharp contrast and balance to the light, making the light more relevant, apparent and appreciated. The light of a candle would be less vivid if it weren’t for the presence of the dark. ⠀⠀ In this piece the sunbeam illuminates portions of the room and the flower, and leaves other areas in shadow or darkness. We can be in both at the same time. We can also trust or anticipate that the light (and subsequently the dark) will move and flow - throughout our day, and our lives. Neither is fixed or permanent. Like our pursuit of balance, it is in constant movement. ⠀⠀ The crisp, structured lines of the wallpaper is contrasted by the unpredictability and unevenness of the crack that appears on the floor. Something undesirable, such as the crack, can yield something beautiful, here the tulip. ⠀
A soft delicate flower, balanced with the darkness of its petals. I read recently that tulip growers for centuries have sought to breed a true black tulip. While some have come close, none have fully succeeded (there always remains a tint of reddish purple). This makes me think of the pursuit of goals and the balance that comes from accepting the outcomes, the elements that are out of our hands, and the results - often while different from our original vision - can yield something more beautiful or more true than we imagined. In this piece, the stem of the flower grows out of the darkened side of the painting, while the flower emerges in the light. Beauty and balance in our trials and our overcoming of them.
Tulipe Noire 36x72 Acrylic on Canvas, sold
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So thankful for the supportive team at D Home magazine and their inclusion of my puzzle, found in the personal note from the Editorial Director. I originally made these puzzles as an ode to my childhood, and am so grateful that you continue to bring this old pastime joyfully into your (long) days at home! ;-)
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Puzzle sighting in the latest issue of D Home!
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Thoughtful gifting (and receiving) from the safety of your home. Thank you for lovingly thinking of my scarves when ordering gifts for your friends and loved ones (which includes yourself)! These styles are in stock and ready to ship.
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More often than not, to move towards something beautiful, we have to venture into the unknown, the ugly, the uncomfortable. The middle ground where we wish to turn back, but somehow keep moving through. My sweet friend, and fellow artist, Nina Ramos, describes this place as ‘the ugly middle.’ It happens each time in my paintings, and is the point where I start doubting myself and want to give up, but somehow continue on, fueled by a desire to see my vision reach its light. Here’s a look at the Ugly Middle I ventured through in some of my favorite paintings.
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My name is Mione Plant and I'm an artist, storyteller, and formerly an engineer for 10 years. My pursuit to follow my curiosities and creativity has joyfully led me to painting.
I draw inspiration from my joys of childhood, my son's childhood, and even a child-like perspective as an adult. I use whimsical imagery to convey my journey, along with gentle and approachable reminders to myself to continually return to my center, to my truth, to choose hope over fear.
In each painting, I love to create beautifully mathematical combinations - celebrating my path from engineer to artist by mixing right brain with left brain, playfulness with precision, joy with geometry, whimsy with substance.
I hope to bring joy through my artwork, but maybe even more importantly, to bring connection, to acknowledge our shared journey. The trials we experience and the beauty and magic of overcoming them; of facing fears and coming out on the other side; of pausing, stopping, slowing down to recognize beauty and magic all around us.
Recently, inspired by a dream to someday collaborate with Hermes on the artwork for a scarf collection, I have transformed select paintings into limited edition silk scarves. It's such a joy for me to see my work in a tangible, malleable format; each scarf containing a painting and a story, is a silk hug around you.
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Visit my website or Instagram to see the latest from my studio
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