Mairin Kareli
I was born in the San Francisco Bay area in 1980. I now make my home in Reno, NV with my awesome husband, stepdaughter, and dog Bodhi a.k.a. the Mugwump, and 13 chickens -- headed up by the unstoppable rooster, Zorman. I received a BFA in fine art and a minor in dance, from the University of Nevada, Reno. I have always been walking an artistic path. In college I worked in various media: painting, photography, ceramics and alternative media sculpture. My work today is primarily acrylic painting, but there is always a temptation: the vast and juicy media options for creative expression.
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Tracking the dragon
Why, why am I doing this, any of this? Why am I making art, making products, trying to sell them, blogging? I feel the need to address this because I feel there is something arrogant and presumptious to think that ones life and thoughts might interest others. Presumptuous, to think that one’s visions and scrawlings might mean enough to someone else that they'd fork over some cash for them. I have, problematically, very little arrogance and presumptuousness. I'm not sure I am interesting, or talented enough, to warrant others attention in these ways. So, why? Why am I doing this?
Because I want to see the dragon again, another piece of him. I've never seen the whole dragon, only glimpses, pieces, moments of mythical presence. I see the dragon when I paint, or draw. This is why I paint, because I can only see the dragon when I chase him into the imaginary landscapes I create. He tempts me into these realms; I hear his exhale, the breathy exhale of a huge horse, I turn my head. I see a glimpse of a woman feeding her magical Koi. I paint her. I see, through the dense forest of the painting the shimmer of dragon scales. I am thrilled.
Seeing a dragon is the most exhilarating thing I've ever experienced. It's like being in the ocean with a whale, huge, intelligent, and incomprehensibly large. But with a dragon, mythical, magic, unknown. I paint to see more of the dragon.
I don't know why the dragon shows me what he does, why he leads me where he does, why I see him at all. All I know is that the things I find as a trek trough his realm, following his trail of bent stems, dragon tracks, and charred foliage, I see beauty and in honoring it he honors me; with his magical presence.
Lately the dragon took a leap, and I, of course, am compelled to follow. He leapt over a vast deep abyss, from the familiar to the unknown realm of success. Why he has done this, I, of course, don't know. All I know is he wants me to leap. He hasn't led me astray yet... so here I go.
You know that saying "leap and expect a net to appear" that sounds real great until your in a free fall off a cliff into a dark abyss following a dragon you've never seen more that a glimpse of. Then you’re thinking, "There had better be a freaking net. Please universe let there be a net." Going for your dream in many ways totally sucks. This is the most nerve racking thing I have ever done; the most difficult; the most important.
So that’s why, the why of all of it is: I am compelled to, for what ever reason, and I hope the dragon knows where he's leading me. I pray there's a net; I hope I get to see the dragon again... so I chase. Anyone who chooses to follow me on my journey: I am honored by your presence thank you for being interested in the quest.
Mairin Kareli
