ECHO Paintings™ (Eyes Closed Hands Open)
I trust that there's a lesson in these and that I invented this finger-painting-without-looking practice during covid lockdown 2020 in order to gain that trust. Each piece begins with color - acrylic paint, crayons, painted papers - carefully chosen and arranged on a large palette so that I can reach for them, without looking, using both hands.  I had originally planned to employ these works on paper as starts for real, deliberated-upon, paintings, but when I open my eyes each time it's a surprise, not only to see what's come up but also that the work looks complete. I have only once or twice gone back in but felt as if I had violated something pure. In trusting my body, with its own wisdom and memory, a balance is found.

You Can Watch My ECHO Painting Process Here: 
​www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1CYWeaRF7A&t=501s&ab_channel=LisaHaddadArt

Materials - Acrylic and sometimes pencil, water-soluble crayons, paper scraps, etc. on lightweight, 2-ply museum board. There are stray paint markings, mementos from the process, on the white edges, and those borders are intended to be part of the finished, framed piece.  31.75"x 40" unless otherwise noted


​ECHO Paintings 2020


​ECHO Paintings 2021

"A Year to Remember" - ECHO Painting with Painted Papers incorporating images from the Jan. 2021 Insurrection at the Capitol

Picture
"Copa Verde" - ECHO Painting - acrylic on canvas - 30"x40"



"Copa Verde" - ECHO Painting on canvas  
I listened to a beautiful mix of Brazilian music by DJ JaBig, while painting this with both hands. I never looked at the canvas during the 2 periods of work but did brush a wash of pale green across the canvas before I began. There is usually a strong sense of completion when I stop, but for this larger canvas I needed to open my eyes for a few minutes as an intermission, before continuing with a 2nd session. My intentions were a wish for the environmental resistance of the South American rainforest and its ability to regenerate in the midst of destructive disregard

ECHO Landscapes