Debra Keirce

What exactly is magic?

"Magic" is one of those fun words that you'd be hard pressed to explain to an alien. I love that!

I like to say that I am painting the "hauntingly familiar." And I do my best to render the "magic in our reality." Someone recently asked me what the heck I meant by that. Well.... 

Like most unexpected questions, it made me stop and think. What the heck DO I mean by that? Webster says magic is:

1a  :  the use of means (as charms or spells) believed to have supernatural power over natural forces 

3  :  the art of producing illusions by sleight of hand

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My father and grandfather loved to do magic tricks. I probably wouldn't be here if my mother had been able to figure out how to get her quarter out of the pouch my dad hid it in. Yep, he used a magic trick as his pick-up line and it worked! My husband of 31 years promised to share the secret of his card trick with me if I'd say yes to marrying him. I said yes, the second time he asked. He shared, I forgot, and he won't tell me again. Sigh.

My point is, I believe magic is everywhere we look. To me, a sunrise and sunset are extraordinary powers from a supernatural source. The highlight off a reflective jar, and the way light and color dance through glass bottles - these have supernatural power over natural forces. Seriously. Put a prism in a stream of light in front of a crying infant, and watch the power manifest.

In this digital age, we tend to take magic for granted. Watching a heart pump blood on an echocardiogram, moving from zero to 60mph in a nanosecond in my Subaru Forester, microwaving a hot meal in 3 minutes - These are all magic. If you brought someone from the Victorian era into this century, they would agree with me. 

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My art is hauntingly familiar because I capture thoughts and feelings that we all share - It's like "Avatar."

I loved that movie -

"I SEE YOU."

I paint for you.

I paint the magic I see... for you.

Thanks for looking!

Artist Tip: When you take that online marketing course, first of all - It's okay to admit you took it. We all do it. Second, when they talk about choosing the perfect tagline, try what they say. Then, choose one that truly resonates with you. Even if it isn't the perfect tagline for your elevator speech, or one that will help you sell the most paintings or rank highest in the google searches, people want to get to know the real you. I consider it a success when people invite me to explain what I mean.

#magic #painting #hauntinglyfamiliar