Mindwarp is part of my Life Series – These oil paintings (and now digital oil paintings) mirror life itself—full of paths, twists, turns, and layers. As in life, you can’t go back to change a line once it’s made. You can only move forward, carrying the weight and consequence of each decision. But if you find you truly can’t live with a detail—if it demands to be changed—then, depending on how deep you are in the layers, you may have to start over from that point. Still, it will never be the same. It becomes an entirely different painting, a different life. That brushstroke belonged to a specific moment in time: where I was, how I felt, even what music I was listening to. You can only go back if you’re willing to walk a completely new path—with no guarantees, no familiar ground—just the unknown ahead. Each piece in the Life Series holds a moment in time—unique, unrepeatable. If one speaks to you, it might just be meant for your space, your story. DM for questions or visit the Fine Art America link for Wall Art : https://atelier-bellanda.pixels.com/featured/mindwarp-bellanda.html
My newest creation, Aura, emerged after nearly a year and a half of grief, meditation, yoga, and healing. In October 2023, I lost the love of my life. He was, quite literally, my partner in everything, and the journey since has been long and difficult for all who were blessed to have known him. My greatest priority has been guiding our children through it, one day at a time, pulling back from virtually all of my online presence.
I struggled with the idea of creating again, wondering if it was even possible. Friends and fellow artists advised me to channel my grief into making something beautiful, but the thought of doing any of this without him felt almost impossible. For over 22 years, he had been such an integral part of my creation process. His light, energy and support enveloped me and inspired me; while his encouragement wiped away the insecurities that so often crept in. Without him, I felt quite empty, as if I had nothing left to give.
In my heart, I believe that he would have wanted me to continue creating. I can still see his beautiful loving smile as he watched me, covered in paint, moving my paintbrush in a dance to the music on the large canvas. When my illness made that physical dance difficult, he was the one who bought me an iPad so that I could continue to create. The love and support that I have received over the years has been a true gift, and I’ve been trying to draw on all of that to find my way back to art.
Aura is a promise of new beginnings in the light… It carries a different energy than my previous works, and I find myself drawn to it, wondering—was its light inspired by his beautiful radiance? Do the swirling, pulsating colors reflect the visions I’ve witnessed in meditation? There’s something deeply personal in this piece, something I can’t quite put into words, but I feel it.
Aura was created entirely on an iPad using Procreate and Illustrator. While I still miss the dance between myself and a canvas, working digitally has been satisfying, and music remains an integral part of my work. Each piece still begins without a plan—no preconceived ideas, direction, or even a color scheme. I simply allow myself to be carried by the music, embracing the journey of discovery until the piece reveals itself. For this piece, I was particularly inspired by James Heather’s Ultraviolet and Luca D’Alberto’s Consequences, Grace, Blessed Messenger, and Tomorrow, among other similar artists.
This has been a long process and I wanted to thank you for your patience and kind support during this time. Your messages shed light into my world during a particularly dark period.
I’d also like to thank you for taking the time to explore Aura with me. If you’d like to see more of my work or even bring one of my creations into your space, you can visit the links below. Your support—whether through kind words, sharing, or collecting a piece—means everything.
Mindwarp is part of my Life Series – These oil paintings (and now digital oil paintings) mirror life itself—full of paths, twists, turns, and layers. As in life, you can’t go back to change a line once it’s made. You can only move forward, carrying the weight and consequence of each decision. But if you find you truly can’t live with a detail—if it demands to be changed—then, depending on how deep you are in the layers, you may have to start over from that point. Still, it will never be the same. It becomes an entirely different painting, a different life. That brushstroke belonged to a specific moment in time: where I was, how I felt, even what music I was listening to. You can only go back if you’re willing to walk a completely new path—with no guarantees, no familiar ground—just the unknown ahead. Each piece in the Life Series holds a moment in time—unique, unrepeatable. If one speaks to you, it might just be meant for your space, your story. DM for questions or visit the Fine Art America link for Wall Art : https://atelier-bellanda.pixels.com/featured/mindwarp-bellanda.html
EVOCATIVE… it’s time. After many years of keeping Evocative a personal experience, limiting its exposure, I have decided to allow this series to enter people’s homes and hearts. Evocative was created in 2002, and was born from a mix of emotions that words could not convey. When I entered France, I could barely speak a word of French. Frustrations, extreme changes and tremendous life experiences were mixed together in such a turmoil that they apparently became evident in my photographic work. It was then that my photographs took an unintentional inward turn, and became one of self-expression, filled with color… instead of my former black and white representation of stolen candid moments of people from around the world.
I was offered a delicate purple orchid by the man I treasured most just before he left for Africa. He was part of a very dangerous documentary film crew, and promised to return to me in one piece before the flower had begun to fade and die. While he was gone, I decided to immortalize his gesture for eternity by creating Evocative N°1. In his absence, this project made him forever present. Over the next several weeks, I ended up creating an entire series of work. I arranged the photographs preciously around my apartment. Seeing these images helped comfort me in those frightening moments as I wondered if he was in danger… if he was hurt. The absence of news was deafening, but as promised he returned to me safely before the flower had faded and we enjoyed these photographs and all they stood for together.
Evocative N°1 – Unedited Film Photography – Bellanda ®
Not long after, a friend of a friend stopped by my apartment in Nice. Immediately, he asked me to enter my work into a selection process for a one man exposition overlooking the beautiful beach and sea of Monaco. At first, I refused… they were simple flower photographs, yet somehow these photos were part of me and showing them gave me an uncomfortable feeling. It was as if I was naked… as if everyone would know more about me than I wanted them to know. I know that it is probably rare that someone would need to be convinced to show their work in an Art Exposition, but the idea terrified me. After refusing several times, I eventually agreed to show, but not sell my work. I couldn’t get over the concept of selling my soul, as silly as that sounds.
The show featured all 15 of my unedited film photographs from the Evocative Series and was dedicated to others like myself:
Evocative Series – Dedication – Bellanda ®
It was overwhelming to see people react to my work at the Red Carpet Opening. Many were indeed able to see inside of me, and yes, their comments made me blush more than once. I accepted exposing the Evocative Series several times in France, while my Photographic Artwork took on a more and more abstract nature. This newer work is about capturing a moment, one of emotion and of a state of mind. Although my newer work is far more abstract and can have many interpretations from one person to the next, Evocative remains precious in my heart. It was the first step that led me to develop my current abstract photographic art and painting creations.
It’s true that I had no desire to sell Evocative, but when I saw the pleasure that it gave to others, it felt almost selfish not to allow them to have this in their own homes. I have been selling many of my more recent paintings and photographic art, and have since changed my thinking of seeing my artwork inside the homes of others. Unfortunately, just as I had come to terms with letting the Evocative Series go, transportation from its most recent exposition caused some slight damage to several of the photographs/frames that I had designed especially for the Evocative Series. When I say damaged, I mean little scratches or indents on the frame, etc. I was devastated. Everyone keeps telling me that they don’t notice them or can hardly see them, but with my eye and heart… I see them.
After talking it over with several people, including the dear sweet man who inspired this work, I decided to sell them at a reduced rate. The idea of leaving them in storage breaks my heart. They have traveled long and hard and it is time for them to find a home with someone who will appreciate their history… someone who will appreciate the value of true, unedited film photographs, printed on traditional photo paper versus that of digital on inkjet… someone who will fall in love with their story of love.
Evocative Series Choices:
The Evocative Series is the only artwork that is sold on a limited basis. All of my more recent works are sold on a one-of-a-kind basis. As with all of my work, each Evocative photograph and/or series, framed or not, will come with a signed and stamped Certificate of Authenticity. It was designed to protect the security and genuineness of your limited edition. It will assure authenticity, and include the title, size, and number in the series.
There have only been a total of FIVE sets of the 13 photographs ever made. No further prints will be printed in the future.
FOUR sets of the Evocative Series are sized at 30 x 20 cm *Each individual photo will sell at a sale price of 50€ + shipping. *For the purchase of more than one photograph or the entire series, please contact me directly for a special package price.
Only ONE set of the Evocative Series is sized at 60 x 40 cm For pricing details, please see the framing selections below:
Photographs mounted on a floating aluminum structure and built into a black wooden frame designed by Bellanda – Size: 80 x 60 x 5 cm may be purchased for 450€ + shipping *There are a limited number of black wooden frames, which will be sold on a first come first serve basis.
Evocative Frame choice: Signed & Dated Floating Unedited Film Photograph on aluminum, mounted on a Unique Black Wooden Frame designed by Bellanda – Size: 80 x 60 x 5 cm
Photographs mounted on a floating aluminum structure – Size:60 x 40 x 3 cm (without wooden black frame) may be purchased for 300€ + shipping
Evocative Frame choice: Floating Unedited Film Photograph mounted on aluminum by Bellanda – Size: 60 x 40 x 3 cm
Please contact me if you would like to know further details about the Evocative Series, as well as any of my newer work. I would be happy to discuss this with you personally.
To purchase or ask for more information concerning one of these photos, please fill out the confidential form below. We will be happy to provide further information about a particular work and/or give you a price quote for your particular region. Please note: all work will be delivered free of charge in the Paris, France region, and special discount rates will apply to purchases of more than one photograph.
*All rights to these images are fully retained by the artist, Bellanda. Any unauthorized reproduction or use is a violation of copyright law.
As promised, here is the announcement for our next painting atelier. Thank you for such wonderful musical suggestions. It has been difficult to make a selection, as your suggestions were fabulous. For this reason, I have chosen several and have left myself open to adding others as I paint. Your participation is greatly appreciated, as is your patience. I’m thrilled to be well enough to express myself again through movement and color, and to be able to share the painting process with you via photos and time-lapse.
I look forward to seeing where my inspiration from your music suggestions will take this next painting… Thank you for being here with me. Believe in dreams… for they can come true. Bellanda®
As promised, the time has come for you to take part in the making of my next painting. Many of you may already know that music is imperative to my creation process… and the choice of music is equally important. It can influence the stroke of the brush… the choice of color and the actual painting itself.
Although he may not know it, Ludovico Einaudi has taken me on many a glorious journey during my painting process. His musical genius is inspiring… and I adored allowing his work take me where it did.
Today, I am going to ask you to take part in helping select the music for our next Online Atelier… I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas about the music you’d like me to listen to while I create. I will listen to all music in the days to come, allowing my instincts to select which musical artist I will select for our Online Atelier. I will reveal the name of the music as I am about to begin so that you can listen and see where it takes you, while I allow it to take my paintbrush in a direction of its own.
Your participation in this process will make this a lot more interesting and perhaps add an unexpected dimension to my work. I hope you will play along by adding the name of a song and musical artist. I can’t wait to see where this new discovery will take us!
Watch my next painting come to life via time-lapse and GoPro.
I’m getting ready to open the doors to my Online Painting Atelier again. Our next painting session will take place in September. The date will be announced ahead of time so you can join in on the music selection. Feel free to add music suggestions here or at a later date on the announcement page.
I look forward to seeing you at our next Online Atelier!
Hope is what we cling to when life brings us in a direction we hadn’t expected,
It’s what allows us to see beyond despair, fear and tragedy.
Hope is what makes surviving possible.
Bellanda
N°2 of 7 different images that make up the series entitled: Espoir Unedited Film Photography – Espoir Series – Espoir N°2 All rights reserved BELLANDA ®
This oil painting is dedicated to all surfers and lovers of the ocean and sea around the world. I hope it takes you on a journey in mind and in spirit… Bellanda ®
Enlightenment is one of the first oil paintings that made a true transition from my more abstract photography to oil painting. After years of working with photographic images, I began to feel the need to move in a way that could allow me to become not only emotionally involved with my creations, but physically. Although setting up a photo shoot continues to thrill me, I wanted to immerse myself completely in the creative process… literally get lost in my work, music, emotions, movements, and paint textures.
The realization of Enlightenment took place with some of my Twitter and Facebook friends joining me online during the creative process on my Atelier Bellanda Facebook Page, where the idea of opening of my Atelier Doors was born. Photos were posted during the painting process to give online Atelier Visitors the chance to see, comment and participate in its creation.
For this first painting, I knew what colors I wanted to work with and even the music that I would listen to while working. However, I had no idea what I was going to paint, nor how it would make me feel. Ludovico Einaudi’s music filled my Atelier and a thrill of excitement took over my being as I guided that very first long brush stroke across the large blank linen canvas, measuring 100×73 centimeters. At that moment, I knew I had just found the change that I had been looking for in my artistic expression.
Some of the making of photos that were posted online during the creation process.
I allowed Einaudi’s music to take my inner-self somewhere it had never been. There was a moment during the painting process where I was no longer conscious of anything around me. The music and slow dance-like movements of the brush had taken me into an almost hypnotic state.
Final Product: Enlightenment Bellanda ®
Paris Area Art Exposition of Bellanda’s oil Painting, ‘Enlightenment’ 100×73 cm Bellanda ®
Thank you to all who joined me… both during the creation process and at the Art Exposition that followed.
Atelier Bellanda: Oil Paintings, Photography, Mixed Media, Digital Art & NFTs 