Rachel Plytas

The Fire Below Number 6 in The Spirit Moves Series 20 x 16 inches

The Fire Below

Number 6 in The Spirit Moves Series, 20 x 16 in

About

I started painting as part of an experiment to explore the unconscious mind through the medium of art. My original intention was to work with a recurring dream image that I was struggling to make sense of. I thought that pausing on the image, to capture it and to allow a wider composition to come to life around it, might help me to connect in a different way with the image and to gain a deeper understanding of what it was trying to communicate to me. In 2009, I undertook some training in Jungian dream analysis, bought a sketchbook and started something that would ultimately change my life.

As the early results from the experiment began to reveal themselves, I very quickly understood that this process was enabling me to connect to something special and very important. By the time that I had completed the third painting, I had decided to officially name the experiment The Conscious Mind Collection and to commit to pursuing this visual communication with the unconscious for as long as the images continued to arise.

13 years later, I have 138 paintings, completed over 12 series.

All paintings have been produced on canvas using a combination of acrylic paint, fine liner, liquid paint and metallic. I love bold and bright colours and the combination of different finishes adds to each painting, creating a final image that is changeable in impact or emphasis, dependent on angle or light source.

Themes are focused around the simple presentation of symbolic images (such as the peacock, the tiger, the element of fire, the lighthouse, the moon) within a variety of settings.

Creativity is inspired by a daily meditation practice and greatly influenced by daily life, world events and the people, places and adventures that I have met along the way.

I have been especially inspired by my long standing love of Japan and South East Asia. Included in this, is the work of Katsushika Hokusai and the simplicity and colours of Malay batik artist, Chuah Thean Teng.

Contact: theconsciousmindcollection@gmail.com

An illustration of women in a marketplace. Two women wearing headscarves interact with a child, while another woman holds an apple, standing near a fruit stand with watermelon and oranges under a yellow canopy with lights.

Pasar Malam (The Night Market)

Number 1 in The Hidden Light Series
18 x 14 in
A stylized painting shows a woman on the left holding a small statue, seated in an arch-shaped window. On the right, a baby is peacefully sleeping in a blue cradle adorned with red flowers. A traditional roof structure frames the scene.

Time to Sleep 

Number 4 in The Hidden Light Series 
22 x 18 in
Artwork depicting three women and a child in a simple structure with a yellow background. One woman holds a baby, another washes the childs hair, and the third assists. The scene features vibrant clothing with floral patterns.

Di Pagi Hari (In the Morning)

Number 3 in The Hidden Light Series 
18 x 14 in
A stylized painting showing two women on a checkered floor, sitting on red cushions. One woman is cradling a child and pouring water over them. Behind is an ornate background with a teal pool and a staircase leading to a lit doorway.

The Water Jug

Number 3 in The Heaven on Earth Series 
24 x 20 in
A colorful artwork depicts four women in headscarves, two visibly pregnant, standing near a gold urn with flames. The background features a checkered, geometric pattern. One woman holds a small candle holder, and a child touches one of the pregnant women.

The Eternal Flame 

Number 2 in the Heaven on Earth Series 
22 x 18 in
A stylized painting depicts a serene mountain scene. A woman stands looking at the distance, another sits with a child holding a ball beside a resting yak. Snow-capped peaks and the sun are in the background, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

The Act of Cleansing 

Number 3 in The Illumination Series 
16 x 16 in
Minimalist painting of a nude woman sitting on a blue surface, raising her arms. A brown jug is on a white background next to her. The artwork uses simple lines and muted colors.

Three Lights (Completion)

Number 1 in The Illumination Series 
16 x 16 in
Abstract painting of a landscape with a red lighthouse against blue water, a white house on a hill, a church with a red roof, and circular pathways. The sky is pink, and both a sun and a moon are depicted. Bold geometric shapes and colors dominate.

1 + 2 = One

Number 2 in The Spirit Moves Series 
14 x 18 in
A stylized painting of a woman with long black hair sitting by a body of water. She is fishing with a rod, catching a red fish. Behind her is a tall red lighthouse with a white moon in the dark sky. The scene is colorful and serene.

The Sun Comes Home 

Number 1 in The Spirit Moves Series 
14 x 18 in
Stylized painting of a woman interacting with a white horse in front of a geometric barn. The barn features a red door and a circular window under a blue sky. The scene includes abstract shapes and a checkerboard pattern.

3 + 5 = ♾️

Number 3 in The Spirit Moves Series 
14 x 18 in
A stylized painting depicts a woman in water holding a red fish and a black bird. A child stands nearby with a tiger, owl, and bird toy. A stilt house with a red base and brown roof is in the background.

Heaven on Earth (Completion)

Number 6 in The Heaven on Earth Series 
72 x 48 in (2 x 36 x 24 in canvases)
A vibrant, geometric artwork depicts a peacock with fanned tail at the center of an archway. Surrounding it are figures: two women sitting with objects, a child with a zebra, and a standing woman. The floor features a black and white checkered pattern.

Name

Medium
Size

Kid + Moon Number One in The Anak + Kid Series 16 x 16 in

Kid + Moon

Number One in The Anak + Kid Series 
16 x 16 in

The Association of British Naïve Artists,
c/o Noah’s Ark,
Abbey Place, Mousehole,
Cornwall, TR19 6PQ

info@britishnaives.co.uk

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