Art is a reflection of the space and the spirit in which it is born. For my largest work to date, a massive 72″ x 115″ canvas titled “Celebration,” the birthplace was my sprawling studio in Downtown Los Angeles. DTLA has a specific energy—it’s industrial, vibrant, and raw. It was the only place large enough to contain the physical and emotional energy I needed to pour into this piece.
Standing before a blank canvas that is nearly ten feet wide is both exhilarating and terrifying. It represents a threshold, a moment where you decide to play small or go all in. To cross it, I needed more than just paint; I needed a community, a vision, and a little bit of engineering magic.
The Engineering of a Dream: Bert’s Stretcher Bars
As an artist, you are often limited by the physical world—the width of a door frame or the length of a transport van. For years, I dreamt of “going really big,” but the logistics always felt like a barrier. I didn’t want the size of my front door to dictate the size of my soul’s expression. I’ve always known that I like making a statement, and in the world of fine art, sometimes size truly does matter. A grand vision requires a grand stage.
That changed when my friend Bert gave me the push I needed. Bert is a brilliant artist in his own right, known for his mastery of the “bones” of a painting. He engineered an incredible set of custom collapsible stretcher bars. These bars actually fold almost in the center, meaning that even though the work would eventually command a massive wall, it could be transported with ease. That technical solution was the “green light” my spirit needed.
The Three Pillars of Fluid Movement Art
The process of creating fluid movement art is endless; there is so much you can do with it, but it requires a very specific, almost athletic rhythm. On a large-scale art piece like Celebration, I see the process as a combination of three distinct stages:
The Pour: This is pure adrenaline. In my DTLA studio, I laid the canvas on the floor and began the physical process of the pour. This is a moment of total surrender to gravity and the medium.
The Control: While it is fluid, it isn’t random. I tilt the canvas and use my body weight to shift the flow. It’s a balance of “magic” and “method.”
The Clean-up: On a work this large, the “aftermath” is significant. This gritty, physical labor keeps me grounded in the craft. Art is not just a high-minded concept; it is sweat and effort.
Textures of the Soul: Depth and Dimension
Beyond the movement, what truly brings Celebration to life are the gorgeous layers. I spent countless hours building up textures that create a profound sense of depth and dimension.
These layers aren’t just about color; they are about the tactile experience. By overlapping different viscosities and finishes, I created a surface that catches the light differently as you move past it. This dimensionality allows the painting to shift throughout the day, from bold and energetic in the morning light to deep and mysterious as the sun sets. It is this complexity that makes large-scale art so rewarding—it offers a new discovery every time you look at it.
Sandy: My Partner in Every Sense
While the creative process is often solitary, a work of this scale requires a support system that goes beyond the studio walls. Sandy was my partner in every sense. Sandy was kind and supportive in so many ways, but he was especially attuned to the creative process. He wasn’t just a spectator; he had a creative heart of his own, having studied art himself in the 1970s.
Because he had stood before a canvas himself, he understood the focus, the patience, and the triumph of making something from nothing. Sandy was my partner in every sense when it came to moving this massive work. He was my hands when I needed strength and my eyes when I needed to see the work from a distance.
But his contribution went even deeper. As the paint settled, Sandy would often see things I hadn’t noticed yet. He would share ideas for titles or point out figures and forms emerging from the abstract layers. I really appreciated that second set of eyes; it made the process feel like a conversation between two souls. He used to tell me that I was “unique and one of a kind.” Those words became a soft place for me to land whenever the work felt overwhelming. I will always carry him in my heart; his belief in me is woven into the very layers of this painting.
The Healing Power of the Palette
Creativity has brought me so much joy and profound healing in my life. I have found that my brain actually gets excited when I create with certain colors; there is a biological spark that happens when the right shades meet the canvas. I recently heard that creativity is directly connected to joy—it is not just a hobby, but an essential and life-giving part of the human experience.
The Power of Blue: Blue is my sanctuary. I used a spectrum—from deep indigo for stability to vibrant electric blues for energy. These shades create a sense of vast space, like moving through water or air.
The Softness of Pink: One of the most critical elements of this piece is the introduction of pink and lighter, translucent layers. These soft hues provide a necessary contrast to the fiery orange, bringing a sense of grace and humanity to the work.
The Spark of Orange: To balance the cool blues and soft pinks, the orange remains the heartbeat. It represents optimism and the physical energy that moves the work. I truly believe that my internal energy is what moved this work to be called Celebration.
The Art of Knowing When to Stop
While Celebration 72×115 is grand in scale, its essence comes from a quiet place. Many people ask me how I know when a painting is finished. In large-scale abstract art, composition is about more than just color. It is about the discipline of restraint.
Meditation and Artistic Intuition
I find this clarity through my daily morning routine. Meditation is the cornerstone of my practice. It clears the mental noise and allows me to listen to my intuition. I always meditate before I start a painting.
This stillness helps me work on such a large canvas. It allows me to recognize that exact moment when the work is done. When the composition feels balanced, the “celebration” is complete
A Well-Traveled Soul: From Dubai to LA to Tampa
This painting has lived quite a life already. Because of the folding stretcher bars, Celebration has traveled across the globe. It was shipped all the way to Dubai, where it was exhibited and admired, before making its journey back across the ocean to Los Angeles.
Now, its journey has led it to the Michael Murphy Gallery in Tampa. It carries the energy of all those places—the luxury of Dubai, the grit of DTLA, and the warmth of Florida. It has a restlessness that can only be settled by finding its “forever home.”
Manifesting the Dream: Luxury Hotel Lobby Art
I believe that art has a destiny. For Celebration, I am actively manifesting its final placement. I feel it coming. When I created this, I felt the massive impact and energy that only large-scale art can provide.
When I look at this work, I don’t just see it in a gallery; I see it as luxury hotel lobby art. In hospitality design, art transforms a guest’s entire stay. I imagine Celebration hanging in a grand, high-ceilinged hotel entrance, anchoring the room and offering a sense of vibrant impact to travelers as they arrive. I am manifesting that moment of connection, where my dream for this work meets the perfect contemporary space.
Visit the Michael Murphy Gallery
I invite you to experience the scale and energy of Celebration in person.
Location: Michael Murphy Gallery
Address: 1704 West Cherry Street, Tampa, FL 33607
Contact: 813.902.1414 | gallery@mmgart.com
View Online: Celebration by Clara Berta
Manifesting the Vision: “Celebration” Installed
I envisioned the perfect home for this well-traveled soul—anchoring a massive hospitality space, completely immaculate and free of distractions.
Life is a series of moments—some quiet and blue, some vibrant and orange. This painting is my way of honoring all of them, and honoring the man who believed I was “unique and one of a kind.”