Sunday, December 27, 2015

Year End Still Life

                                                 Rose Hip watermedia on Terraskin 13.5x9.5


                                                        Cliff Vines watermedia on paper 12x9


 These drawings are probably the last two pieces I will do this year. I`m back in my basement studio but organizing it in light of the flooding is taking more time than I would like. Usually December passes much too quickly, it`s my favorite time of all, but I`m ready for a whole new year.
Thanks to all of you who expressed condolence for my loss, it`s odd how helpful those little gestures are.
At a family gathering on Christmas, we played a cassette tape I found packing up my mother`s belongings. It was from the mid 90`s and was mostly my Dad practicing a presentation he and my Mom would be giving to their prayer group. It was anecdotal about his spiritual evolution and his voice was strong and sincere. I had forgotten what a born storyteller he was, it was riveting. The tape also included my very young niece Mackenzie singing Christmas songs with Mom joining in the background. She hasn`t been gone three weeks but to hear her 20 years younger in such a happy moment was grace itself. As we left my sister in law`s home on a hill in Camas, the steam from the paper mill billowed straight up into the night sky and glowed by the light of the full moon.


Ellsworth Kelly died today. The pioneering abstractionist was 92. The obituary in the New York Times is well worth reading. Though I never had any interest in minimal art, I sure liked his drawings;









                                                Drawings by Ellsworth Kelly


                                                Mendocino Meadow acrylic on canvas 15x32

This is a painting I gave my parents in 1975. After all these years it`s mine again. The subject is the enormous meadow that fronts the sea in Mendocino CA. I spent a lot of time there thinking as a young man.


                                                                 John Steinbeck

“This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual.” ~ John Steinbeck


Friday, December 18, 2015

Over the Sea 30 and other new watercolors

                                                  Over the Sea 30 watercolor on paper 12x9


                                            Trinity Mountain Study watermedia on paper 9x12


                                        Tryon Creek Summer Study watermedia on paper 8x6


 As I waited for the second flood to recede, I set up a little studio in our workout room upstairs;




 I really needed to paint, but I was so agitated I had no idea what. My momentum had been knocked off kilter weeks ago so I painted new pieces in themes I was familiar with. They were something. My studio is much more than a workplace, it`s a sanctuary where I regroup, do research, watch videos, nap, listen to music, write and imagine. My inner life comes alive down there. So being without it has been very alienating. It stayed dry through this last big storm so tomorrow I`m going to recolonize my oil painting area and begin work again.


This graphic comic by the Oatmeal about the tortured relationship between exercise and eating rang so true for me. I was a dedicated runner for decades and its positive contribution to my sanity cannot be exaggerated. Give this a read, it`s funny!

Have safe loving holidays. Give your mothers some extra affection.

Two more days to see my show at In Bocca al Lupo Fine Art in Oregon City!

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Sunday, December 13, 2015

The Flood Recedes...

                                                   The Flood Recedes oil on panel 20x20 2013


 It was an unhappy concurrence. A couple of hours before my mother died, my studio flooded. In the five and a half years I`ve lived here, there has never been a hint of moisture in my basement. So I foolishly trusted my hole in the ground would be as dry as toast forever. Work on canvas was stored upon pallets and newer work on paper was in my flat file or on a table, so it wasn`t a full catastrophe. But I had boxes of books and letters and portfolios of drawings and watercolors from my past on the floor. They were ruined. I was also very sick so these two different, simultaneous losses seemed overwhelming.
 The next day, having had the water removed at great expense, I began to see the opportunity in this disaster. Someday before my exit, I intended to sort through the reams of figure drawings and experiments on paper, review the decades of correspondence and winnow the books and toss out this detritus from my life. So John or my heirs would not have to. Suddenly, that day was now. We brought in a dumpster. Having lost my mother on this same day gave me a grim acceptance, made me focus on the future.
 Grief has many facets yet I was surprised to find the old ones resurfacing. I was aching for my brother and father too. When someone close dies, the mourning feels vast. Like a sorrow for the whole world, for all life.

 I`ve been comforted, advised, prodded, fed, encouraged, consoled and helped by many lovely friends in the past week, I thank you from my heart.



               my young parents


 This Wednesday is the evening of my gallery talk at In Bocca al Lupo Fine Art in Oregon City at 7 pm. I`ll tell you all about sump pumps and drainage engineering. Ask me questions about painting, I hope to do that again.





Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Goodbye Mom



  Gwendolyn Tipton 9/6/27 to 12/7/2015.
No one can love you like your mother.
The parents of a gay child have a delicate task. Since the child most often has no idea of what sexuality is, there is no confirmation early on. If a loving parent suspects this might be true, they have to manage their fear yet support the emerging identity open heartedly. This isn`t simple especially if religion is a part of the family. My parents were devout Christians yet when I came out to them, they believed without question what I told them, that I didn`t choose it, it was part of who I was. I never feared rejection for a moment.
Mom took a course in human sexuality at the community college to understand it and it opened her eyes and heart. Most importantly my parents liked me and this gave me the confidence to be myself.
She championed all four of her sons all of her life. We drew strength from her and knew we were lucky to have her.




 Here she is seven years ago with her great grand daughter Hailey. She LOVED babies!

Thank you Mom, you were wonderful.


Saturday, December 5, 2015

Vigil - watercolors - Santa Barbara

                                              Coastal Stream Study watercolor on yupo 12x9


                                                 Lights on the Shore watercolor and ink 8x8


 The holiday weekend with relatives in an out of my brother`s home felt like a party even though my mother was upstairs in hospice. Having so many loved ones about brought out the best in Mom and she was funny and sweet. Midway into the week we thought her time had come but it has not. Meanwhile I got very sick with a cold and had to return home to my bed. This is the third day and I finally felt well enough to paint some, the two pieces above. Tomorrow I`ll return to her bedside. This is such an important time, I hope I`m a comfort.




 An exhibition including four of my paintings opened last night in Santa Barbara at the Marcia Burtt Studio Gallery. I became friends with Marcia after a lengthy email correspondence. She represents another Northwest artist I`ve admired for years, Michael Ferguson;








Please check out the show if you`re in the area!
MARCIA BURTT STUDIO
517 Laguna St., Santa Barbara, CA
805 962-5588 • Th-Su, 1-5 email

And my show continues at In Bocca al Lupo in beautiful Oregon City;




 Come ask me questions Wed. Dec. 16, 7 pm!


I will be teaching a one day watermedia workshop at the Coos Art Museum in conjunction with my show there Sunday July 10 2016

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Red Surf-hospice

                                                                 oil on canvas 8x8 2010


The ocean is the source of life on earth and our blood is the same salinity as the sea.

My mother entered hospice this week and all trajectory stopped. At 88, after a lifetime of health problems, she said no more treatment. I admire her decision. How marvelous it is to see someone face imminent death without fear. That is a gift to the living. I`ve been present for a birth  and a death and the profound gravity and intimacy are similar. It`s a privilege to be there.
She`s watching a movie tonight, so it appears Mom lives another day!



                                        Barcelona triptych three oil on panels each 24x24


I delivered this commission to the building site of the Barcelona apartments. The project is to provide low income housing in the 'old town' part of Beaverton. I was 'hired' by the Kimberly Kent Art Brokerage. I find commissions really tricky because there isn`t a personal motivation propelling the painting. But the client liked my work, I was given the theme and the specs and I thought I can do this, I`m a professional.


My show in Oregon City continues through Dec. 23, though a couple of holiday related closures are happening. If you`d like to view it, give a call first.



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Sunday, November 15, 2015

Columbia Demo and Impressionism

                                         The Storm Lifts off the River watercolor 18x24


 This was the demonstration painting I did at the In Bocca al Lupo Fine Art gallery yesterday. While I`m often told these demos are helpful to others, they sure seem repetitive to me. Yet some of the same people keep watching. To describe the way I work sounds disingenuous, 'I keep moving the paint around until it looks like what I want', but it`s true. So many of my color choices and marks are close to random. Little experiments happening all over the surface. Eventually they coalesce into something like what I remember.
This painting was based on a 20 year old drawing;


                                                               Gorge Sketch


 I was probably with some out of town friends when we pulled off the road into a turnout. While admiring the view, I did this sketch in a tiny book I used to take everywhere in my pocket. The spot is on Highway 14 in Washington and one of the few places one can see an open expanse unobstructed by trees.
This watercolor was painted from the sketch back in the 90`s sometime;




                                                            Columbia Study




                                                         Leaf Light oil on panel 12x12


Also new. This magnificent tree grows on a golf course I walk by. I think it`s interesting that I`m always astonished at the vivid color of Fall. As if I haven`t ever seen it! I bet everyone has that experience.


 It`s blasphemy and I thought I was all alone with my submerged feelings but just recently I learned I`m just one in a large tribe of politically incorrect art lovers who believe Renoir sucks. Yes he does! Look at my comrades;




 Now this is not a great time to be beating up on anything French.
France was our country`s first ally and its noble culture will not be damaged by acts of cowardly violence. Lovers of peace and freedom worldwide, mourn with the French and share their rightful anger.

But Renoir is awful.
Not so crazy about Monet either. There, I said it.
For the best impressionism, look to America even if one of the Americans was in France like Mary Cassat. Now that was a painter! Has anyone ever depicted the mother and child bond as well?


                                                            Mary Cassat


And Daniel Garber was a master of color and light but certainly under celebrated.


                                                           Daniel Garber


My favorite and the most ambitious American impressionist was Frederick Childe Hassam.


                                                      Frederick Childe Hassam


                                                     Frederick Childe Hassam


                                                        Frederick Childe Hassam


France gave birth to impressionism but Americans brought it to fruition. My humble opinion!




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Monday, November 9, 2015

Old, New and Exhibition Shots

                                                     Balch Creek 2 oil on canvas 40x28 1993

 When I moved to the Northwest for good in Nov. 1993, I first lived in a studio apartment near Forest Park. Deliberately. Having fled New Mexico with its 300+ days of sunshine, all I wanted was to hang out in a dark wet forest. My closest access was along Balch Creek and I remember being captivated by the green glowing trees. I still am. Every winter I`m surprised at how electric they look.

 Since hanging my show last Tues. my painting efforts have been pitiful. I was excited to have the time to resume working on paper but nothing really succeeded. These two were the best of the bunch;


                                               Arcadia Moonlight watercolor on Yupo 10x8


                                               Ice Fog and Oaks watercolor on Terraskin 8x8


Before the opening reception last Saturday, I took some pictures of my show;













I will be demonstrating in watercolor this Sat. the 14th at 11 am at the gallery. I`ll show you my tricks.


Though most of his work doesn`t appeal to me much, when it does I`m smitten. Everyone has an opinion about Julian Schnabel, he`s bigger than life and his paintings are enormous! In the 80s I used to go to a local bookstore and flip through a coffee table book of his work just to see this painting;


                                                      Julian Schnabel "Portrait of God"

I still love it!


Take a look at my show!



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Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Water Woods and Stone Opening Nov. 7 - watercolors

                                             Rainforest Autumn 3 oil on canvas 30x24


This is the last painting I did for my show 'Water Woods and Stone' opening Sat.evening Nov. 7 at In Bocca al Lupo Fine Art in Oregon City. It`s address is  820 Main St. but the entrance is on 9th. Come say hello!





This was John as I prepared for this, the largest show I`ve done;





Here is Roxanne and her able intern Julia installing it yesterday;





Since it`s been finished I`ve done a couple of watercolors on the strange new paper called Terraskin;


                                                       Southeast Wyoming wc 9.5x13.75


                                                     Headland and Moonlight wc 8x8


This morning my friend Leigh sent me a pdf catalog of the Danish artist Henrik Simonsen. This guy is a laser sharp observer of natural phenomena and then he draws what he sees! So accurately the work can look like it was derived from photography. But not the color!


                                                                Henrik Simonsen


The catalog is from his recent show at the Wally Findlay Gallery. If you`d like to see it, contact me and I`ll email it to you.


At the top of my list of places to see is the John Day Fossil Beds. This National Monument has an artist in residency program but they`ve rejected me twice, so I`ll have to go on my own. If any of you kind visitors have recommendations for lodging or restaurants, I`d love to hear from you! It`s only two hundred miles away  or so but the park is in three separate sections with many miles in between. And not close to any sizable towns, so I`ve always felt stymied in planning a trip. I`m not a camper unless I have to and this might be the time.
This is a part of it from above;


                                                           Painted Hills photo by Q Myers


                                                          Painted Hills photo by Q Myers


Q Myers has other interesting aerial views on his/her Flickr page.


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