Sunday, April 27, 2025

Spring 25

                                                  Runoff watercolor on Yupo 22x40 inches


Finally, I may have learned some patience. This had an intensive yet disappointing beginning. I set it out of the way but where I could see it and eventually knew what I wanted from it. Just a little time is somehow all it takes. Usually I feel so invested I can`t stop and often grind the painting down into submission. So unnecessary. A little light, fresh air and some space for the subconscious to make sense of things. Spring is when the temperate rainforest seems most alive. All the moss, lichen and ferns provide a gorgeous setting for the new grasses, leafy trees and wildflowers. Suddenly the landscape wakes up and all of April is explosive with new life. I wanted to suggest that energy.









 For the first time since working on George McGovern`s doomed campaign for president in 1972, I attended a political rally. It seems crazy that the most potent form of protest is to just be a body in somewhere particular, so as to be counted. If that`s what it takes to be 'heard', I can do that. Though I`ve disliked crowds all my life, if being a part of one can help my country, ok.
Never have I been so disgusted with my government and furious with the Trump voters. We saw nothing but chaos and ineptitude for four years, merely four years earlier. So as the president betrays our long time allies and friends, destroys whole departments in the civil service, crashes the economy out of ignorance, and practices cruel and illegal deportations, those 77 million voters have a lot to answer for.




 Maybe the worst betrayal has been the reversing of American policy toward Ukraine in its defensive war of survival. The ambush of president Zelenski at a 'press conference' was the most cowardly and outrageous display I`ve ever seen from any president. I am so ashamed to be American right now. 
And don`t get me started about Canada. CANADA!! For god`s sake, if anyone is our friend it`s Canada! Absolutely unacceptable! The analysis I read was of the goal to cripple their economy so American business could buy Canadas natural resources for cheap. It`s all about winners and losers with the kids now running the country, with Russia given everything Putin wants. This is treason.


                                              [ artist unknown, please inform me if you know]

 We will not see the likes of this man again anytime soon. A Christian that acts like Christ. 
Having been raised Catholic [AND Southern Baptist!] I have plenty of objections with the church. Starting with the official teaching on homosexuality. Yet he showed grace and deference to the reality of this minority. Took risks in accepting us. He believed us when we say it`s just who we are, always have been. Easter weekend I was encouraged he had made it through his double pneumonia. I was sick with pneumonia too and thought if he could do it, I`m going to be fine. Then he gets the visit from our vice president and boom! he`s gone!
 88 is a good long lifetime but there are just some people I want more from. Just for the pleasure of their personality.
My illness came out of nowhere, not from covid or either flu strain. My guess is allergies somehow. I`m on the mend and sleeping a lot. 



                                                  Les Deux Magots by Eddie Greenly


 I met Eddie Greenly at an open studio many years ago. He bought a painting, we liked each other. Eddie is now 86 and still photographing. A couple of years ago, a familiar handyman was working under Eddie`s kitchen sink. Eddie asked him if he knew any hot old ladies? The guy slides out from where he`s working and says 'yes, she lives three blocks away'. Introductions are made and the two fell in love. This willingness to take a chance has my deepest respect. Eddie and I lost touch for a couple of years, so when we reconnected he wanted me to meet Margaret. She had been a nurse so I knew I would like her.
She was also a maniac creator. Totally obsessed with making quilts and maintaining her extensive garden. A complete love.

                                                               by Margaret Fortsch

Her talented late husband was a surgeon and also a sculptor;


                                                     Lifeforce by Byron Fortsch Sr. 


                                               Winter Scene by Margaret Fortsch [quilt]

 When people find each other despite great odds, it is so encouraging.




                                                                       by R. Crumb

This is pretty much John since his retirement.









 This is Sabino Canyon north of Tucson. We wanted to go somewhere sunny to celebrate John`s retirement. This Oregon native has to have sunshine or he will perish. We arrived at daybreak and soon a huge horde of physically fit elders kitted up with day packs, water bottles, snake bite kits and snacks converged on the canyon. It was sort of shocking, we expected a quiet hike.
Our travels have a pattern; We visit parks and botanical gardens, art museums, galleries and try to eat the best possible local food. Success on all accounts plus we went to the aviation museum;






                                                        Tucson Botanical Garden above


                                            Tucson Aviation Museum! They had everything including
                                  space capsules. The scale of some of these specialized aircraft
                                 was enormous. Well worth a visit.







                                                         paintings by Rafael Collazo


At the Tucson Art Museum there was a beautiful show of work by Rafael Collazo, a Puerto Rican artist I was unfamiliar with. The paintings were dense with symbols, representational elements and painted in an expressive manner. He was articulate too, read the quote above. Unfortunately he died from AIDS in 1990, one of many artists lost in that horror.

We also had a sweet visit with an old friend and collector. She`s 85 yet resilient, funny and positive. I watch people like this, I want to thrive in my old age. Show me how you do it.

 


My video is HERE. The demonstration was done via Zoom while in conversation with the artist Marji Thompson [above], a coach at Art2life. I haven`t watched it yet, I probably will with the audio muted.



More work!;

                                           Rainforest Winter watercolor on Yupo 26x20 inches


                                            Catalan Coast watermedia on yupo 20x14 inches


                                               Riverbank watercolor on Yupo 26x20 inches


                                              Easter Grasses watercolor collage 12x9 inches


                                             Sabino Canyon [WIP] watercolor 14x11 inches


                                              Spring Copse watercolor on yupo 14x11 inches




                                                                  Coney Island 1940






Click HERE-work for sale in my studio







Wednesday, February 12, 2025

The New Era

                                             Rainforest Walk watercolor collage 12x20 inches
 

This painting could have gone several ways; further development in watercolor, introduction of acrylics or use what`s there as a basis for collage. I chose collage because the representative from Art2life, Marji Thompson, was intrigued by them. She asked me in the fall if I was willing to be interviewed or videoed for their program. I have nothing but respect for what their doing. They are in the encouragement-inspiration business. Many people are not able to choose a life of art making, usually because of kids or other work. That unexplored impulse becomes a yearning that does not leave. Art2life tries to lift these early artists into excitement and productivity. The founder, Nick Wilton, still does near daily little lessons on Instagram focusing on one visual concern at a time. He`s  patient and generous. And he still does them even after creating a large, self supporting educational institution. For free. Art2life has a Youtube channel filled with interviews, podcasts and lessons. Also for free. Now if one wants to accelerate their learning, there is also instruction that can be purchased. I know several artists who have and their new work had a distinctive confidence. All this is to say when they asked me to make a video with them, I was flattered. When the editing is finally finished, I will post it here. The content is a demonstration of my watermedia techniques on the plastic 'paper' called Yupo as well as some conversation regarding the collages I`ve been making in recent years.

Below are some watercolors I did for practice both on and off camera;


                                Eastern Washington Landscape watercolor on Yupo 26x20 inches



                                                   Arroyo watercolor on Yupo 26x20 inches



                                  Moonlight Over the Ocean watermedia on Yupo 23x35 inches



                                          Corner of Summer watercolor on Yupo 8x8 inches



                                                  Rainier 2 watercolor on Yupo 20x14 inches


this last one is the actual demo painting;


                                          January Wetland watermedia on Yupo 20x14 inches



You may be pleased to read that I have no remarks of a political nature right now. Just tell me where and when to man the barricade, I`ll be there.


                                                                          GUTAI!

Gutai is the embodiment of the interaction between spirit and matter, a respectful 'dance' so to speak. This movement began in mid-50s Japan and shares a spontaneity with American abstract expressionist 'action painting'. Two of its painters interest me in particular.
Kazuo Shiraga is best known for using his whole body as a tool of expression. Most of the work has an explosive rhythm.


                                                                    Kazuo Shiraga



                                                                    Kazuo Shiraga



                                                                   Kazuo Shiraga



                                                                     Shiraga painting



The other is Sadamasa Motonaga



                                                               Sadamasa Motonaga



                                                             Sadamasa Motonaga



                                                               Sadamasa Motonaga



                                                                Sadamasa Motonaga








                                                                Amanda Gorman

The young poet Amanda Gorman, a resident of Pacific Palisades, recites her poem about the recent fires in this newscast. [she speaks after the news people introduce her] There is something remarkable about being comforted by such a young person. She is a natural leader.
I haven`t lived in California in over 50 years yet those fires felt oddly personal. Like something integral to who I am was being attacked. My younger brother, also living in the Northwest, felt the same way. 






This is the 24 Solar Terms poster by Bright Woo and is one of the most beautiful pieces of graphic art I`ve ever seen. All that I want, dream about and love of color is here. Without really knowing what it was, it just got richer; Each rectangle is based on a Chinese character that describes a specific agricultural-meteorlogical moment of the year. Those 24 important milestones are described here.






And a couple more recent collages;


                                                   Northwest Canyon collage 17x12 inches



                                              'An Introduction' watercolor collage 12x9 inches





                                                       the child David Lynch in Montana



                                                                           David Lynch



                                                                      David Lynch



                                                                           David Lynch



 The painter and film maker David Lynch, died at the best possible moment. Just as America took a discouraging hard right turn and inaugurated a con man for the 2nd[!!!] time, we were gifted with one lovely tribute to David Lynch after another. The counterpoint was so sweet and they just kept coming. He matters to me because Twin Peaks was the most astonishing TV I had ever experienced. Anyone enraptured with it like I was would agree, the music was a huge part of its power.
Here is the composer Angelo Badalamenti describing how he worked with Lynch.









Not tomorrow[2-13-2025] during the predicted ice storm, but soon! Drive into the magnificent Columbia River Gorge and drive to Stevenson WA and onto the grand Columbia Gorge Museum. Inside among a great many fascinating artifacts of local history, you will come upon the transcendent paintings of Genevieve Scholl. This body of work is a loving look at the Hoh Rainforest. I watched her paintings progress on Instagram but I was still surprised by their luminosity, precise color and unique composition.
Trust me, it is always a good idea to visit the gorge, it never disappoints. And this exhibit is a jewel.
 Up until March 30;














                                                          

                                               Jane Goodall [91] and David Attenborough [98]

They live! This is such a hopeful photo

Don`t let #47 steal your joy. To hell with him and his idiot followers
Let Leonard Cohen soothe you in this song sung by the Lumineers






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