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.
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.
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.
Her talented late husband was a surgeon and also a sculptor;
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When people find each other despite great odds, it is so encouraging.
This is pretty much John since his retirement.
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
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
Spring Copse watercolor on yupo 14x11 inches
Coney Island 1940
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!;
Sabino Canyon [WIP] watercolor 14x11 inches
3 comments:
What a great video of your process! I'm flattered that you would mention (and remember) my comment about turning off your mind during demos.... Wonderful work, Randall!
Gorgeous paintings, especially 'Runoff' - wow! Glad to hear you are recovering from your illness - hard to stay well when your country (and the world) is sick! Thank goodness for art and artists, and for people willing to live in hope and a demonstration of the best in humanity, wherever they are and whatever they do. Enjoy the spring! x
Oh, my! Thank you thank you thank you for sharing that video of your process. It was wonderful to watch how you let go and then force your will on the YUPO the way you do but still retain such a delicacy of movement and shapes. And seeing how you collage was eye-opening to find you use a “failed” painting and then add shapes to incorporate into the painting of the same shapes that are there so it becomes 3-D but still becomes very much the painting that began. And, of course, I love seeing your latest works on YUPO. You truly are a master at this substrate and I’m glad you still work with wet media on it because the drip, the flow, the blending, the granulating = it’s all gorgeous. Makes me want to get out some YUPO and give it a try on this wet Sunday. I hope you and John are doing well with his retirement and thank you for showing up for the protests - sometimes all we can do is show up by letters, bodies walking and holding signs, sharing information online. We will get through this but it will take time to heal the wounds created by these individuals who hate. Take care, keep creating!
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