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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Home alone in the Darkness, celebrate!

                           Cook`s Butte Study watermedia on Yupo 14x11 inches, 35.5x28 cm

 This solstice, Australia is not burning, an impeachment is no longer necessary and the Covid 19 vaccine is here! I`m sure grateful, my nurse husband will get the vaccine tomorrow. There is some new evidence that just one shot may be enough thereby doubling the supply. The whole endeavor to produce this vaccine is nothing short of a miracle. Medicine never moves this fast. It`s a hopeful sign that when the world mobilizes, great things can happen. Nearly 40 years have passed since HIV decimated my generation and its vaccine remains elusive.

Soon a responsible decent man will lead our country. Halleluja!

At long last, Congress just passed a new pandemic relief bill today! Mass poverty averted for now.

But the virus rages on. More now have died than during World War 2. The I-pads above are in a hospital ready for the final goodbyes of those dying of Covid. As we all know, because it is so contagious, the families and friends of the dying are not allowed near. The sacred passing from life to death is experienced alone. There is and will be a serious psychological reckoning.

                                    Winter Light watercolor on Yupo 14x11 inches, 35.5x28 cm

                                    Burial at Sea watercolor on Yupo 14x11 inches, 35.5x28 cm

                                    Replication watercolor on Yupo 14x11 inches, 35.5x28 cm

 My most successful efforts of late have been small. With two larger paintings, the struggle continues. These paintings have no destination which has allowed for some patience in resolving them. That feels wonderful. The personal gifts from the pandemic have been significant. As befitting a relationship with a deadly disease, priorities are swiftly reordered into their proper sequence. Concerns that festered are tossed out as the vanities they always were.

 Because John works in a hospital, we understood in a visceral way we could both die from the virus. So we got our act together and created a Living Trust. The future care of my work is addressed and all our affairs are in order. Being so adult nearly killed us but it`s done.

 From a child still young enough to believe in Santa Claus, he questions his own legitimacy. Yes, even some children this young, know they are gay. This is why I talk about my marriage. This is why I use the word husband. This is why I out myself constantly with every person I meet. If there is a context for saying it I will. I owe it to this boy to do what I can to make homosexuality normal and unremarkable. Insist on the reality that it is a fact of nature. And hold religion responsible.

 See that mountain back there? That is Cucamonga Peak, a talisman for the kids of Fontana Calif, where I grew up. It hovered above everything until it got to smoggy to see it. Trust me on this, living in a heavily polluted place harms the spirit as much as the body. I had to leave. Then, California took responsibility for its air, passed laws to clean it up and is now a leader in developing new technologies and strategies to counter global warming. In 1988 I was reading the New Yorker and came across a natural history of the San Gabriel Mountains [Cucamonga Peak is at the east end of the range] by John McPhee. I felt like my mountain worship was vindicated.

Since I`m painting with watercolor so much, I`ve been studying the work of others. Here are some new favorites;

                                                                   Anna Maria Potamiti

                                                                          Ella Clocksin

                                                                        Kamilla Talbot

 Found this on a Portland OR subreddit. Discovered in a back alley poetry shrine;

                                                                 Laura Grace Weldon

 

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