Starlight and Snow [again]

                                                         watercolor on paper 8x8

Absent soulful music, departed loved ones, and an open spigot of grief, another thing that`s real helpful when I`m blocked is to just repeat something. The point is to keep working. Try to be in the right place at the right time. I do so many studies trying ideas out, many of them could be done again if I need to tread water.


available work in the studio

Yellowstone Geothermal

                                                          watermedia on Yupo 20x20

My final painting of 2013.
 One of the most striking aspects of the geothermal fields in Yellowstone, is the stark contrast between the jewel like beauty of the pools with the devastated landscapes they create. Scenes of 'natural' violence and death surround these gorgeous, seductive waters. I read that tremors underground shift the access of the scalding water and suddenly whole forests have roots that are boiled alive! We joked more than once that it`s tough to be a tree in Yellowstone. Yet in some places, grasses colonize the areas very close to the water. Life will find a way.
 I was asked to list the colors pictured on my new palette in the last post. Since it was a true shopping spree, I couldn`t remember them all and had to look at the receipt;
Titanium White [I use lots of this to create translucency and to add 'liftability' to other colors]
Ivory Black
Sepia
Payne`s Gray
Cobalt Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Compose Blue
Emerald Green Nova
Cobalt Green
Terre Verte
Cerulean Blue
Compose Green #2
Lavender
Cadmium Orange
Mars Violet
Cadmium Red Orange
Yellow Ochre
Shell Pink
Jaune Brillant #1
Permanent Yellow Lemon
Naples Yellow
Permanent Yellow Deep
Golden Earth
Cadmium Red Medium
Hansa Yellow Light

 Now I don`t think for a minute all of these are necessary, this purchase was therapy.
 In 1985, when I worked with Diebenkorn, I was painting tonalist abstractions; lots of murky grays and browns. He pointed to the edges of my palette where the fresh, vibrant tube colors were, then to the center where I was mixing my mud, and asked "which would you rather look at?"
That was effective teaching!


work in the studio

Tree Shadow - Brush Creek Afternoon

It is always nice to come home, no matter the adventure.
In New Mexico the other day, I was packing books off a shelf and found the top little painting mooshed against the back of the cabinet behind the books. Of course I had forgotten all about it, I had never photographed it so I did then and there with my phone. I then proceeded to shame my friend for her ingratitude.
The other watercolor is Wyoming but it could be any river flowing out of the mountains and into the valleys of northern New Mexico.
watercolor on Yupo 10x7.5

Spring Orchard New Mexico

I`m surrounded by less than successful new work so here is my take on spring in Chimayo New Mexico from 25 years ago. At that high elevation, everyone is so ready for some warmth and something green.
I painted at Bosky Dell Natives today with my friend Ruth. She got a gem and I did a dud. Oh well, the day was sparkling and sitting along the creek in deep conversation was what I really needed.
Her recent post about the 'career' of an artist is worth reading.

Distant Peak

Once again, the demonstration painting from today`s class. By restricting the color to only one, value [the degree of light, dark and in between] becomes all important. I read on someone`s blog, that color gets the credit but value does the work. Without the concern for color and therefore realism, a painter is free to emphasize something else. I think with less choice, something more pure in one`s intention results. Some simple, atmospheric work was done this morning.
watercolor on paper 17"x14"


available work

Absaroka

Mountains from memory. Look at them long enough and then you don't have to. I suspect anyone in northwest Oregon could draw Mt. Hood and get that distinctive hump in there too. This improvisation is named after a range in Wyoming.
It's painted on a paper formulated for use with oil paint, I think there's a resin that protects the fibers from the acidic paint. Too absorbent for my tastes. I have a new piece in progress where I sprayed some matte acrylic on first. Much better.
16"x12"

Rocky Mountain Sketch

This began as a doodle trying out some new paper. Soon the dark sky had me remembering the drive from Laramie to the Grand Tetons last spring. The Rockies are always awe inspiring but in the heavy overcast that day they looked brooding and mysterious.
One thing we can all be happy about, this is not an election year.
Happy New Year!
watercolor 6"x4"