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

Overcast Yellowstone Study

A view north of Mammoth Hot Springs. The clouds didn`t lift to let me see what was back there.
No doubt it is spectacular. Driving up to the Springs from the geyser basins in the south part of the park is nothing short of miraculous. Within mere minutes the landscape dramatically changes into something altogether new and breathtaking several different times. Last spring when I visited. the weather was cool and misty so the vistas were rarely completely visible. Not knowing what to expect, I didn`t mind at all. The clouds and fog just heightened the other worldliness of it.
oil on panel 8"x8"


Available Work

Geothermal Study 5

Another from my visit to Yellowstone last May.
watermedia on paper 8"x10"



Available Work

Geothermal Study 4

A remarkable quality to these pools is how invisible they are until you're right next to one. All of their complexity and beauty is in the hole but you have to get close to look into it.
There is a wonderful interview with Julyan Davis at Painting Perceptions. He`s a realist who knows how to show loss and abandonment with a visceral yet poetic touch.
watermedia on Yupo 9"x9"

Storm on the Lake

Yellowstone Lake. A helpful young employee at the hotel told us 3G reception was possible on a hill overlooking the lake. Although it wasn't close, we found it, read our mail and saw this magnificent storm advancing over the water.
Following David Page Coffin`s advice, I painted this on Fabriano Artistico that I had applied a thin coat of acrylic matte medium. It acts as another bit of sizing preventing too much absorption. Yupo, my usual watermedia 'paper', is completely non absorbent and the difference between it and normal papers is huge, requiring different techniques. A little layer of acrylic on cotton fiber papers bridges the gap somewhat.
watermedia on paper 9"x12"



Available Work [updated 7-4-12]