Deep Forest Shallow Pool

Any healthy forest in the Northwest can be quite dark in the summer. The damp, rocky pools where just ferns and mosses grow, especially appeal to me. There`s something solemn and peaceful about such places.

Landscape Abstraction

I don`t do many paintings that have unrecognizable elements.
David Trowbridge and I are collaborating on a couple of pieces for a benefit for the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology. I was trying to create something evocative yet neutral for him to respond to. We`re going to trade our paintings back and forth until we get something we like. With this abstraction, I got carried away and think I`ll keep it.

Collage #4

My BFF is visiting from New Mexico and we`re having fun despite the scorching weather. We scheduled her visit now, before the rains and after any chance of summer heat. Oh well, it`s not raining.

The Morning Fog Surrounds the Sun Drifting above the Waves

It took me a very long time to appreciate the work of Joan Miro. I couldn`t 'get' it until something in me was ready. Now it strikes me as profound, though I have no idea why or how he painted as he did, I`m just so glad he did.
Some of his later works have the most beautiful poetic titles.

Rio en Medio 6

A snowy landscape for our belated heat wave.
This came from a most amazing hike last April in New Mexico.

Water Wetland Field Study

I spoke too soon about our benign weather, the forecast is for the upper 90s by weeks end.

This improvisation began with the idea of contrasting the 'wild' wetlands with the geometry of agriculture. It`s a theme I`ve long been interested in. Without much of a design in mind, it quickly became a scene with many revisions. When it started to look like a Roman fresco I thought I might be on to something.

Creeklight

While every place in the country was sweltering this summer, the northwest was blissfully cool. We just broke 90 degrees a bit over a week ago. In early August I talked with someone from Seattle who said at that point, the city had reached 80 for about an hour and a half. The weather has been gentle and sweet and yet I still managed to grow ripe tomatoes!
This was lucky.

A daily painting I did after my weekend of collage.