Thanksgiving - Fog in the Forest

                                                              oil on canvas 40x30
 "This is the day we are given, let us rejoice and be glad in it!" Indeed, Happy Thanksgiving!
I first posted the following poem at Thanksgiving 2009. My Dad had recently died and these words meant a lot to me;
                                                                   

Thanks Given

We were nine.

We were eight.

We are seven.

We were together.

We are apart.

We were mother and father,

five daughters,

two sons:

Together. One.

Apart

In Virginia and Florida,

New York and Tennessee,

in Georgia

We were a family.

We are a family

come together

with spirit,

with ghost

Eyes looking down,

looking up,

looking out

To a hillside in Arlington,

to a headstone in Venice:

Two to make

seven into nine.

Lips pressing thank yous

on shadows of air

breathed in breathed out

paused

To save

for blessings

round tables

Together,

apart,

As one.

Copyright © 2009 Maureen E. Doallas [my pal]. All Rights Reserved.

Winter Fir

The Douglas Fir is the iconic tree of the Pacific Northwest. They are the original source of Oregon`s wealth along with the salmon. Even after a couple of centuries of logging, they are everywhere. I have two in my front yard! When left in peace they can become truly massive and are worth the effort to see in the protected groves of the Cascades or on the coast.
watercolor on Yupo 6x6


available work in the studio

Rainforest Ravine 2

Most of the painting I do is done at night, when I can concentrate. Yet I can listen while I work, to someone else, the radio, TV, podcast etc. Saturday nights used to be a black hole of worthy media relegating the evening to TED talks or silence. Now my local PBS station has the best lineup of the week on this night, including the wonderful show of stories, Snap Judgement. Last night the theme was gratitude. Appropriate for the best national holiday we have, here within days.
watercolor on Yupo 14x15


Available work in the studio

Rainforest Ravine

I have lots of new work but not much to say. It`s really winter here now. Things are quiet but I hear the rain in the gutters and the nights are blessedly long. We keep tiny Christmas lights on all winter for their cheer and I`m always amazed at how effective they are.
This is the time I wait for and do my best work in. It`s a dark, watery world perfect for painting.
watercolor on Yupo 12x9


available work in the studio

Rainforest Light 2

Kind of spring like but I just did it a week ago.
watercolor on Yupo 12x9


available work in my studio

Rainforest Light

Accuracy isn`t too important, getting the mood of a place at a certain time, is. When I paint these Dr. Seuss trees, I wonder if people outside the Pacific Northwest understand them? They`re green because of moss and they are distorted for the same reason. Big clumps of moss high up into the branches disrupt the expected proportions and give the trees a truly 'other world' look.
watercolor on Yupo 12x9


available work in the studio

November Rain

Days are short, it`s wet, but I think this is the most beautiful month in the Northwest.
I thought I had conquered Yupo with a multi-watermedia technique but now I`m finding a lot more possibility with just watercolor. The look is more like gouche maybe, there is plenty of Chinese white involved, but the brilliant white surface of Yupo reflects through anything.
watercolor on Yupo 20x20


available work in my studio