December Slough First Moon

True North

My impulse was simple; bare trees against the sky. As the painting developed, my thoughts were about 'wildness' and why that idea comforts. It`s irrational. Nature has brute ways. Then it all became about Canada and the 'north', in the same psychological role the 'west' was for America. [painters have plenty of time to think!] That led to the Group of Seven and their effort to give form to this myth, painting the wild and lonely north. Anyway, this is to Canada and Canadians, god love them.
Check out Gregory Hardy, a contemporary landscape painter from Saskatchewan.

December Slough

Years ago when I was new to New Mexico, an older relative remarked she preferred the look of trees in the winter. I thought this was ridiculous, delusional and an effort to be positive. Now I understand. The bare tree shows it`s struggle and ambition. She was empathizing and excited by the sheer energy revealed. This is challenging to paint for sure, so much explosive detail! The way I work, my subject must be pursued through painterly means. I don`t want to paint a lot of individual branches and I don`t want to paint around a branch. An integrated figure/ground relationship to be technical. That`s the ideal anyway.

Steigerwald Study 4

Camassia Study

The Nature Conservancy owns a small property on top of a hill overlooking the Willamette River. Though maybe 400 feet above sea level, the Camassia Nature Preserve seems alpine. Lots of different mosses and lichens, rocky meadows and stunted trees. A beautiful walk especially if you look down.

Dune

I began this months ago and couldn`t get it right. We were in Oceanside the other day and my ideas about the coast were refreshed. Maybe I`ve finished it. I`ve always loved painting seascapes but have only lived by the ocean once, briefly. I was nineteen but made the most of the opportunity painting some of the largest work I`ve ever done. When I`m settled in at Sitka in February, I will do it again.

Tropics

Continuing with nonobjective work, this is a re-post from the summer of 08. It was commissioned by my brother Gary just months before he died. He wanted something with 'hot' color, probably for an icy day like today.
David Levine left us yesterday. He was famous for his caricatures but what an accomplished painter! Somehow he merged fine art and journalism. He was an unknown mentor who showed me early on what watercolor can do.