First acrylic abstract landscape

hmm.

Nearly midnight

Last evening of the year
I'll stay awake if you will
and if you fall asleep
I'll stay up anyway

Someone has to open the doors
sweep the old year out
let the new year in
when it dances up the hill to the old music

Auld Lang Syne sung
to the tune of pots and pans
(yes they still do that here)

In counterpoint to the pops and echoes of
bottle rockets and volcano fountains
set off by the former fire chief

Drought

surely there is more to say about-------
surely there is something I could-------
how can I sing when the river can't-------

but then
because the river
I must

Up close to a big painting

This kind of poem
is just broken up prose.

With luck
each line says:

         Consider these particular words
         before you move on.

When you finish:

        Step back
        Take a seat on the bench in the middle of the gallery

lines and phrases
color and stroke

        run together
        open a window
        reveal a path

into the bigger picture

And because no one reads this but me

 ...I want to add various paint doodles just so I can see them once in awhile. I have been painting in various notebooks and sketchbooks and if I don't put them here, I probably won't ever see them again. Perhaps not a great loss, but gosh, look at the pretty colors!

'Tis the season of squash

Gouache!
First adventure.
Added here because:
Squash!

(and because gouache and squash rhyme. At least in American English.)

 

Toast to opening day

Welcome spirits! Today is the opening day of the holiday season, which we start by remembering lost loved ones (a stout, fine port, and black coffee) and finish by toasting to new beginnings (champagne). Unless you extend the season by celebrating Burns Night (single malt whiskey), which includes toasting a dead poet, or even Valentine’s Day, which celebrates true lust (Strawberry Hill vin rose). I generally consider Burns night to be the culmination of holiday season. It's more fun than Christmas (eggnog with rum and nutmeg) with no gift stress.

So: the season of gratitude is upon us. And in gratitude, we enter the season of sharing—not out of guilt, but out of a recognition that we belong to a larger family, even if we don’t know everybody’s name or speak each other’s languages—linguistically or emotionally. Recognizing that anything we can do to help a cousin, no matter how distant, helps all of us. That sounds pretty self serving, but don’t let guilt about selfishness stop you from contributing time and treasure in aid of people who could really use some help right now.

Tonight we—those of us who understand All Hallows Eve as a day of remembrance--remember those who have gone before, those whom we loved or hated, those who fed us or abandoned us, even those were completely ignorant of our existences. I’m not sure I can go so far as to say we owe those blank spaces on the family tree anything, beyond acknowledging that we literally wouldn’t exist without them. More toasts! (old vine zinfandel or cider)*

Man oh man, I’m getting out into the weeds on this one. Really, all I started out wanting to do is post pictures of watercolor pumpkins. I shall move on to that (coffee with lots of cream and a splash of bourbon). But seeing how this post went, I would rather give them a less complicated post of their own. 

*I'm not much of a drinker. I consider alcohol to be more of a ritual drink the way green bean casserole is a ritual food: to be enjoyed on specific occasions**, and forgotten about most of the rest of the time. In case anyone was wondering.

**(Noted on All Saints Day:) And apparently to be forgotten even on the ritual days. Last night we had leftovers and water. Not a bottle of port or stout to be seen (And while we're at it, no trick-or-treaters either. Thanks, COVID!), and by the time we finally got to eat, coffee was out of the question. However, we are still in Allhallowtide, so perhaps tonight a deep red wine with beef bourguingon, sautéed green beans and carrots, steamed broccoli, roasted purple potatoes...finished with a couple of squares of fine dark chocolate. And of course, remembrance of loved ones who have passed on.

Tiny sketch books

     I learned to make a helpful tool from a YouTube video by this wonderful painter-naturalist named Cathy Johnson who walks the countryside and woods in Missouri, thinking and painting and getting lost as often as possible. She folds a piece of watercolor paper and cuts it so that you end up with a tiny accordion-style sketchbook. I love this idea--you can trial and error you way through the whole thing without fear of wrecking something more formal and expensive.

So here are a couple of the several I’ve filled up. These are just 9" x 12" sheets using Winsor Newton paints for the pink and purple side and handmade mineral paints from Jazper Stardust and Red Cover Meadow:

Side note: I've had this idea for many years about making geology art--quilts or paintings or weavings based on the curves of the land or on sedimentary rock. I think I have finally found the right paints to do it with! The handmade crushed mineral paints are made of, well, rock. So when I paint rock or rock-inspired shapes, I can at least get the color right. An inspiration in itself. Coincidentally, I find that I can paint fantastical pumpkins and gourds with the same colors. Bonus!

The view from this side of the valley after the fire

the ridge across the river
no smoke, but no light either
no porches, no living rooms

Postcards from the edge...of sanity? No, just the edge of the valley.

 I've been painting a lot recently on 4" x 6" heavy watercolor paper since I don't yet think I'm ready to commit to even a space of 9" x 12". What's cool about using heavy paper of this size is that it is just the right size and weight to use as a post card. So this is what I've been doing a lot of: making post cards. Not that I'm making capital A Art, but it inspires me to paint when I have a plan for what to do with the completed (or simply abandoned) pieces. Something besides simply storing them away or recycling them. It's also a good way to to stay in touch with my beloveds in a manner that might make it more interesting for them to when they look in their mailboxes. 

I'm watching a lot of tutorials and trying a lot of different techniques. Sometimes the techniques are more about attitude than about how to mix colors or balance a composition. These discussions are the most useful to me. 

I am so glad I decided  to really concentrate on doing art--art of any kind, including sewing face masks--during the Covid shutdowns and keeping distance to keep people safe. It gives me something to look forward to, and since I'm making postcards and talking about art process with friends and family on Skype, I am keeping in really close contact with the people who sustain me. I am grateful every day that I have the opportunity to spend time creating.

Reaction to the news

 Sorry, I missed that story. I was too distracted by the chaos to notice the mayhem.

to Rico: thank you thank you thank you

the tomatoes you brought
taste like sunshine and rain
from a happier summer.

Art Lesson

It is no failure
of creativity
    to perceive:
outlines splatters dots of gold
    will not help
When there is no more to do
put a stamp on it
load it with kisses
and drop it in the mailbox

On the other hand, a meaningless doodle

But very fun and oddly satisfying.

The first thing I've ever painted that doesn't look like a cartoon

I like cartoons. I'd just like to be able to paint them on purpose. I'd also like to paint not-cartoons on purpose.

This is a hill just outside San Diego, California that belies the green green lawns and beds of petunias at its base.

Just waiting

We're watching the news
checking the Cal Fire website
from another house

We're all safe enough
under evacuation
                                     but
more lightning is expected


Views from my back yard:

  August 17, 2020 sunset under smoke

August 19, 2020 3:01 a--light where light shouldn't be at three in the morning

About a quarter of the things we brought with us to our refuge are art or art supplies of one kind or another--framed art by our kids, one really special black and white photograph, a crate of block printing and water color supplies, two favorite guitars, a viola, and two sets of bagpipes (There are people out there who would say to leave the bagpipes to the fire. Some would leave the viola to keep the pipes company. You know who you are.) I dropped a few of my, um, priceless beginner paintings into the painting crate.

Some pieces that I didn't bring:

Anyway, I kind of love that I have so far to go in developing any kind of skill with painting. I definitely won't get bored!

Just this evening

New owl in the pine
neither hoot nor screech
                                    five
softly descending notes