Living on the coast has introduced me to so many new adventures and ways of life. The ocean has always called to me, but I finally have the opportunity to learn more about the lives that thrive in this environment. Part of that has been learning about boats, ships, fishing, crabbing, sailing, rowing, all things ocean craft. So here we have a channel - a shelf that will hold the deadeye, deadeye strop, and chain plate. How fun is it just to say all that?
Blocking In
Sometimes when I approach a painting I work one area at a time, finishing some details before moving on to the next area. While I did do some detail work in the background trees, I am mostly blocking in all of the basic shapes before I move forward on this piece. There will be a lot of detail work and getting the background correct is paramount. I don't want to put hours into detail work to find that I messed up a major shape. So for this piece, I'm working large to small, fine tuning as I go.
Applying with the Palette Knife
I chose this image to illustrate something simple but effective. When there is a lot of canvas to cover, getting the paint worked into the fibers of the canvas can be tedious and even difficult. I have discovered that using a palette knife to cover large areas of canvas works well. It covers the area quickly, pushes the paint into the fibers, and makes it easy to spread it to the remaining areas with much less effort.
Where the Mountain Meets the Sea
One of the reasons I so love living on the Oregon coast is because it is where the mountains meet the sea. The first time I visited here I was shocked to see a tsunami warning sign on one side of the road and an elk warning sign on the other. Elk at the beach? How could that be? But it be. Within five minutes of my home I can hike in uncharted woods, and a simple 5 minutes in the other direction I can be barefoot on the sand. This truly is a remarkable part of the earth.
Misty Mountains
I forgot to get a photo of the sketch or even the very beginning of this painting. I was so excited to get it started I simply jumped right in. I wasn't sure how painting mist would work, but it's coming along quite nicely. I am still just roughing in the background and getting started, but so far so good.
Midnight Meditation
This piece is a response to the poem "Demons in the Fire" written by my Word and Image partner Deb Simmons:
Demons in the Fire
When it’s dark outside
And I can’t sleep
I steal downstairs
And watch the flames.
I will my demons
To savor the logs
Compress themselves in
The grains of wood.
My fire curls tight and
Whips with force,
In swirls and spirals;
It twists up the chimney.
The heat from the fire
turns demons to ash;
then I climb back upstairs
and sleep.
Fanning the Flames
This is my first attempt at painting fire. It's a very interesting subject in so many ways. I love sitting in front of a fire and watching the flames. I think of all the verbs associated with fire... flames can flicker, dance, and soar; they can lick, waver, and leap; they can even glimmer, glint and flare. Fires mesmerize me. Fire can heal, and it can kill. It is beautiful, and yet can create horror. It is an element, a tool, and an art. It is basic and complex. It is if nothing else, fascinating.
For years now I've contemplated painting flames. How do you capture so much movement and still allow it to feel like movement? I took umpteen photographs and studied how the camera captured the flames. I looked at the colors, the shapes, the hard and soft lines, and all of the angles. And finally, finally, I took a big breath and simply started to paint.
Fanning the Flames
I normally would not be satisfied with a face this undeveloped, but it felt so right. It is not gender specific, and not necessarily easy to read emotionally. The more I pondered it, the more I realized it was exactly what this peaces needed.
Surprises
It was difficult to complete this painting because I was dealing with the death of my mother-in-law, all of the responsibilities of her family and estate, real estate issues, and other time obligations. However, it was also a very magical experience. I hesitate to use the word magical, but it did just seem to come together. It wasn't exactly what I had envisioned, and it didn't necessarily match my hard-earned references. But what did come about touched my soul and was exactly what I wanted it to be.
Fire Face
I didn't get a photo from my first painting session so this is a bit into the process. This is the last painting I completed in 2016. It was part of a local collaborative project hosted by the Hoffman Center for the Arts in Manzanita, Oregon, called "Word and Image". I participated in 2015 with the painting, "Sunday Dinner". They randomly pair a writer with a painter. As the painter, I create a painting inspired by my assigned artist. As luck would have it, my artist was the same as in 2015! I was there when they drew her name out of the hat so I know it was indeed random. And it was a gift to me. I really enjoy working her.
Back in the Saddle Again
Growing up I often heard, "When you come off a horse, you get right back in the saddle again." Well, I didn't get right back in the saddle again this time, but at least I'm back. Sometimes I procrastinate something for so long that it begins to feel like it's been too long to even try again. Nevertheless, here I am. So what happened? This happened...
My mother-in-law had a fatal stroke in May 2016. If you had told me that her passing would create a 7-month creative block I wouldn't have believed you. But life is not always believable. While I haven't been much at my easel, I haven't been doing nothing. Over the next few days I'll be posting a combination of painting work and other professional work from the past year.
Today is officially the first day I've painting since July 22, 2016. As much as the anxiety of it gave me a headache and an anxiety attack, it's good to be back in the saddle again.
Suiting Up
I've talked before about painting fabric and today was another fun fabric day. It was fun to play with the lights and darks, hard lines and soft lines, and moving the fabric here and there and eventually right where I wanted it. I also got a start on the epaulets. I'll have to go back when the paint is dry to finish off the buttons and badges, but they got a good beginning.
Quick Change Artist
I'm back to working on Ryan again. There's no real deadline for him, so he sat on the back burner for a while. Part of the reason he ended up there was because I started to doubt my decision about his uniform color. It's a good thing I asked because what looked like green in the photo reference was really blue. He had to quickly change his uniform. But we're back on track again. Whew!
Her Tapestry
While I definitely have created something that comes from my heart, I want this piece to be able to speak to each person individually. So I welcome and even seek comments and interpretations. I may still do something specific to it before I sign it, but for the most part it is complete.
Trailing Clouds of Glory
Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting:
The Soul that rises with us, our life's Star,
Hath had elsewhere its setting,
And cometh from afar:
Not in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God, who is our home:
Stony Ground
I had originally intended for this to look more like dry acidic wasteland. However, the cakes of clay dirt began to look more like stones and I decided I really liked the look and feel of them. The message is the same. It is infertile ground. This would be a seemly impossible place for our lone little pine to grow. It's hard for anything to grown in stony ground. I often have to check my own heart to see if it is still soft and fertile. If I allow it to turn stony and infertile then my relationships with others cannot grow and flourish. I appreciate the people in my life who are willing to continue to grow with me even when my personal failings make me into stony ground.
Warm Toes
Have I mentioned that I love springtime? I was feeling a little down and out and decided to take responsibility for myself and take a break. What a beautiful place to sit and chill. Warm sand, hot sun, cool water, ahhhhh... spring...
Lopez Lambs
I cannot say enough how much I love Spring. Baby animals are one more reason. What is it about babies of any species that make them so irresistable? These little lambs were frolicking, munching, and minding their mamas. What joy to experience the wonder and innocence of youth.
Lone Pine
For several years now I've been drawn to that wild flower, bush, or tree that has the tenacity to grown in an impossible place. I've seen a tree grow to full stature on the side of a cliff where there can't be more than a few inches of dirt clinging to the rock. When I see these creatures fighting with everything they have to not only survive, but thrive in the hardest of circumstances it gives me courage to keep going and hope that I too can find the light and the nourishment and the strength to reach my full potential.
Nehalem Bay Sunset
I was driving home from Nehalem, Oregon at sunset. After the rainy winter we had enjoyed a fabulously beautiful sunny day. It was the first sunset I had seen in months. I missed pulling over when I first caught a glimpse of it. I didn't make that mistake again. I pulled over at every turnout the rest of the way home at took pictures as it slowly sunk beneath the horizon. Oh, the glory and the beauty of this earth.
