This is one of seven or eight paintings I did of Haddington Island in British Columbia. I painted it again and again as a stake in the ground to mark my resolve to quit painting "pretty pictures." Not that there's anything wrong with pretty pictures, but it is a wrong goal for me with my work.
Instead, my goal is for every painting to be an opportunity to let curiosity have free reign. To follow what intrigues me and not consider the outcome.
Land, sky, water. How they meet, mingle, ignore, and embrace each other. How they are interesting apart as much as together. I find that even writing about it makes me want to paint it again.
4 comments:
Subtle but still lovely. Or maybe I appreciate it more after all the cloudy, misty days looking over Ilwaco Bay.
Today is bright sunshine.
Welcome back to the San Juan Islands!
I know what you mean re 'pretty pictures'..easier said than done--an artist I admire once told me that if she can't be honest with her work than why do it at all, if it doesn't mean something-even if to no one but herself..I want to learn through art, and through reading your words and responses to the landscape I am learning--I especially like the painting in the previous post--and hey, thanks for mentioning me in your blog! btw which EC book did you find?
This skims consciousness. Dreamy. And, I'm curious... did you do an underpainting for this, and how big is it?
Hi Suzanne! It's good to be back.
Jan -- I got several Emily Carr books but one of them that you recommended was Wylie Klee. Thanks!
Sam! I did a watercolor under painting with this one. It's about 8" square. I am excited by the idea of trying the same subject a bunch of different ways. I think you do, too.
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