Noise of Waters

Lewis River 5
24 x 18
pastel on Wallis Museum

All Day I Hear the Noise of Waters by James Joyce

All day I hear the noise of waters
Making moan,
Sad as the sea-bird is when, going
Forth alone,
He hears the winds cry to the water's
Monotone.

The grey winds, the cold winds are blowing
Where I go.
I hear the noise of many waters
Far below.
All day, all night, I hear them flowing
To and fro.

Keeping it vertical

Refuge 3
24 x 18
pastel on Wallis Museum

Pacing and growling over vertical landscapes again today. This time with quiet water and a serene scene from my favorite spot, the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

Did you know that in 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt started the national wildlife refuge program by designating Florida's Pelican Island as a protected wildlife preserve? You can read more about these precious national resources here.

This afternoon was a little cloudy and dark at the refuge, but the sky was filled with swans and geese and cranes. I watched all kinds of ducks splash in the ponds and share jokes with the chuckling mallards. I also saw this very well fed coyote! Yikes.

Challenge of vertical

Lewis River 4
24 x 18
pastel on Wallis Museum

Turn the paper from landscape to portrait and a whole wagon load of challenges appear. Where is the interest? How can I move the eye of the viewer up and around and back up again? It's a sure sign that I'm learning something new when I pace around my studio and growl at the painting on the easel!

That pretty much describes my day.

How was your day?