easy living in the summer

Watery Way, 9 x 12, alcohol ink on Yupo

 

 

For me, summer months usually mean time on the waters of Puget Sound on a boat. It was a thoughtful time, a time for thinking and writing, for looking at light and color and shapes, and for relaxing into a meditation that is all about water.

The painting above is an abstract reflection on our meandering path on the Salish Sea.

Monotype, 12 x 12, Gamblin Intense Cool Black on Rives BFK paper

The monotype above is more specific, but still abstract in a sense. The way light pulls across the water fascinates me and I never tire of looking for the patterns and rhythms of interlocking shapes.

Me, playing the public piano at Cap Sante Marina, Anacortes

When we pulled into the Cap Sante Marina to provision, I was delighted to discover a public piano at the top of the dock. It wasn't until after we'd gotten our groceries and loaded them back on the boat that I had a chance to come back and play. What else? "Summertime."

Here's Norah Jones playing and singing. The livin' is easy in the summertime.

secrets of the moon

Tonight the moon has written the secrets of forever upon the gently moving water.

path of welcome warmth

18 x 13, pastel on Uart

Sunlight reflections pull and stretch toward me. A path of welcome warmth and light.

Water as mirror

Sometimes the wind does not blow, the tide is slack, and the water is like polished glass.

Play!

Today began with a full rush of hurry. Maybe you know the feeling of charging through chores to get to the fun of the day: painting.

Once I was in the studio, I knew just what I wanted to do. I wanted to play! Out came my sketchbook with the light-on-water sketches. Out came the watercolor (what better way to play when the subject is water than watercolor?). Big brushes. Happy music.

Pike palette, color not too mixed

isolating the sketch

the beginning of a long explore

Days End

9 x 12

A sweet remembrance of the warmth of the sun on the watery day.

Saddlebag Island

18 x 24

As I watched the sun set, it amazed me to note how the bright light carved a "U" shape in the land surfaces. I don't recommend staring at the sun, but this phenomenon fascinated me and I couldn't help but look at it!

I feel like I've spent enough time thinking about and painting the water to process most of my feelings about falling in last month. Life events take us to unexpected places. Don't you agree?

From Dictionary.com:

Serendipity.

1.	an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.

Red Sky

"Red Sky at Night"
18 x 24

Echo Bay

"Echo Bay"
18 x 24

For the first time

Cresap Bay corrected

Cresap Bay plein air, original

Up until now, I have made it my policy to not touch up my plein air paintings once I get them back to the studio. That idea came from my desire to go out into the landscape and paint beautiful paintings in situ. Plus, if I were to enter a plein air painting show or competition, the requirements usually state that the work must have less than 10% done in the studio.

The result of this practice so far is a large accumulation of mediocre and terrible paintings.

The more I paint, the more I realize that each painting is part of my learning process, a marker for my artistic progress. My personal grade book where I keep track of things for myself only. Who else would be interested in such dull facts, anyway?

I propped up my Cresap Bay painting, from June 16, on the viewing ledge in my studio. I looked at the painting and looked at it. And saw plenty of things that bothered me. And, I decided to change them. After all, I reasoned, it was not a strong painting as it stood, so why not see if I could possibly improve it.

The first thing I changed was the value of the middle ground land forms. I felt like there was too much value shift from the farthest away parts and the middle parts. And, the middle and near land forms were too close in value.

The next thing I changed was the value of the water. I remember while I was painting it the first time that there was more value contrast between the "No Wake" buoy and the water surrounding it, but my hand kept going for the lighter colored pastels. So, I darkened the water in the foreground and middle grounds considerably. That allowed the contrast with the buoy to stand out more.

I need to look at this painting for a while and decide what I think of it now that it has been changed. But, I think it is improved. What do you think?

Plein air at Elk Rock Island

I practiced painting water today at Elk Rock Island with my friend, Celeste Bergin.

Water presents a lot of challenges for a painter and today had the added challenge of shifting flotsam on the water's surface.

That, and the ducks who disturbed the reflections by splashing and making ripples while doing their duck dance.

Oh, and my subject, the fisherman, kept walking away.

Sigh.

I was happy to use my newly cleaned pastel box today. It took about two hours yesterday to take everything out of the box, vacuum all of the dust off the foam inserts, clean the pastels with corn meal and put it all away again. Wow! Everything looked so bright and pretty when I was done. The dust accumulation in the box had made everything look brownish gray. It was kind of fun to discover what color was beneath the dusty outside every time I made a stroke, but the clean box and clean pastels were a joy to use today.

There are so many excuses to not get out there and paint. Today it was nice to just go and do it. Even better to go with a friend.

Plein air at McMenamin's Edgefield

Pond near the Smoke House
McMenamin's Edgefield
9 x 12, watercolor

Bosque del Apache NWR

Water at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
22 x 28, watercolor on Arches Rough

Neon Reflections

Rain in Portland is not news.

I was early for a dinner meeting and ducked into a little coffee house to dry out. I was soaked! The rain had penetrated the back of my coat and my clothes were damp.

I ordered a cup of coffee and felt myself building up a good case of the crankies. The coffee was smooth and with a splash of milk, perfect.

I sat down and looked outside. On the other side of the window was a table, beaded with water, and filled with reflections from the restaurant across the street. A quick sketch. Notes about colors and values.

Today, a painting. Maybe rain isn't so bad.

Tabletop Reflections, SW Taylor, 18 x 24, pastel

Fall Reflections on the Lewis River

The cool tones of the rocks and the warmth of the fall colors reflected in the water interested me. I started this painting before our last bit of rain. The water, once quiet and still, is raging now and offers no reflections. Time is critical sometimes when I don't realize it. I'm glad I seized this moment.


Fall Reflections, 18 x 24, pastel

Sisters

Sisters, 18 x 24, pastel

Sailing Club

Sailing Club, 8 x 8, pastel

Pumpkin and Water Glass

Pumpkin and Water Glass, 9 x 12, pastel on Dakota board