Eagle Island

It's been a while since I've been boating and I can tell that I am rusty at it. I couldn't seem to grab the ring on the mooring buoy, and it took several attempts (maybe 7 or 8!) before I inserted the boat hook into the ring and got a line attached. The folks in the sailboat nearby had some unexpected but jolly slapstick comedy to watch! By the 5th time, I was laughing so hard, I could barely speak! Another go round for moderate embarrassment! And again, for total humiliation! To be fair, the wind and current were against us, but no matter. Laughter is good for the soul!

Once we were secured, I made a big cup of coffee and pulled out my sketching gear.


I did this sketch while we were en route. The area is called "Devil's Passage." I could barely see the Cascade Mountains in the distance.

Budd Inlet, Olympia

During a nice sunbreak, I was able to get out for a sketch walk today in Olympia, Washington. My cleaning duties on the boat were nearly done (frankly, I don't think that they are ever completely done). I found a park bench situated with a view of some of Budd Inlet, so I sat down and did this sketch.

If you like water and sky and boat reflections, the painting/sketching subject matter is limitless here.

Funeral

Weeping Sky

In the midst of sadness and sorrow, music soothes and touches the places that words cannot.

Monotype 1

Monotype 2

Yesterday was a red-letter day for me! I got to pick up my monotypes from Jef Gunn at Tiger's Cave Studio. Yay! It's been about 10 days since the workshop and it was a thrill to look at my pieces again and to visit with Jef. He told me that of the people who had been to his studio and had seen these, the consensus is that Monotype 2 is the strongest of the four I made at the workshop. What do you think?

Monotype 3

Monotype 4

Lucky for me, Celeste Bergin was home when I was driving by and I was able to drop in on her to show her the monotypes. It's great to do art, but it's great to share art, too. I count myself lucky to have her as a friend.

I am not kidding when I tell you that I've been looking at presses on Craigslist and Ebay and at the various art resources in town and on line. But, first I will need more experience. More workshops and classes on monotype for me. I'm hooked!

Intentional authenticity

K.Kollwitz, self portrait

I had to really coach myself before going in to the museum. Four hours. I gave myself FOUR HOURS. And I determined to not impose any order on my visit. None at all. No listening to the organizing part of my brain that would take me through every exhibit, down every hall, past every painting.

That kind of museum visit may be thorough, but it leaves me dull-eyed.

No. This time would be different! This time I would follow only what interested me. I would get lost. I would be completely inefficient and loop over my steps many times if that is what it took.

If that is what it took to just follow things to the parts I NEEDED to see. The parts that reached out and grabbed me by my guts.

And that is how I ended up standing in front of the Kollwitz self-portrait.

The honesty and blatant emotion grabbed me, by my guts if you will allow, and made me stop. And look. And consider all of things I considered. About life having raveled edges. About how I do not need to be orderly or even neaten things up. About just being. Being my genuine ragged-edged self.

I'm sure that there are times when I do not notice the subtle pressures to conform to something that may be comfortable but not genuine. It is difficult to put this into words.

I think I am on to something. I can hardly wait to go back to the museum and try it again with this mindset.

This clip from the movie "Dead Poets Society" illustrates this very idea.

Refuge

Refuge

9 x 12, Pastelmat

Ribbon

Ribbon
11 x 14, Bristol

From the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River is only visible in small bits, like a cut ribbon. Now docile and dammed, this river once cut and carved and raged its way through the sandstone to form what is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Maybe it is possible that something wondrous can come from what looks now to be devastation. To consider this is to entertain hope.

Sorrow

Filled with sorrow.
We are all filled with sorrow.
A son is gone.
His death a shock that extinguishes thoughts and hope and breath.
A mother grieves.
And her friends grieve
and wish the uselessness of their sadness could fill this
flat, dull void of death.


For KK with love.

Solace

Solace
9 x 12, Stonehenge

Plein air painting and sketching

Refuge
9 x 12, Bristol Vellum

Yesterday I got out for the quick plein air study you see above. That dynamic sky opened up with hail just as I finished packing up and putting the top up on the car. Timing is everything on some days!

Today I had the fun of sketching with the Portland Plein Air and Studio Painters. After our meeting, seven of us stepped outside the door to the Bread and Ink Cafe and sketched the storefront across the street. Red Light Clothing Exchange always has interesting displays. Today it was all about red! I loved the red dress with the feather boa neckline and red velvet coat in the window! You can see the sketches from our group on our new blog "Behind the Scenes." I hope you pop over there and look!

I also got to try out some new sketching supplies! I used pen, Faber Castell watercolor pencils, and my new-fangled water brush. The brush (with the purple toned body in the photo below) has a water reservoir and by gently squeezing it, water comes to the brush and allows me to add water to the pencils marks to make them wash and flow.

sketching supplies

watercolor pencil and ink