How many artists out there have hiked the Grand Canyon? I've only visited the rim. The Grand Canyon is beyond spectacular when it's snowing.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The Monster is Back Plus Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain
We opened the water harvesting barrels yesterday in eager anticipation of rain, glorious rain, and sure enough, in the middle of night, thunder and mud soaking rain! I hear Ladysmith Black Mambazo singing, Rain, Rain Beautiful Rain!
Late this afternoon, I finished another mailart piece and began painting on the monster painting of the Grand Canyon (a link back to an earlier post) that has been lingering and nagging me for a year. Funny thing, I read a really good article about traveling and hiking in the Grand Canyon in the NY Times this morning. I took that as a broad hint to get in there and work. Here is a view of it from afar. Then the close-up follows.
How many artists out there have hiked the Grand Canyon? I've only visited the rim. The Grand Canyon is beyond spectacular when it's snowing.
How many artists out there have hiked the Grand Canyon? I've only visited the rim. The Grand Canyon is beyond spectacular when it's snowing.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
24 comments:
I just love a good monster story. Do you strap this one to a table and yell "Throw the third switch!"?
[Nice painting, too.]
Yes.
zzzzst.
And, sometimes I flip the switch marked, "On and Moron".
Wow, I love the big size of this painting! As big as the Grand Canyon! I've been painting small for quite a while and now I want to do a huge piece. Thanks for the inspiration!
Not yet Melinda...maybe one day...the Grand Canyon when its snowing...what a picture,wow!
Jeffrey
Hi Janelle,
It is a beastie, for sure. It is 4' x 6', but seems much bigger.
Please do paint large when you get the chance. You won't regret it!
Ah, yes, Jeffrey, the Grand Canyon renders one speechless any time of year, but if you go for a few days between Christmas and New Year's Day, the crowds are down and thinking of anything other than beauty is impossible.
You'll need a few days in case snow clouds fill the canyon, obscuring all views...and to drink in the vastness.
Let it snow, let it snow let it snow but the answer for me is... not yet...hiking in the grand canyon without snow sounds wonderful to me, too. Beautiful painting, Melinda! (And happy, happy, danicing in the rain!)
Hi Melinda,
I especially love the photo of the painting from afar, as if it is just too much to go in closer. But you do. It looks amazing from both perspectives. Let's turn that monster into a mouse. You are more
than up to painting the grand canyon. You were born to do it. You are the exact one for the job.
I heard a cool radio show today about Mount Graham and a telescope there. They talked about sweeping the heavens and I thought how wonderful that that is near Tucson!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoBarbara
Ha! I understand, Linny, not yet... The fall might be as spectacular with the rim trees changing color.
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Now doing the desert rat shiver dance at a chilly 43 degrees. Brrrrr. Time to pull out the woolies!
That's exactly what I often think as I look at it from the other side of the house.
I love that, Barbara--"You are the exact one for the job." I'm hearing that as a prophetic, (poetic), word...and I will do all I can to honor it. Thrills me to think of it being finished.
Mt. Graham. There's a funny story.Before the telescope was built, I went up on that mountain when there were only bears, deer and other small animals. It was a camping trip. But, we city slickers were so afraid of bears that we couldn't sleep, couldn't rest and felt very edgy as we sat around a campfire looking out into the darkness. Little furtive sounds taunted us all night. In the morning, the creature that had been wandering around was a disinterested skunk looking for scraps of our food. We had thought it to be five feet tall with large teeth. It was a one night camping trip after that.
Never been back....
Thank you so much, sister in art, for the encouragement!
wow! Melinda, the painting is fabulous - love the colors and shapes - very ambitious - I've started a large canvas also, but not the size of yours - don't you just love to disappear into it?! falling into that place and just being present in it? mmmmm, what an adventure :)
Love this big painting and the scale. You go girl!!!!!!!!
You've got it, Jeane! When I'm up close, I do disappear into it. Sometimes it is difficult to know where I am in a painting. I see the possibility for many abstracts.
Best wishes with your monster painting! I see your work even larger than 4' x 6'!
Hi Susan,
(Smiling with a happy, silly grin) Thank you, thank you. Going.
Hi Melinda
I just moments ago discovered your comment on my blog from a week ago. I certainly know your work from talking to Barbara who raves about you all the time. I can see why!
You’re a knockout painter artist. I was thrilled to have your positive input.
Actually I've been visiting you on a regular basis for some time and admire your writing as well. You’re multi talented and now I’m gazing speechless at your web site as well as the big Grand Canyon piece.
I guess one never gets used to living so close to one of the seven wonders of the world!
Hello and welcome, Cohen Labelle. Oh, my. I don't know what to say about what Barbara says about me...except maybe, it's not all true! ;) She's very generous and kind.
Thank you so much for your kind words. I've been checking in with your blog and have been astounded by your work.
I am humbled by your comment about mine. It's true about the Grand Canyon. Wish I could live there.
wow.
I love this painting, your words, the responses! I love the community available to us through this avenue! As of yet, I have not stood at the rim of the Grand Canyon! This is an experience I look forward to in the near future...and I too, paint large, write lots, and am so inspired by your monster!
Am I really tired or am I remembering when you started this you had a post about it last year? Maybe I am making that up...but I look forward to the progress. phew, that is a big one.
I once did an Outward Bound trip where we hiked down into the canyon, hiked through it and then up and out at the other end. It was magical and I have such clear memories of sleeping in my bag on the ground, just listening to the night noises, and watching the stars. At one point they left us alone like this for a couple of days. Just the memory of that feeds the soul.
So thanks for the post!
Hi Swallowtail,
Thanks for stopping by and for your comment. It is a monster, indeed, but as you know, painting large is tons o' fun.
Best wishes with your monsters!
Oh, my gosh, Karen, that is so wonderful that you got to sleep in the Canyon. Just wow! How I wish I could do that...
Yes, you are correct about posting earlier this year on this painting. I've let it sit around because I was too intimidated by it. I'll have to link back to it in this recent post. You'll see that I put down a bucket of Indian Red in order to build some structure.
I'm so glad that it brings up pleasant memories for you. Thank you for sharing a bit of your story.
I always admire artists who paint big. It creates so many more problems and takes a lot of courage. You have mastered the medium. Like the shapes and colors.
Jean
Wow Melinda..you certainly have raised the bar! Painting large is a whole different feel don't you think? What was one stroke is now a symphony. Your big painting is looking good. I will be back to check its progress. Go girl!
Thank you, Jean. You're absolutely correct about painting on a large scale creating different challenges. It's easy to forget where one is and very easy to get caught up in the space directly in front of one's face.
You're very kind, Loriann! Indeed, it is liberating and tough at the same time. I'm finding that I need to step back quite a lot to understand what I painted.
A "symphony"? Well, right now it feels more like "Screamo" music!
Post a Comment