In a Blue Moon, In a New Year

From my home to yours, may you have a happy, happy new year. I'll be looking through eyes of admiration and wonder at all of the stunning work you make in the coming year, learning all I can from each of you, hoping to keep up.

Be well. Be strong.

Grand Canyon, Grand Year, Grand Hopes

From my point of reference today, a thought: When looking toward the future and what it may bring, try, try, try to remember how much you've survived, how much you've overcome, and how strong and confident it has made you. Let the year that has been, and your dreams for the next year, be filled with child-like joy and anticipation--while not losing any of your hard earned wisdom! The best of both worlds, yes? The sky is gray now, cloudy and cool. It's wonderful for sun bleached eyes needing a shady day. It feels like sunset at 4 PM. Lovely. It feels like a year ending. Here is another segment of the Grand Canyon painting from my work this afternoon. This is about 2 1/2' x 1 1/2' in the upper right quadrant. I can't tell you how therapeutic it is to paint this. But, I'll guess that as you ponder nature with all of its specific beauty (in your region and mine), you are often delighted when given the chance to wander or gaze unmolested by the trappings of cities and culture. Ah. Best wishes for a better new year wherever you are, whatever your circumstance. I don't make resolutions, but I do hope to continue to paint often. You, dear fellow artist bloggers, keep me sane, disciplined and optimistic!

Stepping Back from the Abyss: Grand Canyon Painting

The holidays are always freighted with conflicting emotions, new resolves, past remembrances--good and not so good, don't you think? It must seem as though time is flying by as we all think about the end of the year and our interest in the future. Sometimes it all looks like an abyss into which our lives fall until the new year. Well, here I am thinking about all of that and offering up a more pleasant abyss, from the edge--a safe place. This section of the monster is in the center of the painting. As you can see, I'm still traveling its depths, navigating the scenery and making it into paint. This segment is probably about 2' x 4.' Hope you're all warm and well as you attempt to stay above the fray!

From the Forest: Some Trees, Some Rain, a Few Square Feet

Chapter three of, Monsters and Grand Spaces of Paint. I realized that one of the things that happens when painting large is that when you rest for the day, it may not look as though you've painted much of anything. But, when looking at the square footage of painted area, it turns out to be significant and acceptable for the day. Have you had this experience? It really has been a brain tickling journey as I paint up close, get lost, step back and see that it's okay after all; or, step back and see that more layers are needed. I keep thinking that I'll be done with this canvas soon, but now, no sé. From the forest...I see some trees. And, the Tucson area is about to get a ginormous storm tonight with high winds, snow on the mountains and rain. Wow. We're not used to all of this cold weather, but we're loving the opportunity to wear Icelandic wool sweaters today.