ONE PLUS TWO #1

This is another in the Hidden Arithmetic series done in 2002. This was a breakthrough series for me. The mixed media technique I used evolved for me from the reductive drawings I was teaching in my Beginning Drawing class. It's charcoal rubbed over a watercolor. Some areas are lightened by erasing and other areas are enhanced with charcoal pencil.

This week I'm learning new techniques of collage in a workshop with Edee Joppich. What a lovely lady and a wonderful teacher. It will be interesting to see if this results in some breakthroughs too.

FOUR #1

I didn't realize that I had not posted many pieces from this series. This is probably the most stark. Though I really like it many people prefer the pieces that have some green in them.

QUEEN ANNE'S LACE #1

This piece hangs in my daughter Angie's house in Chicago, earned through computer consultations. It's from the Hidden Arithmetic series from 2002.

Hidden Arithmetic

TWO PLUS THREE #1 has found its home away from home. This was a great series from 2002.

Here's what I wrote about the series:
The “Hidden Arithmetic” series has an abstract focus on scenes in the Michigan woods. I’m reminded of how God numbers the stars and the hairs on our heads. Psalm 139:16-17 says: “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.” My father recently died at the age of 88 years, 6 months and three days. The mysteries of God’s varying plans for his children and the numbers of ways that he teaches us and blesses enter in as I ponder the ever-changing compositions and arrangements in the woods. Psalm 90:12 says: “Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are: help us to spend them as we should.” It’s arithmetic that’s hidden from us, but we can trust his calculation.

Dostoevesky quote

"It is not as a child that I believe and confess Jesus Christ.
My hosanna is born of a crucible (furnace) of doubt."

Dostoevesky

I'll admit I've never been able to get into reading the Brothers Karamazov, or anything else he wrote. (Honest, I tried. The names overwhelmed me.) But our minister used this quote today and I thought it was an excellent way of describing my Christian walk as well as that of many fellow travelers. My hosannas also sometimes have a bit of an edge to them. They may not have been through a crucible. It's more like my hosannas have tiny fluorescent postit notes with question marks all over them.

COLORADO BIRCHES ONE AND TWO

Colorado birches one and two. They have the same frame, same lighting. Hmmm....
Many nuances of photography elude me!

LOST FOR WORDS: BE

This is the latest in the 'letter' series. It's also a salute to my favorite coffee place- Biggby's- get it? big B's.

Image and Spirit

My computer friend, C. Robin Janning, asked if she could use my Magnificat in a blog posting on Image and Spirit. Here's a link: http://imageandspirit.blogspot.com/

I'm delighted by the response to that image.

Robin is an artist who does wonderful abstract work. You can see her work at:
http://gramercygalleria.com/Index.htm

Robert Genn

I get twice weekly newsletters, Tuesday and Friday, from Robert Genn, a Canadian artist, who sends these letters out to hundreds of people across the world. They are always interesting and he also prints some of the responses to his letters in 'clickbacks' on the following post. My letter was chosen as one of the responses to his Friday letter about Icons. My recent painting, Magnificat, was published alongside the comment. Here's a link:

http://clicks.robertgenn.com/world-icons.php

new postcard

FIELD STUDY 33

Another little 8x10 study.

WINDBREAK- RED HORSE RANCH

These are the results of my Red Horse Ranch paintings (see the photo that inspired me 2 posts down). The first is 8"x10" and the second is 20"x24". The large painting was done 'alla prima' or all at once- in one sitting (though I stand when I paint), with only a little tweaking after it dried. I love the immediacy.

Another quote

Chance is always powerful.
Let your hook always be cast.
In the pool where you least expect it,
there will be fish."
Ovid

What an inspiration to continue getting ready for some art shows!

Rumi quote

"In your light I learn how to love.
In your beauty, how to make poems.
You dance inside my chest where no one sees you,
But sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art."
Rumi

I found this wonderful quote on the latest edition of the Painter's Keys by Robert Genn. It's a twice weekly artists newsletter that is a real inspiration. There's a link on the right to check it out.

Red Horse Ranch

I took this at the 2008 Porkapalooza at Red Horse Ranch and I'm in the middle of two renditions of it. There's something captivating about a windbreak.

RED TREES revisited

It seems like I've revisited this canvas every fall for the last few years. I wonder if it's done yet? I rather like the first version now that I see it again. I've learned a lot with every layer.

JULIAN OF NORWICH

This is a painting of Lady Julian in the icon style but a design of my own invention. She is a fascinating character and Tom Schwanda introduced me to her, so I dedicated this icon to him and sent it to him as a surprise.

OCTOBER FIREWORKS

I think it's done. The orange masonite is to hang small pieces on in an upcoming show and it's also the same color I just painted my front door.

layers

This is today's progress.

back to landscape

On this glistening fall day, I plan to get back to working on this painting after taking a walk in the world. I'm looking to capture the fall gold. We'll see.