New Work: Early Spring, Early Morning Pond

This was painted using a plein air sketch of a pond near my home, early in spring, and early in the morning. I visited the site many times, observing and considering before I took my easel and began painting on a much smaller canvas. Next I brought the sketch to my studio, and began again, making new considerations concerning the image, changing and rethinking the initial conception but yielding to the original inspiration. The painting has been painted on gessoed linen that has been stretched on sturdy stretcher bars. I have a simple mahogany frame that I will bolt the painting into.

On the surface this is a painting of a pond in early morning light, at a point when the leaves are just beginning to form. On a deeper level, I was seeing the scene as representation of the four elements: the air (sky), fire (sun), water (pond), and earth (shore), using the trees to link it together. These elements are basic to our life, they are both life sustaining and dangerous at the same time. In equilibrium they provide the nourishment to the planet, and out of balance, they threaten our existence.

I felt the inherent balance of this landscape, providing a sense of serenity and calm in our harried world. In painting the trees, I could perceive strength of the trees, from roots to treetops; they live rooted in the earth, provide oxygen for our air, protect us from the sun, and bring water from the lowest areas to the tips of the leaves, uniting earth with the heavens.

Installation for Waiting Room in Greenville hospital

Spectrum Health United Memorial Hospital in Greenville bought a painting from me called Four Elements, Four Seasons. There are 16 square boxes with linen attached to the front, each with an oil painting. They read vertically in Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall; and horizontally in Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. Mark Mitchell had made the boxes, and helped me install them this week. They are in a waiting area in the hospital.

Santa Fe work from Baton Rouge

While in Baton Rouge, I was able to bring my pastels and paper and worked on 6 different images from my trip to Santa Fe. They are all 8 inches by 10 inches, or 10 inches by 8 inches.

When I was in Santa Fe, I was interested in the many beautiful doors and windows that you see in that area. Some were fairly old, and some were ancient. Some doors were closed, some were archways and looked to an inner courtyard. The kivas were mysterious- such a small square of light that caused the inside of this area glow!

And then there was the interesting building that appeared to have no doors and windows, jut abstract shapes.

These pastels are not finished, but have a sense of what they will be when complete.

I just returned from Santa Fe where I visited my friend Meria. I had lots of chances for hikes, visits to galleries and chances to paint. I am including a few photos of the places and my paintings.

MidWinter progress

Here are some images that I began in the fall, and have continued to work on during the winter. Except for the snowstorm one, which could be observed my studio window. Also, I have begun a series of downtown Grand Rapids, which was begun earlier.

Winter work from Fall Studies

I began these paintings last fall, and just got a chance to put a bit more time into them. The first one, some beeches that live in my front yard, were glowing with a bit of sun, backdropped by fall colors of the woods. I found interest in the patterns of the bark, and the intertwining of the branches.

The next two were painted at Pickerel Lake, the first rather quickly on one of the last days of warmth in the fall. There was still a bit of color in the trees across the lake, I loved the drama that the sun makes early afternoon at that time of year.

The last one was started a couple years ago, and I just had to add a bit more to it to soften and expand the color range. Although I have thought it might be done before, I am more ready to submit to its completion now.

Aquinas Exhibit September-October

I had a solo exhibit for the month of September at the Aquinas College Gallery. The theme was all about my back yard. I began with what is my own backyard, and proceeded to claim the different areas that I traveled, including my sons homes in Austin and Baton Rouge, a trip to New York City, and a month long stay in Japan. In essence, the lesson for myself was that my back yard extends outward to the world, and my interest should be and can be the entirety of of our planet.