Driven by demons...

P1200886 copy.JPG

"An artist is a creature driven by demons. She doesn't know why they choose her and and she's usually too busy to wonder why," With apologies to William Faulkner for the gender reassignment of his statement.

Frustrated apothecary...

These are newer tube colors from Gambin I enjoy using to grey down passages. They help keep the purity of value while taking the edge off.  I ran out of the blue one night and it occurred to me I could make the color.  On the back of every tube color is a series of numbers identifying the "ingredients" colors used to create the tube color. 

Read More

Apologies to green...

A friend was kind enough to drop by my workshop today and noted the paint swatches, scribbled notes on white drying times, formulas for mediums, color wheels - et al.  While my pal was supportive, some fly-by-the seat of your pants artists have ridiculed me for being too technically preoccupied - as if it will stunt my creative growth. To each their own and my way works for me. On the days I can't get going, exercises like the one above jumpstart the energy. This experiment was inspired by friend and amazing color genius, Corrine Loomis Dietz. We were enjoying rare and precious time making art together and I delivered a derogatory comment about a green I regarded as particularly virulent. Corrie suggested some people might like the color and said, "Try it with Quinacridone Red."  When Golden Green Gold is combined with Quin Red, the result is great base skin tones. In oil, try Gamblin's Cadmium Green and Quin Red. Lesson learned. I may not wear or paint the kitchen this green, however, it makes a very able addition to the color world. Presuming from our prejudices can set us back in art and life. 

Education and wisdom...

On the PCC campus awhile ago, obviously before spring, this juxtaposition caught my attention. Futuristic architecture where we teach our youth facts that may or not matter and the organic structure of the tree, representative of earth wisdom and natural rhythms enduring for millennia. The earth is suffering neglect and abuse by previous generations of the educated. The students I'm fortunate enough to meet are well-educated, bright visionaries coming together to collectively work for positive changes on the planet. I feel very hopeful for the future when I know they will be the ones in charge.