It's like the first time you meet Someone

When I draw or paint in a new place; especially one that is so different from what my eyes are familiar with, it feels like that first conversation you have with a person you've just met. 
And if you like the place, its like knowing that you like the person you're talking to.
Newness, Curiosity. A need to know more.

Catalina Park, Tortolita Mountains

Pencil-Moleskin Sketchbook

 Madeira Canyon Watercolor w/oil pastel in Moleskin Sketchbook

Madeira Canyon, Oil pastel, Moleskin Sketchbook

Watercolor on watercolor paper sketchbook

We spent an afternoon sketching/painting in Madeira Canyon where the Cottonwoods were the most luscious spring green. Except for birdsong, the breeze, and the sounds of my brush moving on paper all was quiet.  I sat up on a hill, Muggsi down below.  A few hours passed. 

I've only begun to know the colors, shapes and the light of the Arizona desert.  A mere aquaintance for now.

 

For the love and mystery of Crows

About ten years ago I had a dream about a crow sitting on my left shoulder.  I sculpted this terracotta piece after having the dream. (it fell off a shelf a few years ago, excuse the cracks and glue!) I wrapped a Great Blue Heron around my back and shoulder.

I included a computer drawn image of the dream in the center of a collage, the image shown above is zoomed in.

After talking about crows in my last post and I found that there is a kindred feeling many of us share towards them.  I love their smart, canny ways. The crowish way they move and walk. That certain tilt to the head.

Crow lovers know what I mean and could add much more.

So I got to thinking about the crows I have at home in my own art or others.

My Picasso postcard from the Cleveland Museum of Art, of  Woman with Crow. (One of my most favorite paintings!)

My stuffed felt crow made by the woman who runs the fabric shop out in Amish country.

I have more crows in garden art, on ceramic pieces from other artists...I wasn't aware of my crow volume until I took stock!

Thinking about it even more, crows are used in art quite often.  Leafing through art magazines, you can find crow imagery frequently.  Ubiquitous.  Why?  Is this part of our Collective Unconscious?

Not a crow, but a raven from a larger painting of mine. Now there's a bird I love and I've never seen one!  But I will.

What's your crow story? Do you have crows in your art?

Bird Moon

This sketchbook drawing was a precursor to this painting. In real life (not virtual life) the sky is more of a purple in the painting.
The house image is a shape I've been toying with for a few years. (One of the shapes that emerge from within when I sketch and play, (along with the triangle)) I've posted other images of the house/moon connection. (When I figure out how to post a link to previous posts, I'll connect you) There are more percolating in my sketchbooks. Future episodes will tell as to whether or not they become paintings.




The moon was rising one late summer night, it was misty. It emerged from behind a barn. Captivating.
Two weeks or so ago, the moon was setting behind my neighbors house off to the right, attached to the house. Just like the sketch, which had been drawn already.