Moon Musings

Blood Moon, 5.5 x 5.5", mixed media

Very early Wednesday morning, I simply walked down my driveway to witness a wonder of our solar system. The earth's shadow slowly covered the moon. When I ventured out, there was already a visible bite taken out of the moon. Shivers ran through me: The universe is so large ! It was a major perspective corrective: the political season we are enduring right now doesn't count for much in the long run.
     The scene was so dramatic, a sound track would have been appropriate. Do you suppose there is a sound of light waves being blocked? I was fascinated to read about the red light that makes its way around the earth light the moon. And light passing through the ozone (which absorbs the red light waves) makes a rim of turquoise around the moon when the eclipse is complete.
     We were only able to see the first half of the spectacle in the eastern U.S. As dawn approached, the moon sunk low and it was a beautiful pink color, almost blending in the the dawn sky and a bit tricky to spot.  I've never seen the moon quite like that before. So I made a painting of that as well.

Pink Moon, 5.5 x 5.5", watercolor/pastel 

    Both of these little paintings will be part of an exhibit at MS Rezny Studio/Gallery, 903 Manchester Street, Distillery District, Lexington, KY in November. Titled Totems, Tales & 'Toons, the exhibit includes drawings (cartoons) by my friend and Rector, Chris Brannock, as well as my paintings of some of my personal totems and tales. We will be part of the Lexington Gallery Hop on November 21, 2014, 5 - 8 pm.

A Bit of Peace

There is a lot of sorrowful news in the world right now. And closer to home, I have attended several funerals in rapid succession. So, it has been calming and peaceful to work on this painting. A smooth lake is a gentle wonder. This evening was particularly beautiful because the sky was an unusual pink color. The combination of green and pink charmed me and made me think of the heart chakra, which absorbs green and transmits rose. I hope that this scene provides a calming, centering, healing respite for you.

Ah, September

A little music for the season

Ah, September,  watercolor, 3.9 x 9.8"

I always love when September rolls around. I make vow to savor each day, because this is also a fleeting season (please see The Fleeting Season, 5/9/14, for the Spring version.)  Setting out for a walk this morning, I noticed that leaves from our street oak tree had fallen during last night's rain. The redbud pods are browning and you can see through the green of the leaves to the golden hue which is right around the corner.
        September is a unique month, because it still very much like summer (okay, it still is summer.) In September, is as though the heat and headiness of summer is gathered in a pot and simmered and reduced until it is a tangy elixir ready to be poured over a big pile of crunchy autumn leaves in October. Enjoy it while it lasts!

        

Learning from Newton's Apple Tree

Newton's Apple Tree, underpainting in watercolor

In preparing for a demonstration using complementary media to make a painting, I thought I had better use a smart subject; Newton's apple tree came to mind. It was a good choice for several reasons: it featured a close-cropped and well groomed lawn, the tree itself had a picturesque shape and the image involved some good story lines which could be useful for the demonstration.

      My favored media combination is watercolor and pastel. Starting with a watercolor underpainting, I had a particular goal to show how effective it is to place the complementary color of red underneath the grass area (please see the photo above left.) That was going to be my focus during the demonstration (the first of three demonstrations given in conjunction with More & More, a juried exhibit of mixed media pieces at MS Rezny Studio/Gallery.)

      I set to work, preconceiving that I would be making an endless succession of small vertical green marks for the grass. Well, I had already ignored a couple of important guidelines that I profess: 1) Don't preconceive; don't figure that you know in advance how to render something. You will always be looking anew at your subject and making decisions based on your perception. Spend some time considering your subject and be objective. 2) Follow the direction of the image (Don't follow directions--follow the direction!) The neatly trimmed grass surrounding Newton's apple tree was similar to a napped velvet. So, rather than a vertical direction, the grass had more of a horizontal direction. Fortunately, as I was busy making all those vertical marks, our little group was enjoying a lively philosophical discussion. Finally, Mary allowed as how the grass could stand to be mowed. True! Luckily, this could be accomplished by lightly stroking the pastel marks horizontally (please see photo above right.) Which brings up a third guideline: Redemption is always possible with watercolor and pastel!

 After the demonstration, I decided to take up some of the pastel. This is accomplished by brushing on water and mopping up the pastel. The  "tooth" of the paper is restored and I could take the more appropriate approach of horizontal strokes of green to render the grass.


     This approach did the trick. I was able to give the impression of a well cared for lawn; one that would have restricted access. Since you have stuck with me thus far, I had better tell you the story about the lawns of Cambridge (the setting for this painting.) Apparently, originally the Fellows (academic leaders in the colleges of Cambridge) were not allowed to marry. Since the Fellows had to bear this sacrifice, it was considered what special privilege they could enjoy in compensation; and that privilege was that the Fellows could walk on the grass! So that is why mere mortals are not allowed to sully the manicured lawns of the colleges. But the grass is truly a side story, the subject is Newton's Apple Tree. Newton studied at Trinity College, Cambridge and in honor of his residence at the college, they keep an apple tree on the lawn in front. According to our tour guide, this tree is a succession of grafts onto the original (the one with the falling apple, presenting gravity to Newton.) Through this exercise, I find myself continuing on the learning path. Many thanks to Sir Isaac's apple tree!

Newton's Apple Tree, 12 x 18", watercolor & pastel 

   Perhaps you are wondering how it is that I came across Newton's Apple Tree. David and I were very fortunate to be part of a wonderful tour: A London Rhapsody with Fred Child. We were treated to a week of wonderful music and sightseeing in London and finished up with a trip to Cambridge to experience an Evensong at King's College. Beforehand, we enjoyed a tour of Cambridge, including Trinity College and Newton's famous tree.

      More & More will be on display at MS Rezny Studio/Gallery, 903 Manchester Street, Lexington, KY through July 2014. It is a wonderful show worth visiting!

London Eye's Big Ben

London Eye's Big Ben, 5 x 7", watercolor on Arches paper

I'm not very handy with Photoshop and so if I want to tweak a scene, I paintershop. That is what I used for this little watercolor. We had great coach drivers for our London Rhapsody with Fred Child and this driver made a special and slow trip across the Thames so that we could see Big Ben through the London Eye. I wanted to remember it as I saw it, not with all the reflections from the glass and general blurriness. That is the advantage of making art!

6-16-14 Weekly Watercolor

Rainy Day along the Thames, 5 x 7", watercolor on Arches paper

Just a week ago, David and I returned home from a wonderful week in London. We were on a tour organized by MPR Custom Travel: A London Rhapsody with Fred Child. It was a fantastic week filled with lots of music. We enjoyed an informal recital in Handel's house of his music and his contemporary's music on a beautiful reproduction harpsichord; heard music that I had not heard before (Alwyn's Sinfonietta, and Britten's "Les Illuminations") at St Martin-in the Fields performed by the young Northern Lights Symphony Orchestra; an over-the-top entertainment concert of film music performed by the Royal Philharmonic at Royal Albert Hall; perfectly performed (by the London Symphony Orchestra) Beethoven at The Barbican; and an exquisite Evensong at King's College Cambridge (which included Fred Child's special interview beforehand with Dr. Stephen Cleobury. David and I were able to fit in visits to the Tate Britain and The National Gallery to satisfy my need to see art (and visit one of my favorites, Sargent's Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose.) It was a rich and rewarding experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
     Before we left, the weather forecast predicted rain every day of our trip in London. As it turned out, there were only a couple of rainy days, and they were not too bad. The worst rain fell on us as we departed Westminster Abbey and on another day St. Paul's Cathedral. Perhaps the weather gods and the Church of England got together on this! Rain seems to go with the atmosphere in London and the Thames is a natural organizing factor for Europe's largest city. This painting celebrates the two and gave me the exercise of depicting rain on the coach's window as well as allowing me to revisit a lovely trip.

Finding Beauty Every Day

Early in the morning on Paris Pike

Previously, I have summed up my artistic endeavors with the tag line: Painting Everyday Wonders. Of late, this message has felt a little confining. The truth is that every day I am working in more ways than painting, and my expression can be delivered through means other than visual art. Sometimes my work is not about making, but simply perceiving.  I wanted to come up with a tag line that more accurately states my case and I came up with: Finding Beauty Every Day. When I am doing my true work, I find beauty, every day and it is usually everyday beauty. Often I am out on a walk when I find beauty. Sometimes I am teaching a non-self-confessing artist about working with watercolor and pastel and I notice a special gift that they have for design or color or whimsy.  Perhaps I am singing McFerrin's Psalm 23 with the choir or helping to hang a show of floral paintings. And I do spend time in my studio making paintings of everyday wonders. That is certainly part of my work.

Evensong, 12 x 12" watercolor/pastel on paper mounted on board
scene driving home on Paris Pike after choir practice

     Recently, I took part in a Music that Makes Community workshop (the photo above was taken on my way to join other St. Peter's folk to travel up to Minneapolis.) It was a wonderful experience. We worked on ways to bring people together through singing. We were urged not to focus on excellence at the expense of engaging people (who might be reluctant singers.) A founder of Music that Makes Community observed that while excellence is always important, perhaps a more appropriate goal might be beauty. I have been thinking about this ever since.  Beauty. You can strive for beauty, but you can also find it.  You can be sensitive to beauty and appreciate it when it is not so obvious in our distracted world. Inclusiveness can be beautiful.

     Beauty is just the thing that I am seeking and I hope to find it every day.

The Fleeting Season

Underlit at Carnico, 7 x 5", watercolor/pastel

You have to look fast to catch this season, and this has been particularly true this year. The redbud and the dogwood came out at the same time. Still, or maybe because of this, it was a spectacular early Spring. The redbud budded out and was in full fig in a day. I have two different vantage points from which to enjoy the redbuds and my personally favorite time is in the morning, just as the sun is cresting. To the right, is a country view, at Lake Carnico in Nicholas County. I was struck by this scene because the spring green leaves were illuminated from underneath.

      The view on the right is outside my window in Lexington.  When I do my morning exercises, I am treated to this view.  It had been quite drab during the late winter months. Then the tender spring greens appeared. Now it is so leafed out that there is

Village View, 7 x 5", watercolor/pastel

not much to see except the greens that lead to Summer. To everything there is a season....

You may see these paintings at MS Rezny Studio/Gallery, 903 Manchester Street in Lexington, KY. I will use my new work space to put them in frames and they will be in the drawers at the Gallery soon.

4-24-14 WeeklyWatercolor

Mossy Rocks in the Green Wood, 5 x 7", watercolor on Arches paper

I just noticed today that the spring green is really coming out and starting to reflect into the interior of my home. It is lovely! Last May, I took a hike with friends from St. Peter's and we spent a beautiful afternoon at Anglin Falls, south of Berea, KY. I don't believe I've ever been in such a green world. It was like spending time in an alternate universe--and it was so close to home.
      I made this little watercolor to remember that green world. Give me a few days and I'll have it all packaged up and available in the drawer at M S Rezny Studio/Gallery, 903 Manchester Street, Lexington, KY. You can have a little piece of the green world! Happy Spring!

Making Color Hum

Moss and Wild Phlox, 5 x 7", watercolor on Arches paper

      You always hear teachers say that they learn a lot from teaching, and this is true for me as well. Every time I teach a class or workshop, I know that I will gain new insights from participant-students. At my last workshop, we were talking about using only the three primary colors to mix up all the colors in our watercolor layers. Jule suggested that I check out Making Color Sing: Practical Lessons in Color and Design, by Jeanne Dobie. So I did, and it is a marvelous book. I couldn't wait to try out the particular colors that she especially values. I ordered a couple of colors that I had not tried before and set to work on painting exclusively with the recommended three primary colors.
      I love mixing colors, but there was something amiss for me. It was too high key and not nearly "murky" enough. I was itching to reach for my preferred colors--and even more than that, the "used" palettes from my classes and workshops. I always encourage my students to take their palettes with them, but they often leave them behind and I then use them for my paintings. They are actually, quite splendid, with all sorts of amazing colors premixed. They provide the same deep and indescribable colors found in nature. Then my only task is to bring out the pure and bright in spots. It really works for me. I guess I prefer my colors to hum, and even at a low register, than to sing!

Pre-prepared palettes that make my paintings hum! The bottom painting on the right is  made with the three primary colors suggested by Jeanne Dobie. Above that is a painting filled with my pre-mixed, preferred palette paints.

3.5 Leaf Clover

Sometimes you find what you need

Today, everything is bursting out, and all at once. Maybe the blooms want to have at least one day of glory before the freezing temperatures claim their brilliance and buoyancy. The clover was looking bounteous as well, as I set out on a walk (and in the back of my mind, looking for a sign and guidance for a little dilemma.) The clover is my totem plant. I don't consider extra leaf clovers to be good luck, so much as signs that I'm on the right path. So, it was interesting when I turned the corner, admired a lush bunch of clover and thought I spotted a 4-leaf clover. On closer inspection (I plucked it) it had three leaves. The top leaf was a super leaf with two major veins.
        What sort of sign was this, I pondered. Here is what I came up with and perhaps this might apply to you as well. I seem to have been given all the raw materials I need (okay, want). It is just that it has arrived in a different form than I was anticipating. You know about this, too. Life is much more curious, interesting (and sometimes frustrating) than we ever expect it to be.  Our job is to use the raw materials we've been given and create the life that we want and even appreciate the unexpected form that life has taken.

4 veins and 3 leaves

Enchanting April

Enchanting April, watercolor on Arches paper

April is a most welcome month, especially this year. The drabness of winter is at its peak, as all the green things have given up after blast after blast of arctic air. Even the ivy has had it this year. Then, all of a sudden, green happens anew. I love how the daffodils burst forth energetically, even as the trees are bare. Hope returns.
     I've always liked April, but infinitely more so for the past twenty five years after a very special person arrived. She is rather like April herself, full of enchantment. She can play the Waltz of the Flowers cadenza on the harp and run a marathon. She arrived in France and got on the phone to arrange for renting La Maison Rose and made Thanksgiving for twenty in that same house's tiny kitchen (the meal  included 4 pies!) She cares about the huddled masses and was the only one who knew how to firmly, yet lovingly, train Carly. What a gift she has been and she was given to us in April!
   

Be Still

Psalm 46, 12 x 12", mixed media

My father died in a tractor accident over twenty years ago. It was March, in the middle of Lent. At his service, Psalm 46 was read. My mind had been in overdrive for days trying to comprehend what had happened and what the future would be like with this sudden loss; but it was dumbstruck at these words: "Be still, and know that I am God!" Just the words I needed to hear, and within the context of turmoil and suffering. These words, along with "Remember that you are dust and  to dust you shall return" are comforting words to me.
       I appreciate the perspective correction; particularly these days with the escalation of rant and the extreme need to be right. I am guilty of this type of thinking. This causes me to miss out on the bigger picture and the beauty of our world and our lives. So, this Lent (Spring) I am going to quiet my mind and sharpen my senses to watch the season unfold. It is going to be pretty glorious to experience Spring!
      And there will be a visual aid for this journey: St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Paris, KY is displaying a special exhibit for Lent titled, Be Still. It will have work that evokes stillness or a sense of calm. My offering for the exhibit is a painting inspired by Psalm 46 (shown above.)The exhibit goes up Sunday, March 9, 2014 and will be on display through Sunday, April 13, 2014.  St. Peter's is located at 311 High Street in Paris, KY (right behind the courthouse.

How to be Lovely--Henderson Style

absorbing the  loveliness 

I have just arrived back from teaching a two-day workshop in Henderson, KY and it was a lovely experience. My lodging was a charming cottage near downtown and just two short blocks from the Ohio River. In the bedroom was a large photo of Audrey Hepburn and a book on Audrey's wit and wisdom lay prominently on the dresser. The title of that book, by Melissa Hellstern established the theme for my stay in Henderson, How to be Lovely. 

      I knew I would be learning a lot this weekend when I opened the book to this quote from Audrey:  "There is a Dutch saying, 'Don't fret: it will happen differently anyway.' I believe that."  Naturally, I had been fretting for several months about this workshop; traveling by myself (Adventure is not my middle name), would I be an effective teacher, would I forget to bring something really important, and on and on. My experience from the past is that the workshops always turn out very well, because the participants are so interesting in their lives and in their perception of the world. It never ceases to amaze me. There is a lot of beauty out there just waiting to be expressed.

But even before the workshop began, I was impressed. Henderson is a river town of about 25,000 people, and they have 4 art galleries! I went to two art exhibit receptions the evening before the workshop began. Though we had been worrying about bad weather of the snow variety with the timing of the workshop, this evening, there were sirens going off warning of severe weather of the tornado variety. Even so, a very healthy crowd turned up for these receptions. This was clearly a town that appreciated artistic expression. My being there was mainly due to a Wonder Woman named Jule McClellan, who is the founder and director of the Ohio Valley Art League (OVAL). She had attended one of my workshops in Lexington and wanted to share that experience with her artistic colleagues in western Kentucky.

     The next day broke in a beautiful fashion as we gathered at the Henderson County Public Library. Henderson is one of the spots where Audobon (there is a wonderful Audubon Museum at a state park just outside of Henderson) alighted and so all around town, there are sculptures created from Audubon's lithographs. Appropriately, there were owls at the museum. There was plenty of intelligence in our workshop as well, and a lot of stories. One woman had just moved to Henderson from California, and she signed up for the class even before she moved. As it turned out, she was seated near a native Californian whose family had owned land in the redwood forests when she was a child. I had already seen the work of several participants the evening before and knew there would not be a lack of creativity. Another participant had set a goal to write, illustrate and publish a book and had accomplished that. Everyone had been to beautiful places and they had beautiful minds, too! We set about working to express our visions.

     It turns out that using watercolor and pastel to create paintings does allow for individual creation, no matter how much experience the painter has. Within our group the experience level ranged from absolute beginner to thoroughly accomplished in multiple disciplines and media. The qualities of watercolor and pastel are complementary, so that each artist's strengths are allowed to shine. And shine they did:

We all learned from one another. We were able to revel in each other's color sense and exuberance or tranquility. We had a beautiful day along the Ohio River, but we also enjoyed Hawaii, California, Maysville, and Maine. It was like being in a Pete Seeger song!

     Thank you to Jule and OVAL for this lovely gift!
   

Workshop Prep

In a couple of days I will take my teaching show on the road for the first time. I have been invited to give a two-day workshop through the Ohio Valley Art League in Henderson, KY. There is some prep work! For my workshops and classes, I provide all the materials, so there is watercolor paper to cut and brushes to collect and clean. Are the watercolors in order and do I have the pliers to aid with the stubborn tube caps? And the pastels must all be organized by color (figuring out the color categories is interesting.) I prepare a watercolor underpainting for demonstrating my approach.
      I want to keep everything loose. This is the main premise: first I have an idea of what I want to create. That idea is what directs my technique, rather than the other way around. That will be my approach with workshop participants as well. We will start with their vision of what they want to create and then figure out how to achieve that using watercolor and pastel. My big goal is to help artists to develop their own voice by sharpening vision and honing the work of our hands.

Eat an Apple Today!

I did not attend the big debate on creationism yesterday (February 4, 2014) or watch it live-streamed. I did read about it in the papers this morning and hear about it on the radio. It was pretty predictable that no twain was going to be met. Admittedly, I am more of the Bill Nye the Science Guy camp and why wouldn't I be? I love the wonder and awe of our world and the universe. To me, that is what is missing in Creationist, Ken Ham's approach (you could say his ham-strung approach.) The main point seems to be having all the answers, now and forever.
      I am no theologian or bible scholar, but  listening to creationists, I wonder, what is the point of humanity? If the story stops almost 2000 years ago, what are we here for? Does humanity not have anything to add to narrative of creation? And what is the point of that tempting fruit in the middle of the garden? We humans are curious and creative. We are mortal, too, so that as we return to dust, humanity might be refreshed by future humans. Evolution is pretty refreshing, too. Sure, life isn't always a stroll in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, but it is always interesting and often amazing if your eyes are open and your senses alive. Thank you, Eve! I think I'll have an apple now.

     

1-4-14 Weekly Watercolor

Injured Hawk, watercolor, 7 x 5"

My weekly has been rather weakly--but here is my first watercolor of 2014. My number one resolution for this new year is to focus on working in the studio and putting in the time. Making small watercolor paintings is a good way to settle into a new rhythm.
     This hawk appeared in our backyard in December. Our neighbor told David that he had called the experts in to check on this wounded creature, but the hawk had departed before they arrived. David spotted the hawk the next day in our apple tree. This past summer we had a small flock of what we figured to be sharp shinned hawks. We are crediting their presence with our preserving our apple crop--they kept the smaller songbirds away. I believe that this is a Cooper's hawk from the markings, eyes and squared off tail. Painting the hawk has helped me to appreciate its beauty.
    There is always something interesting to see and I hope to spend 2014 immersed in seeing and painting!