2 1/2 Hour Flight

"Balls!"

Watercolor, 22 x 30 inches

Flying!!!

Yesterday, a short break in the weather (between cold rain storms), prompted a friend and I to go paint en plein air.

We arrived on the site around 12:15 PM . . .a light breeze was blowing off the harbor water and sun was out. If you have ever been to a large harbor with both working boats and pleasure boats, it can be a confusing morass of stuff. So, we took our time wandering and looking for the best spot from which to paint.

Why, I do not know, but I decided to really challenge myself: Paint a full sheet: 22 x 30 inches in the short time we had set aside to paint . . . .I had be gone by 3PM. By the time we had finished surveying the harbor for an ideal view and painting site, it was near 1PM. Two Hours left and I had a full sheet to finish in that time!! This is crazy!!! Who can do thaaaaat?

I set up my easel and paints and began the scramble. Pencil in hand I chose two boats among the hoard of masts, tarps, wires, lines, docks, net hangers and paraphenalia. This was going to be a race! So . . . .I began to think: Begin with a middle gray and block in the shadows, forget accuracy and just reach for blobs of color and value. Just react. Don't get to concerned with painting 'stuff'. Just react . . .and do it fast.

The wind was blowing lightly, so my easel was in danger of being thrown into the water. I couldn't leave it to consider my progress . . . .I had to be right on top of it in case it decided to behave like a falling tower and begin to fall toward the drink. Out came my two inch brush and I began slapping on wet paint . . .it ran, but I continued to "fly" unconcerned and just paint. To make matters worse, the paint in my palette was drying as fast as I would wet it. Mix a wash and get two strokes before it dried. (This was becoming nuts!)

I kept going. By then the wind was blowing. The board on which my paper was mounted was moving around like a flopping sail! I held it with one hand and painted with the other! It was 3PM. Thanks goodness, it was time to quit.

This was the result. I like the loose, direct quality of the piece, but it is by no means a strong painting: When you paint in the sun, the paint bakes and becomes a bit muddy. Oh well! What the hell. We got some sun, fresh air and different scenery out of the deal. In all, it was a great day. This painting will be a piece of scrap for some other purpose (but my wife actually likes it!). But you, Dear Reader, get to see that $%*&# happens! Us painters have to stick together knowing that our work doesn't always score big . . .or score at all. Plein Aire distractions or not, that is just the way art is. Some days the results are good and some days they aren't . . . especially when you are flying fast and loose.

Lest We Forget

Still Life # 100

Watercolor, 15 x 22 inches

Okay already! I have been very absent.

I have, however been painting. But not painting like you might think I have. In the last 9 weeks, most of my efforts have been aimed at new, solid examples of design approaches and how to use some of the tools. For example, I have painted some 14 different times the same drawing in 14 different color approaches to illustrate how mood is affected by color choices.

Also, I recently did a number of pieces focused around the principles of value design. And it was actually fun. (Have you forgotten that you took up painting because it was fun?) Yes, it was fun. Nothing earth shaking came out of these many little examples, but it has certainly helped me become much more convinced of the many ways to manipulate the elements and principles of design.

While I have been teaching (and earning a living, too,) I have also been working at being the leader of the National Watercolor Society. And, not surprisingly, leading brings with it worry and sometimes angst. Not that anything is wrong at the society, but events have to be managed and people need to be coached (or whatever) . . . and this causes me to awaken out of sound sleep, sometimes. So, at 4 AM, after such a mental episode, I will make the coffee and go directly to the studio to paint.

Lately, my mind is brimming with ideas to put in front of my enthused class. Along with all the other concerns racing around in my noggin. Today was no different I flew out of bed at that horrible hour of 4AM studio bound.

Texture and Pattern are to be the last lesson next week. So, I set about making another still life painting (number 110!) to see what I could do with texture and pattern. WOW! What happened!? I just let my silly side take a seat front and center. Last week one of class participants used a similar backdrop for their painting, like this grid pattern you see in this painting . . . .I decided to used it and do some other textural 'stunts' to bring home the effects of pattern and texture. Before I knew it, I was having so much fun I was actually giggling as I made the painting! Yes! I was laughing out loud.

This may seem somewhat near insanity, but I can assure you it is not. You see, I began painting several years ago (23) just for fun. That 's right I was intent on doing this for fun. Every time I paint, silly thoughts come to mind about what I might do . . . .or my first watercolor teacher (Her name is Oneida!) and how much her lessons still make me smile to myself. . . . . or trying to discover some way to include a silly approach into a serious painting.

I suppose we must, from time to time, not forget why we began this journey. We are doing it for FUN! Right? So, when we get frustrated with our lack of progress or ruined paintings, isn't the most healthy thing to do just to call to mind our reasons? Isn't it cool that we can completely escape, make funny representations of stuff and giggle while we are at it? Pretty soon the purposes intensify, (like entering competitions), but the real reason we do this is for FUN. Let's never let go of that!!

I had a BLAST making this painting . . . and I think it shows! (It also counts for brush mileage!)