In the life of a Painter

There are times when I just have to paint one piece after another.  Waking at 5am, going to the studio; naps in the afternoon; then back in at night.  It is like one painting leads to the next painting, and they change and gather energy from each other.  Each is different but something connects them when I studio paint like this.  These are landscapes from my imagination and from drawings I've made outdoors.  It's one of my favorite things to do.  This year I put away my main medium (oil) and brought out the acrylics.  This invigorates me, to change mediums, to have a new way to share ideas, and to further explore landscape.  I have twelve new pieces lined up in the studio.

I taught three classes this year - one in oil and two in watercolor -  I love helping students discover their own patterns and ideas and identify with their struggles and failures.  I encourage students to not give up if the painting is not "perfect."  That it is a process, and this is how I've been painting for the past two weeks.  Yes, there were some not so great paintings, but some are true jewels!

I paint en plein air.  I paint from my imagination.  I paint from my own drawings but never from photographs, especially those taken by someone else.  I make a small pencil design and make a painting from this!  A photograph for me is just too flat and does not have the range of values (from dark to light) I need for a painting.  If you are one of my students I suggest you paint from your own drawing.  Or a strong memory.  It has served me well.  I also draw in ink on canvas and paper in the field.  I find the rhythm in the rocks that intrigue me and then there is the light I'm always chasing outdoors, all depicted in simple line.  This is an extraordinary experience in connecting myself with nature.  

Coming up:  I have a new show of Eastern Sierra paintings at the Mono Lake Committee in Lee Vining and a reception this coming Saturday, Sept. 5th at their gallery from 6:00-7:30pm.  I have a Death Valley painting as part of a sneak peek for Sierra Art Trails www.sierraarttrails.org at JewelFM radio in Fresno.  And I will once again host Sierra Art Trails at my studio in Mariposa October 2-3-4.  I'll be dong a demo at 1pm each day -- and we will have three jewelry artists along with a ceramic artist here at my studio yard.  In November, I will participate in a group show at the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village - www.anseladams.com - and in December, the Curry Village Holiday Bazaar in Yosemite Valley.  Then I rest and play for a while!