A Moment to Breathe
Every so often, I need a reset.
This time we took off for the serene landscape of Northern Michigan; the crunch of the dunes, the smell of deep cedar forests (yes, just like in California*) and that glorious chilled morning air that always seems to snap my thoughts back into focus.
We may not live in a time of fairy god mothers and magical rejuvenation spells, but the feeling of a warm, full coffee mug in my barely-awakened hands as I step out into the brisk morning air is close enough for me.
The mornings were spent sketching, the days spent hiking and the nights spent eating and intermittently falling asleep on the couch. It was brilliant.
Towards the end of our time in the pinky-finger portion of the state I took up residence by the cafe on the beach. It was off-season, so I had the whole lovely sun-warmed patio to myself. Well, myself and the yellow-jackets... they were rather persistent.
I started this painting before leaving Miami, but was stuck as to how to complete it. Sitting here, swatting the wasps away I saw the palette I'd use to finish it up.
The week spent in Glen Arbor MI was just beautiful, affording me a chance to renew and reenergize my thoughts about my work.
...And to eat enough whitefish pate to drown a man.
And now that I'm fully unpacked, photos are backed up and sketches are preserved I'm ready to start work on all the new ideas I had whilst holding that scalding coffee mug.
Michigan, you are all right in my book.
Fire on the Mountain - Commission
Happy pre-Weekend!
We're battening down the hatches for the arrival of tropical storm Erika (fingers crossed it STAYS a storm!) but in the meantime I was able to finish up two commissions for a wonderful friend out in CA.
Fire on the Mountain I and 2 will be packed up and shipped out on Monday (barring any storm-related delays!)
This was a lovely project to work on and I can't wait to see pictures of the paintings in their new homes <3
Wishing everyone a wonderful (and dry!) weekend!
Intersection I :: Abstract Watercolor
This has been a busy week.
I took on a few artsy side-jobs this week (gotta leave my studio occasionally) and thus, ended up with a slightly fuller-than-normal schedule. Ok, ok, much fuller-than-normal schedule.
In between the packing and shipping of orders (E.H.Sherman shop is live - woo!) and the extra projects I signed on for, finding a restful moment to paint was a bit of a challenge. I believe strongly that it's not about "having" the time but "making" it -- so I found myself up rather late this week, finishing a new addition to the movement series.
Intersection I began as a painting on watercolor paper.
And as I finished it, I realized I really wanted to explore it again. But larger.
Luckily, I had a primed canvas ready to go, so I decided to paint another version. The paper version was about the flowing of the paint and the movement of the brush, the canvas version would be about the texture of the surface and how it grasped the pigment.
And here is final version. It's been sealed, signed and dated and will be up on Chairish for purchase within the week.
Craft Your Life Collective Auction Day!!
Today is the day!
The CYLcollective Instagram auction starts today and runs through the 19th. I've got one of my all-time favorite originals up for auction; Murmuration II. (The last in the original murmuration series as well).
Head over to CYLcollective Instagram to place a bid, and make sure to check out the incredible work from all the other participants!
Studies in Movement - Abstract Watercolors
Here's a little peek into 'Movment Studies', a new series I've been working on these last few weeks.
I purchased these Hake brushes last week in attempts to find bigger brushes for my watercolor washes. And then after a few days of experimentation with their marks I found myself settling into a new, very fluid, meditative process. My strokes were long and slow moving as the brush directed, removing my editing-self from the work.
The resulting pieces seemed to be studies in the motion of my arm, and less about aethetics/subject; A rather freeing process.
I've got a host of other ideas for the series, and am very much looking forward to this weekend when I can devote my time purely to these paintings.
Until then, I'll spend the next few days cutting roll paper and organizing all my ideas, getting ready to translate these studies into final works!