Trees

Pine Tree Study
Vine charcoal on Hahnemuhle paper

I started teaching my online class Drawing & Painting Trees this past Friday, so trees have been much on my mind. Here is one of my favorite poems . Enjoy.

The Trees

Do you think of them as decoration?

Think again.

Here are the maples, flashing.
And here are the oaks, holding on all winter
to their dry leaves.
And here are the pines, that will never fail,
until death, the instruction to be green.
And here are the willows, the first
to pronounce a new year.

May I invite you to revise your thoughts about them?
Oh, Lord, how we are all for invention and
advancement!
But, I think
it would do us good if we would think about
these brothers and sisters, quietly and deeply.

The trees, the trees, just holding on
to the old, holy ways.

Mary Oliver

Breakthrough

Breakthrough
16 x 16
Available at M Gallery of Fine Art, Sarasota

I got back to Texas yesterday (missed that record breaking 8" of snow!) and I'm still decompressing from the last two weeks and the two day drive. But, I love long drives -time to think, watch the landscape roll by and conjure up new ideas for paintings. Tomorrow, back to the studio.


Online Classes- Info and Registration here.

Painting the Luminous Landscape- 5 spots left
The Painted Sky- 5 spots left

My class

Here is my wonderful class outside our studio for the week. I am so proud of them all- they have worked so hard and all have some interesting work going. Today we laid in skies over the underpaintings they completed in the first two days and there is some really exciting work being done. But its not all work, and lots of laughter and good humor have made it an enjoyable week so far!

Our lovely surroundings couldn't be more conducive to making this a fantastic experience. Here are few shots of the Braden River and the area outside the studio.

Lighting the show

Thanks to everyone who posted comments here or emailed me with well wishes for the show at M Gallery. I appreciate it more than I can say. Despite torrential rains on Friday afternoon, the reception was well attended and the response to the work strong. Working with gallery owner Maggie Kruger and her wonderful staff Karen and Crystal to hang the show was an interesting and instructive experience.

I have been aware for some time that my work needs to be lit in a certain way to show to its best advantage. The glazes on the top layers of the painting will be completely washed out by harsh spotlights or even glare from windows. When that happens, all the mystery and drama and "glow" are gone! Low, indirect lighting works best. When the show was first hung, we adjusted the lighting, and then again. Finally about an hour before the show, we adjusted it again. The change was striking-so much so that both Crystal and Karen sort of gasped when we lowered the lights the last time.

Tomorrow my five day workshop starts. We'll be working out of the studio of local artist Sue Foster, who has graciously allowed us to use her studio this week. It is located on a lovely spot on the Braden river, a gorgeous"old Florida" location. Looking forward to a wonderful week!

On the Road

Showers Offshore
9 x 18
Available at M Gallery of Fine Art

I'm leaving early tomorrow for Florida but I wanted to post a few more paintings from the show. The opening reception at M Gallery of Fine Art in Sarasota is Friday, February 5 from 6-9PM. If you are in the area, please stop in!

Moon Over Myakka
18 x 24

I also wanted to mention that I have two online classes coming up- Painting the Luminous Landscape and The Painted Sky. Info and registration is here.

Myakka Evening
18 x 24