Veda Flying Free

My 42 year old Amazon parrot is now flying free. His time on earth is done and he has now gone on to the Place of Eternal Flight and Freedom. For him everyday was about discovery, joy and exuberance. His eyes were bright; he delighted in being part of the flock (people). He loved being social and participating in full voice, trying new foods (chicken was a favorite-irony there!), flight training and being outside his parrot mansion (very large cage). Oh, yes, and watching his parrot movie while I was at work.

I believe I learned more from him then he ever learned from me. I marveled at his iridescent feathers, wing construction and movement. He taught me about bird ways and boundaries. I taught him to fly. He taught me great respect for his intelligence and clearly voiced his daily joy and then his pain the last year as he had to be coaxed into expressing an opinion. I finally agreed to let him go.

First Snow again

If this painting looks vaguely familiar, I repainted as a commission for Sandy and Mike, who are not only appreciative patrons, but, my sister and brother-in-law. A very nice combination and as long as I bring beer over, I can visit the paintings anytime I want. This particular painting has been a wonderful experience for us. They are having fun framing it and refreshing their living room by picking up some new colors in the painting. As an artist I have been dreaming of this moment.

On a technical note. I bought raw cotton canvas, sized, primed, toned and stretched it for a beautiful surface for this particular textural painting. I was happier with this panel then the pre-primed linen I have been buying and stretching myself.

Painting Outdoors

I am supposed to be packing for a trip up north to ski and paint, instead of blogging. Happy to be back out in the field again. Have been spending the winter painting from photographs and doing still lifes. While both are OK and I get some valuable "brush time" there is nothing like being outdoors. You are living totally in the moment. You are observing the light, wind, shadows, clouds while making value and color choices to capture your observation before the light changes. It is quite exhilarating! Actually, very much like rolling a kayak. Relax. Tip over. Position the paddle, and slide up on the back of the boat. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. But it is always fun to keep trying and improving form. 

Rafters Moves to Iowa

Rafters the Giraffe is moving with his family Faith, Ben and Little Benjamin to Iowa to start a new life! He is in his second generation of watching over the Worley Family. This is a painting of Rafters that was made to honor the arrival of Little Benjamin! Best of luck Rafters and take good care of your family!

Oil and Water

Oil and water are only a good combination if you are talking about salad dressing or the image in an oil painting. Here are three large format paintings that are about water and movement. They all feature the same goose moving through water at Springbrook Nature Center. The challenges were different in each painting. Reflections, balance/weight of bird in water, the color of his reflection and showing/feeling speed in movement. I have a fascination of all these elements plus birds and water. Hopefully, there will be a lot more studies when water is again in liquid form.

Happy Thanksgiving

I had fun growing these pumpkins. While the rest of the garden respected their boundaries, these guys were a menace to the neighborhood. I had to go out and hack the vine out of the lilac bushes and off of the garden fence. I gloried in the new orange blossoms everyday. And now, instead of being pumpkin pie, they will continue to entertain me all winter with a layer of ice and a topping of snow.

The darkness of night adds a unity to a painting...and a new degree of difficulty. Is the cast light the correct value? I can't see any orange, but will they "read" as pumpkins without it? What color of light am I casting from the headlamp over my hat?

I completed this painting about 11PM and turned to see my next door neighbor drinking wine and watching this unusual outdoor sport from the warmth of her kitchen window. I was under an umbrella pitched at an angle in the snow while sleet was watering my driveway. She is used to these observations.

Three Moods of Lake Pepin

I felt good about the fact that I balanced kayaking and painting. Here are the three paintings that I completed during a beautiful fall weekend in October with Inland Sea Kayakers at Hok-Se-La campground in Red Wing.

The one on the top is early morning. The above was done in 20 minutes after dinner in rapidly fading light. I like the raw authenticity of it. Plan to do some winter night scenes with this method.

The one above was more successful before I took it home and decided to push the color. I find that my best sketches are on location without "studio work." Who needs a studio when you have the whole outdoors to play in!