Boreas Sanctus
Plein Air Painting 2012
(sold)
For some reason I can’t make this right-side up, no matter what I try – but the world WAS upside down that day. This was how I spent the Saturday following Newtown. Staring into the water at Half Moon Beach, Gloucester, and rejoicing gratefully at every squeal of childish laughter that came within my hearing. Lots of families were out, enjoying each other and life – that and the beauty of the water did wonders for me. The final painting is not as nice as this one, half way though.
Holiday Lights
Week of December 10th-15th, 2012
Oil on Canvas, 24 x 30 in
Silent Watchers of the Night
Oil on Masonite, 24 x 30 in
(sold)
Now that I see it here I see a few more things I need to fix – this is the penultimate pic of my newest painting. This time of evening, dusk, I always find inexpressably sad – but because I’m a little odd, when I saw these dead trees watching over the frozen marsh at dusk, I found them deeply comforting. Something in the way they stood together as a front or a community – against the cold, in spite of death.
Come Healing
November 16th-17th, 2012
Oil on Masonite, 24 x 30 in
(sold)
Once again sidelined with health problems, I worked on this indoors of a scene I’d seen on a walk recently. While painting I listened to Leonard Cohen’s new album, one song in particular seemed to speak to, and speak for, the very core of my being
In particular:
Behold the gates of mercy
In arbitrary space
And none of us deserving
The cruelty or the grace
Oh solitude of longing
Where love has been confined
Come healing of the body
Come healing of the mind.”
Oct 26th-28th, 2012
Hallelulia
Oil on Canvas, 24 x 36
(sold)
Looking up into the maples in the back yard, this time of year the braches look to me like outstretched arms joyfully lifting up offerings of colour. I need to re-take this photo when there is better light, some of it (top left) is blanched.
Incidentally, as I was painting the upper branches, I realized it was reminding me of a book from my childhood I’d long since forgotten. I think it was by Leo Leoni and instead of orange leaves they were goldfish… I wish I could remember the name of the book.
October 27th, 2012
That slow fire of Decay
Cox Reservation, Essex Greenbelt, Essex MA
Oil on Canvas, 16 x 20 in
Looking as the sun filters through leaves and seeing jewel tones, stained glass everywhere… this was one I tried to “fix” when I got home, and it changed a lot.
October 19th-21st, 2012
Oil on Canvas, 22 x 28 in
…
October 13th, 2012
Laid up by Lyme.
October 6th, 2012
Cox Reservation, Essex Greenbelt
Oil on Canvas, 14 x 18 in
(sold)
As usual after a time away from my paints, I was a little colour-happy in this one, but it was a colour-happy day in a colour-happy season so I think it’s alright. There is a blade of marsh grass stuck to the wet paint on the right, to be taken out when dry.
Sept 8th – present (Early October), 2102
Car problems, poor weather, and an exhausting battle with Lyme Disease have kept me from painting. I dearly hope I will be out again soon. MT.