Tuesday, December 28, 2010

The marsh is ever changing, although so subtly that I'm always surprised when the new season appears in full regalia. Such a moment came in early November with the first frost. As the days shorten and the weather cools the marsh slowly gives way to umbers, ochres, and sage greens. The grasses take on a brittle and aged appearance. What in high summer looked like a velvet covering of green inviting enough to lie down in, now looks as if it threatens to prick and tickle. In the strong fall winds the grasses undulate like waves of water. By September the osprey have flown away, Venezuela I've heard, and the Great Blue is once again left in peace to squawk and hunt side by side with the Canada geese. The tupelos shock us with their sudden donning of cadmium red. And the skies are brilliantly blue with dramatic cloud formations. So rising early and opening the shades that November morning I'm greeted with sparkle and dazzle. Every blade of that brittle grass is crystalized and white as snow. The maples have shed all their leaves and each tiny branch holds hard to the frost. Behind them the oaks are just beginning to turn a most red color this year, unlike their usual burnt sienna. The sage grasses along the tree line are soft and truly sage green. And the fragmite wave their frozen fronds.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Worked mostly on the lower right quadrant. But also realigned the direction of the water trenches.

Thursday, December 23, 2010


Changed the sky today and at the same time redefined the tree line which will now need repainting. I now see the gradation from pink to blue is too abrupt. Will have to correct that. Continued to work the marsh grasses and correct the lines of water inlets. Still work to do on that in the center. The bits of water in the lower right will change color and the tall fragmite needs definition and contrast. The marsh is ever changing, although so subtly that I'm always surprised when the new season appears in full regalia. Such a moment came in early November with the first frost. As the days shorten and the weather cools the marsh slowly gives way to umbers, ochres, and sage greens. The grasses take on a brittle and aged appearance. What in high summer looked like a velvet covering inviting enough to lie down in, now threatens to prick and tickle. They undulate like waves of water in the strong fall winds. By September the osprey have flown away, Venezuela I've heard, and the Great Blue is once again left in peace to squawk and hunt side by side with the Canada geese. The tupelo shock us with their sudden donning of cadmium red. And the skies are brilliantly blue with dramatic cloud formations. So rising early and opening the shades that November morning I'm met with sparkle and dazzle. Every blade of that brittle grass is crystalized and white as snow. The maples have shed all their leaves and each tiny branch holds hard to the frost. Behind the the oaks are just beginning to turn a most red color this year, unlike their usual burnt sienna. The sage grasses along the tree line are soft and truly sage green. And the fragmite wave their frozen fronds.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010


Yesterday several friends visited the studio and had praise for the work. It wasn't a critique of any sorts, but did encourage me to work more today.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010


I worked my way down into the marsh grass today. After a while I found my rhythm and the colors and grasses started finding their own rhythm and movement. Once the foreground is in, I probably will need to tone down the intensity of the trees. Did a little of that today, but probably not enough.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Friday, December 17, 2010

The devil is in the details. Worked a bit on the water and marsh grass. It needs to be painted far to near because of the overlapping of the grasses. I got bored and went on to the white bare trees in the distance. Got bored with that, too. I need a better brush. Ha! The carpenter who blames his tools..... But I do wish this was on board. The grasses and bare trees would go on so much better and easier.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Finally back in the studio. I lost my connection with this painting and took 2 days of minimal work to regain the feel for it. I bought a new color, Naples Yellow Deep, which I love. Love of a color is a risky business, though. It can seduce you into behavior that is totally unbecoming. This work in on a canvas that I had on hand. I'm missing that luxurious feel of oil on board.