big sky

Yesterday I painted under the big sky all day, from 8am to about 7pm.

Woke up with my head full of plans for the day - I had intended only to do some prep work outdoors and then work indoors while the prep layers dried.  Instead, the prep work - and the lovely weather - carried me away and I made several large abstract paintings!

Drying between layers:

Photographed this morning in my studio:

Some were old paintings worked over and some were begun from scratch yesterday.  I really like 2 of them, another 2 are maybe-finished, and 2 definitely need more work.

Wow, that was a terrifically productive day!

It's interesting how the energy of these paintings is quite different from the careful-thoughtful-stitch energy... but the results do have something in common, I think.

inside and out

Morning: continuing with a new series underway:

These small pieces are not quick in coming; for some reason it seems I have to wait and think between each one, even though they are all related.  Hmmm.  Could I be losing my momentum?  Or could it be, as my dear friend suggests, merely that the work is more complex than it appears, and so requires this extra gestation time?  It's true my head has been very busy lately with thoughts of how things go.

Afternoon: plein-air painting along the river near my home.

Haven't painted outdoors in some weeks, so this excursion was particularly therapeutic.  A lovely purple-grey storm brewing overhead - inspiring skies!  Small spatters of rain just beginning as I finished up.  Perfect timing.  :)

:o:o:o:o:o:

This:

plus this:

equals this:

Not yet finished, I think.

afloat

It's keeping the soul afloat, that's what it is.

I'm really liking these surfaces, like stone or copper, a kind of weathered look.

a few things

Last two weeks there've been a few things happening in the studio.

I've built a lot of very small canvas stretchers, and a few larger ones too.

Started a new series of square Multiples, then realized I misjudged the amount of canvas needed around the edges and so now I am brewing alternate possibilities in the back of my mind while working on other things...

... other things, like this large purple-and-blue painting.  It's a diptych and it's near to being finished.  Pinned to the wall next to it are 5 long pieces which I began in February.

The painting of the 5 long pieces started well, and now begins the push-and-pull process of bringing them to fruition.  They will go onto their stretchers after they have been painted.

It's starting to become quite cluttered in here!  Soon, I think, there will be a cleaning.