Deadfall

Yesterday JP and I went out into the country.

We found a good spot near the river, and JP set out his painting gear and got to work depicting the landscape from the inside out ... that's how I view his process, because he himself so much a part of this place.

After exploring the area a bit, I decided to re-organize some branches which were lying on the ground under a big tree.

   

First I made a circle around the base of the tree.

Then I saw that animals like to gather here and, not wanting to create encumbrances for them or myself, I moved my work off to the side.

I began with the largest branches ...

... which became progressively smaller as I worked toward the centre.

About two hours later, the deadfall circle was finished.

A satisfying job!

Stepping back, I see that there is a nice relaxed sort of communication among the tree and its re-organized deadfall.  If the circle had been around the base of the tree as originally conceived, I think the whole thing may have looked overly contrived.

Response to, rather than control of the elements, that's the key for me.

white world, black book

Last weekend we got a big dump of snow: 24cm at our house, and more in some other places.  "Oh, too soon!" everyone said.

*laughs*  Me, I love snow, and we went for a long walk by the river, where poplar leaves shone in brilliant golds and rich ochres in an otherwise muted landscape.  The river was steaming in the cold air, and distant hills appeared to be floating in the mist.  Such beauty, and how lucky am I to have been out walking in it, and with my favourite person too!

Due to the weather, my shift at the store was very slow, so I perused the sketchbook shelves and noticed a new book of black paper.  Well, comparatively dark grey really.

150g weight, for "Colour Pencil, Gel Pens, Metallic Markers"

My friends, be not limited by the printed word!

Often, words are only suggestions.  In the drawings above, I used oil sticks, gel pens, China markers, pencil crayons, children's wax crayons, oil paint markers and acrylic paint.  See?

A book of black paper, begun in the midst of a snowstorm.  I like that.