Ferry Tales

OK.  No, it's not a painting.....but I want to tell you a story and this is the only visual I've got from it.  You see, last night we were coming back from painting and racing for the ferry when the police stopped us.

Well, they really stopped a whole line of cars because they were filming a chase scene through the streets of Seattle....so I missed the ferry.  This couple sat across from me in the terminal waiting for the next boat.  I only had a pen and one marker, but no paper.  So I scavenged in the paper recycling and found something passable.  It sort of reminds me of Don Colley's work.  Sitting across from them was a young man slouched down who looked like a hold over from the beat generation.

Getting on the ferry, I went upstairs to be followed a few minutes later by that young man.  He sat down with his head lowered and I went about my business.  Soon the sounds of a blues harmonica began filling the outdoor room, echoing off the metal walls.  Into his music, I couldn't catch his eye so I let him fill my ears with what became the absolutely best and most creative blues harmonica I have ever heard.

The concert continued for the whole ride and only when we were getting off did I get to talk to him and thank him for the music and, did I forget to mention, the soulful singing.  Is he a professional musician?  Yes, sort of.  Is he a wandering minstrel?  Yes, sort of.  How does he make a living?

He works for the Seattle Opera.

Morning Blossoms, 11x14

While walking up the street the contrast of the hard edge of the buildings hitting up against the amorphous plants caught my eye.  I've learned that what holds my attention even for a second is something to followup on.  The more I do it, the more in tune I get to what my vision of the world is.  I talk about it in my book on marker drawing....it's actually the point of the whole book.

The uprights of the power poles and their angular support breaks up all the horizontals in the sky, building and land forms, keeping the flow going around the painting.

To enter for the free painting remember to go to my blog at: http://darrellanderson.blogspot.com/ and make a comment to enter.  Every comment improves your chances.  If you select 'Anonymous' as your profile, be sure to include your initials so I can send you your painting should you win.

Speed Bump Ahead, 11x14

I can't seem to stay away from Roslyn while the lilacs are still blooming.  For once I might get my fill (Nah!).  While the bushes in this painting are rather small, many of the plants are closer to tree size, reaching the height of these homes....all covered in blossoms.  Quite intoxicating for a lilac lover.

There are no right or wrong answers on the composition of the last painting.  Several of you sent great suggestions so I'm going to change the painting and include them and we'll see together if they work.  I'll also tell you what I found to be a problem....but I'll have to do it in a separate post in a day or so.

Going back over the mountains to Roslyn again this coming week.  I'm just getting warmed up.  Remember  that this is painting give away month so make those comments!  If you are shy about identifying yourself there is an anonymous category that you can choose.  Just be sure to include your initials so when you win you can be notified.

Madrone Skies, 10x12

   Earlier this Spring, when only the skunk cabbage showed signs of blooming, I painted this in a park in south Seattle.  Concentrating on the silhouette of the madrone (some say 'ma-drone' and some say 'ma-dro-na') I didn't notice what was happening in the composition.

What do you think bothers me?  It's painted pretty well, the colors are good...even interesting...but there is something about the way it was composed.  If you think you know, make a comment and enter for this month's drawing at the same time.  Go to: http://darrellanderson.blogspot.com/ and make a comment.

They say never to publically criticize your own work.  Nuts to that....  I'll let you know what bugs me about this one in the next posting and you can see if we agree.

Another thing...but not about art (or maybe it is).  One of my favorite places on the web is TED where I can hear talks from interesting people.  Here is an inspiring talk by a young man from Malawi who at age 14, in trying to help out his family and village, became an international star.  The human spirit can be so amazing.   http://www.ted.com/talks/william_kamkwamba_how_i_harnessed_the_wind.html

Roslyn Purple Haze, 11x14

Bluish cast shadow, lavender house and lilacs.  How could I not try the challenge to make it work?

Usually the second painting of the day goes more easily than the first but I had to draw this six times before I got a composition that was passable.   Orchestrating the large blank spaces in the house and shadow also posed a few issues.  Many of those resolutions are too subtle to show up well on the web.  I kind of like the way it came out....especially if you like purple.  What do you think?

This is 'Drawing for a Free Painting' month so enter with your comments at: http://darrellanderson.blogspot.com/.   May the force be with you....

Mountain Lilacs, 11x14

Every year I wait for the lilacs to bloom hoping to spend a week painting them.  Every year something happens to prevent that....rain, wind, projects, emergencies....somehow they don't get painted.  It happened again this year, BUT....

Lilacs bloom later in the mountains...in Roslyn!  It was a happy day that I found that out.   How could anyone pass up a scene like this one?   Last Thursday the smells of spring were everywhere and changing every few minutes as the day progressed.  I loved it.

Remember that this is "Painting Give-Away Month".  You only need go to my blog and post a comment on my painting of the day to enter.  The more you comment the better your chances to win.  I will put all the comments in a hat and draw the winner at the end of the month so the more comments you get into that hat, the better your chances.  (I haven't yet picked the painting to give away.)  My blog is at: http://darrellanderson.blogspot.com/  and "Comments" is at the bottom of each post.  Click on it and make yours!  Good luck.

Convent Gate, 12x16

Two years ago on a hot Tucson day, my friend Mic and I stood in the shade and did some studies of this beautiful scene.  Getting home I used the material to do this larger piece.  The other day I ran across it along with the studies and with about twenty minutes work it coalesced into this....which I like.  The field studies emphasized the old cathedral tower but this version, which lets the gate and wall take over, seems to work best.

Remember to go to my blog and make comments this month for a free painting.  At the end of the month I'll draw from all the comments to pick the winner.  The blog is at: http://darrellanderson.blogspot.com/  Click on the word 'Comments' at the end of that days post.

Free Painting, 'Green With Envy', 8x10

The time has come for another painting drawing!  Some people comment on the flowers in 'Green with Envy', some on the colors in the pitcher, but I especially like the grapes, they have attitude.....hence the name.  Like the last post, this is oil on red gessoed board and is one of my favorite paintings for its color combinations and brushwork.

Enter to win by making comments on any postings I make during June.  Every comment will be an entry to win.  Make comments by going to: http://darrellanderson.blogspot.com/ and at the bottom of that day's posting will be a 'Comment' word which you can click on.  While you are there why not sign up to have my blogs emailed to you if you haven't already done it.  Good luck!

(If making comments is new to you and you are having trouble, drop me a line.  My email is in my profile or on my website under 'Contact'.)

Harbor Tourboat, 10x10

The quirky shape of this little boat was attractive to me so I spent a lazy afternoon doing a quick sketch of it.  Oil on gessoed museum board works well for fast work as the board tends to absorb the oils making it easy to paint over the top of other paint.  This board was coated with a red gesso that is peeking through in places.

Another drawing for a free painting is beginning soon.  You will be able to enter by commenting on any postings after I announce it.....but why not practice and make a comment now by going to: http://darrellanderson.blogspot.com/  and putting in your two cents.  You could even put in three cents if you wanted to....

Cathe Gill Webinar:  If you go to: http://www.catherinegill.com/webinars.php , Cathe and Beth Means give a free one hour lecture on Powerful Watercolor Landscapes, based upon their new book.  This is like getting a workshop for free!  (Be sure and click the icon for full screen mode so you can see it well.)

Above the Dam, 10x12

The Spring runoff looks so calm before it plunges into whitewater chaos going over the dam.  Just under the glassy surface can be seen subtle movements of the current as it rushes to join the maelstrom.  The roar was constant.

Buckets of rain began coming down half way through this piece and I huddled under some protective branches to finish it.  Walking back to the car my solvent spilled in the backpack giving me a chemical burn.  The discomfort, however, was well worth the result and not all plein air painting is so riddled with difficulty.

I like the orange buoys against the green background.  They complement and compliment each other.  "Hey, you are looking especially spiffy today!"  "Like that color.  Where did you get it?"

I'm starting another painting give-away soon.  This time I will enter anyone who goes to the blog and puts in a comment.  The more comments, the better your chance to win.  Additional info to follow....

Alamos Alley, 10x10

This is another 'stumbled upon' painting that was done a few years ago in Alamos, Sonora, Mexico at the home of some friends.  Originally intrigued by the bougainvillea I began this with the intention of minimizing that door.....only people kept going in and out and slowly it became more interesting.  One person would go in, a different one come out.  It opened for a dog and two minutes later a child skipped through.  This went on for the 90 minutes it took to make the painting.  I have no idea what it was all about.....should have named it 'Sonoran Mystery Door'.

Anyway, I didn't like it and threw it in one of my boxes.  Pulling it out today I have no idea why I originally didn't find some value in it.

'Boots' and a Great Day

 

 'Boots' is an old painting that showed up as I was digging through a box and it reminded me of a magical day.  We (family and some other painters) were on a week long plein air trip aboard an old wooden boat (the Hyak) going around the Queen Charlotte islands.  We were headed to visit Boots later in the day.  A friend of Cathe Gill, Boots lived with her dog in an inlet only serviced by boat or float plane somewhere across from Ketchikan.

On the way to her house the skipper anchored by an abandoned seldom visited Haida village.  The totems were on the ground, the roofs were off the long houses and the moss was taking over, but the paths were still there as were the shucked shells and other signs of long habitation.  The skipper said you could sometimes find small Venetian glass beads brought by the Spanish explorers by sorting through the beach sand.....so of course I did and found four.  It was like reaching back three hundred years to another time.  I imagined all the hands, from Venice to these Northwest islands, that had touched such small gems and felt the depth of time and change that has occurred.   What must it have been like to live there?

With rain approaching we hopped back aboard the Hyak and continued on to see Boots and to spend an hour painting in her kitchen, out of the rain and cold.  She is no longer with us but her independent spirit, as well as all the other spirits I felt around me that day, are not forgotten.

Ouzel Rock, 8x10

I had never seen an American Dipper or Water Ouzel in action until the day this was painted.  Perhaps I hadn't taken the time to notice, but this bird flits from rock to rock, stopping where there is lots of current.   In a blink it dives from the rock into the torrent of water.   Long seconds go by and you expect to see it re-emerge forty feet downstream pulling its battered body onto a rock.  Instead, out it pops about 2 inches from where it went in, happy as an Ouzel.


It seems there are so many ways in this world to live a happy life, do your thing and not bother anyone.

This scene is just downstream from the view in the last post.  I once saw a photo of a painting held up in front of a scene.   It was difficult to distinguish the painting from the reality and for that the artist was proud.  I admire that kind of skill but for me it's not the point.  Reinterpreting and simplifying in a way that ignites an unspoken conversation with the eventual viewer is a goal I'd like to arrive at more frequently.

Those branches and the fallen tree in the background was a mass of complexity.  If I did it right, that's what you feel and yet it is just a mass of color broken here and there by interesting paint strokes.  It's an Ouzel thing.

Holding Firm, 8x10

Treehouse Point, Fall City.  When I was growing up and being exposed to job options for later in life, world renowned tree house builder was never mentioned....and yet, here I was painting on a property with I don't know how many tree houses on it that can be rented out and people come from all over the world to stay here and learn to build these things.  This place has been featured on the Today Show, Good Morning America, and all kinds of programs and publications.  Somehow this was not one of my choices.   I might add here that no one mentioned being a painter either, but that's another story.

Perhaps there is something in this painting about holding firm in the face of turmoil which is what I've been feeling watching events unfold in this country.....alas, that too is another story.....for a different blog.

Suffice to say that this is the river running through the property.....and it was completely enjoyable to paint it on the first sunny day of the year.

Cottenwood Down, 10x12

Fallen trees look so different than when standing, their limbs pushing in unexpected directions forming unexpected shapes and movement between them. 

This is the second painting of the day in the Swauk Valley out of Cle Elum.  It has many things in it that appeal to me: a scene that is a small slice of the world as opposed to a panorama, interesting but related color choices, repeating shapes, varied edge work, warm against cool colors, thick and thin paint application, distinct unique brush marks and small sparkles of smaller strokes.

It is a painting that makes me feel good when I look at it, the cold of the day forgotten.

Swauk Valley Spring, 10x12

On a cold, rainy, windy, sleety, snowy day last week I found myself painting with two good friends in the Swauk Valley, trying to push and pull Spring into existence.  This rather bucolic looking painting doesn't really give you a hint about numb fingers and handwarmers.

And yet it was so nice to be outdoors pushing paint around and making cold leaden skies look at least a little interesting.  At first I didn't like this painting and was going to scrape it....but my hands were too cold.  Now, at home and with a few corrections it does seem like an inviting place.   I'll post another from that day tomorrow.

Boat Ramp Low Tide, 8x10

As Spring slowly moves in we begin to see low tides during the day and, when the clouds cooperate, it's possible to slip in between wet skies to actually do a painting.  The subdued light still make vibrant color a stretch to find but in this one they were in the shadow of the dock and rocks and I like those little jewels of blue and green.

This is a painting with no preliminary drawing.  Using the mass of trees in the distance I blocked in around the top half of the shed.  Next came the rectangular shape of the shed.  After that it was just a matter of adding all the other doodads.  Big shapes and doodads...that's about it.

Sunny Valley Lineup, 10x12

You can put your ear to a shell and hear the ocean.  You can put your head in a Tupperware bowl and experience this winter in the Northwest.   We are all thirsting for sun...

Having gotten rained out several times in the last week (and wiped off the paintings)  I'm posting this one from last October.  Soon all this water will pay off in scenes like this that make me want to take off my shoes and stroll through the warm grass. 

Wednesday, No Fish, 8x10

Another day with sun and few clouds and, between chores, I stopped long enough to paint this which I had been meaning to get to for at least a year.  I can't help myself.  Try as I might to tone things down I still see all this color which hypnotizes me into its spell.

By the time I was cleaning up the tide had made the boat and dock level and much of the charm had vanished.

Cloud Break, 8x10

When the Spring weather breaks begin to happen we know that Summer will be somewhere close behind.  This painting starts the plein air season for me and a pleasure it was to once again sit in the sun, talk to the passing dogs (who always want to sniff the paint), and put a brush to canvas.

My hand feels a little outdoor rusty but with luck we will have improving weather and more paintings will loosen things up.  Come and join me...