Bold, Expressive Faces

Since the first part of April, I had been looking forward to this past week and the opportunity to participate in a  three-day online Zoom class with recognized artist, Alicia Farris (alicefarrisfineart.com). I had taken my first class from Alicia In 2019, when Paul and I, along with our cocker spaniel, Maddie, drove to Springfield, MO, to take an in-person, three-day watercolor class from her. Among her creative talents, Alicia is an extraordinary instructor in painting amazingly expressive faces – not portraits, but faces. Painting on hot press block watercolor paper, she employs a unique method of not mixing the paint, applying the paint in layers and using limited colors.

I started this week’s painting in class and then finished it up after the workshop ended. It is painted with just six colors and the application of five distinct layers of watercolor. “Alaskan Sourdough,” 9” x 11” watercolor is painted on 300 lb. Arches hot press paper. According to author Bailey Berg: “Being called a “sourdough” remains an honorific in Alaska. Over time it has become shorthand for an experienced Northerner, someone with tenacity, grit, and know-how who has survived untold battles with fickle Jack Frost.” (See: www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-sourdough-alaska)

Thank you!

Special thanks to wonderful galleries and those who support original art. Sold today at Arts In Hand Gallery in Spooner, WI, “Where are the Sheep?” Thank you!

July ramblings

The quiet is noticeable here at the lake. After a long weekend of holiday cabin folk and nightly 4^th of July festivities, it so nice to hear the quiet again. And we are rejoicing that the rains finally came! After a month of intense heat and no rains, we’ve received almost 3” in 24 hours and it is such a blessing! No amount of hosepipe (BBC/Monty Don influence) watering can make up for actual rain! This spring, as a filler for two sections of our back garden, we broadcast flax seed. Due to the culinary habits of two main bunnies and deer, we no longer grow any veggies or phlox or gladioli . . . or  really anything with an ornamental garden tag on it! Those are all “blue-plate special” foods for these critters! But as I prefer not to have an 8’ fence right outside the kitchen door – we adapt, adapt, adapt. I’m not sure what immature flax looks like, but we have a lovely bright green carpet of thriving plants covering those two parts of the garden. And the flax has now become a favorite napping place for a beautiful deer. This doe feels right at home, and most afternoons she can be found taking a nap and leisurely nibbling the rogue gladioli volunteers coming up through the flax around her.

It's been a couple of difficult months – I’ve got lingering issues with my concussion from March and with the dramatic changes in my Mom’s health, it’s been a challenge to reconnect with the discipline and joy of painting. So I’m going back to basics – re-working what’s familiar and mixing it up with new techniques and watercolor paper. To prepare for an upcoming class with the international artist, Alicia Farris, I’m experimenting with her favorite paper – 300 lb. Arches Hot Press watercolor paper. Hot Press paper is much smoother and more sensitive to the amount of water and paint than my standard 300 lb. cold press paper. It will only tolerate so much “working,” which makes me use a lighter touch and be much more thoughtful in how I apply the paint.

This week’s painting is familiar, but it’s such a favorite of mine – Artist Point Light, 8” x 11” on 300 lb. Hot Press paper, features an iconic landmark in the northern community of Grand Marais.

4th of July

This used to be such a fun holiday, but after living in a lake community for a few years, I’m no longer a big fan. The fireworks and influx of cabin renters has made this a time to just tolerate rather than enjoy. There is sometimes a sense that “anything goes” when visitors come in for the weekend. And I’m not trying to be the big grouch here. But because we have dogs (now just one dog) that are terrified of fireworks, our evenings are often spent inside with the AC and TV on for background noise. O.k., I’m done with this rant!

This past two weeks have been extraordinarily difficult. On June 21, my mom fell and broke her hip, resulting in hip surgery that evening. Then less than 24 hours following surgery, she was discharged from the hospital back to her room at her care facility. It still seems unbelievable that after a surgery of this magnitude on a 90-year-old, insurance companies can dictate to health care professionals that it is time to discharge so quickly. (Is this another rant?!)  And then due to the ensuing and unmanageable level of pain, mom was moved to hospice care as of last Tuesday. It seems surreal that we should be at this point, but here we are. Life offers no guarantees, and we are so grateful for loving family and friends, and caring and supportive staff.

But today was a paint day. I’ve been holding on to and thinking about this photo since we came across this scene on our trip to North Carolina in early May. After almost 7 months of gray and snow in NW Wisconsin, the green of Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina seemed almost magical. It was our first visit to this area of the country, and we were astonished at the incredible beauty of this region. We traveled a myriad of narrow, winding roads through the Great Smoky, Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains. Rounding one especially rugged corner, we came out on this open meadow with a spectacular view of the mountain ranges in the distance, and this single shotgun-style cabin. A perfectly charming spot!

This week’s painting, Blue Ridge Home, 8” x 11” on 300 hot press watercolor paper, features this narrow cabin with symmetrical windows and a vista view up into the blue of the mountains.