The cold weather is continuing and my mind is traveling to remote beaches! This week’s painting Evening Tide, 9” x 12” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, focuses on “dramatic, emotional skies” (quote by Artist Paul Oman) and the deep shadows of a sunset sky.
We’re into the Polar Vortex and it’s a rousing -17° F this morning! The saving grace is that the sunshine is brilliant and the view from my studio window is spectacular – animal tracks weave patterns across the new-fallen snow and there is a flurry of activity at the birdfeeders. Otherwise, the woods is quiet. During the winter months, we can see through the trees to the Fox Creek wetlands behind our house. At dusk, all year round, this area becomes a cacophony of honking voices as the Canadian Geese and Trumpeter Swans make the daily flight back to their nests.
This week’s painting seems to reflect my mood in February. This is a time of waiting – the continuing uncertainty of COVID and the hope of a vaccine and, while there is certainly no sign of it today, the deep anticipation and longing for Spring. I’m spending free moments (and there seem to be many of those with this continued isolation) reading Monty Don gardening books, checking out the seed catalogs and drawing up plans for this year’s gardens. The truth is, we are getting ready to launch.
Today’s painting, Leap of Faith, 9” x 12” on 300 lb. water paper, calls us to move forward to the end of the dock and be ready to launch into whatever lies ahead.
This has surely been a year of firsts. . . beginning with the national lockdown last February to a summer of social distancing, to new frontiers for back-to-school this fall, and then on to winter. In northwest Wisconsin, winter is always long – but it seems especially so this year. We are the primary caregivers for my Mom so we’re committed to being cautious about avoiding crowds, staying close to home and wearing masks.
But it has also been a month of joyous moments! A couple of sweet memories include gathering on a bright sunshine-y day with some of our family to celebrate my birthday at an outdoor skating rink, and being able to get away for a couple of days with Paul to explore Door County and deliver art to the Plum Bottom Gallery at Egg Harbor. We have so much to be thankful for!
And there are quiet days for painting! This week’s painting, Shadows and Light, 9” x 12” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, captures the deep shadows of a woods and grassy meadow balanced against the light of a birch tree.
In the midst of having to live fairly restricted lives due to the ongoing pandemic, we are grateful for the wonderful weather of this January. In contrast to previous years, this month has been perfect for getting outside and enjoying winter! A week of no wind and ideal conditions produced hoar frost every night and brought daily scenes straight out of story books, with everything - trees, barns, bushes and weeds - perfectly etched in white.
This week, I’m returning to the river with fond memories of a lovely day in July. Wild River Cruise, 8” x 11” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, captures a kayaker enjoying the soft breezes and warm sunshine on this wild, scenic river.
The sense of chaos of 2020 has spilled into this month, but we are looking with hope to better days ahead. In our small group Zoom study, we are going through the book, “Sacred Rhythms,” and it has been a life-changing book for Paul and I – altering our perspectives on prayer, solitude, silence and habitus. As I understand it, habitus is the daily decision to listen to our conscience and practice the presence of God in our lives. Through cultivating habitus, we are better able to nurture the fruits of the Spirit (e.g., love, joy, peace, patience . . .) within us and respond to those around us with good. I am a totally flawed work in progress, but it has helped to lift my eyes above the current muck and be aware of the overwhelming need for care and compassion of the vulnerable in our own neighborhood, family and world.
Last summer, we took a social-distancing river cruise and it was a magical couple of hours on the water. This week’s painting, Sunlit Currents, an 8” x 11” watercolor, captures a poignant snaphot – a relaxed kayaker enjoying a dappled-sunshine day on the river.
After a year of intense change and almost daily news updates, it’s a relief to be celebrating New Year's Eve tonight. In spite of the turmoil of the ongoing pandemic, we have much to be thankful for – good health, meaningful work and dear family and friends. It’s a quiet night at our house – supper in front of the fireplace and a toast to the New Year with a bit of Glögg (thanks to Crabtrees of Copas, MN). As you can imagine, there’s no way we’re going to last to midnight.
This week’s painting continues on the theme of “Resilience,” – the title of the January 2021 exhibit at artZ Gallery. From a photo we took last summer, Ascending the Crag, 6” x 12” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, reflects an experienced climber going up the rocky cliff face (crag). This was also such a fun opportunity for me to work to capture the wonderful light and shadows on some of my favorite rocks! See more art in the Gallery page of my website: www.wildriverarts.com
It’s been a year of dramatic changes – including learning:
·
the
full meaning of the words social distancing, self-isolating and lockdown;
·
to
wash hands, sterilize surfaces and wear a mask; and
·
to
navigate at-home, hybrid or remote models of work and school.
The ongoing pandemic has created a radical shift for all of us – on personal levels as well on national and global fronts. Yet we are grateful to have survived – to still be healthy, to be able to have a joyful Christmas season, and to look with hope to the New Year. At this particular time, it seems fitting to have an upcoming art exhibit centered on the theme: “Resilience.” Reflecting the spirit of our current day, the exhibit will be held at artZ Gallery in Amery, WI, from January 2 through February 5, and feature artwork from artZ member and guest artists.
This week’s painting is slated for this exhibit. Defiance is 8” x 10” on 300 lb. watercolor paper, and captures a pine tree thriving in spite of being forced to grow in a formidable rock. For me, this reflects the inner strength that God gives each of us to endure and perhaps even thrive despite our circumstances and adversities.
