Time Out

Time Out

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

This little painting was something else before. And something else entirely before that. Weren't we all. Now it is this and I think that is that. But one never knows what the future holds.

Grey Sky in the Studio

Grey Sky in the Studio

Oil on Wood

6"X8"

 I have been working on large paintings. But this afternoon, with mist settling on the bay outside my studio I just had to take a break from that task to celebrate the mood. Dark and grey and soft and wet is simply too beautiful to ignore.

At Sea

At Sea

Oil on Wood

10"X10"

To be at sea. Bobbing around. Unnerving. But necessary now and then. Letting go and going with the waves. Not sure where I'm headed nor even where I've been. 

Doing what I do and hoping I'll find my way ashore.

After the Rain

After the Rain

Oil on Canvas

18"X24"

The skies have cleared. But the mood remains somber. January is a brooding time. Or is it the feeling of beginning all over again that feels heavy? Carol Diehl's Art Vent article, "Emerson and Enthusiasm" couldn't have come my way at a more opportune time. An eloquent reminder to do your own thing with gusto and to persevere despite the circuitous route and illusive nature of progress. She quotes Emerson as saying, "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." 

Stirring up some of that very thing with paint and light and memory and song. The Wailin' Jennys "Bright Morning Stars." 

Making Waves

Making Waves

Oil on Wood

10"X10"

My mother used to call it, "making significance." The urge to make a mark, leave a trace, do something meaningful. I don't need to rock the boat, but creating ripples would be good. Making waves and adding a little beauty to the world could occupy me for a good long while.

Beside The Point

Beside the Point

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

Almost everything qualifies as being beside the point. Except maybe old friends and family. My new year's resolution if I had one would be to be in the presence of the ones I love, early and often. Off to a good start.

Mid-Tide

Mid-Tide

Oil on Canvas

18"X24"

Light on the Horizon

Light on the Horizon

Oil on Wood 

7"X15"

SOLD

Big Boats Racing on San Francisco Bay

Big Boats Racing on San Francisco Bay

Oil on Wood

10"X10"
SOLD

Big boats, big bridge, big bay, Winning combination. I wonder if the sailors know how beautiful they look on the water, like dancers choreographed by the wind. And if they would care less about winning or losing if they knew how much they contribute to the beauty of the landscape just by being there.

Yesterday I read every page of The New York Times Magazine "What if the Secret to Success is Failure?" Especially thought provoking, "The Character Test" and "Back in the Ol' Hippie Hothouse" about the resurrection of Antioch College, my alma mater. ("Antioch College, No Football Team Since 1929." Yes, that Antioch College.) But most of all, if you want to get inspired to some good in the world, don't miss "The Educational Experiences that Change a Life." Various people of note remember pivotal teachers and educational experiences that influenced the individuals they became. Oh my. To teach and change a life!  If only I could do that. Just once even. Horace Mann, the first president of Antioch College beseeched graduates to "...Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity." I better get crackin'.

Heading Home

Heading Home

Oil on Wood

6"X8"

There's always a little melancholy associated with leaving the island. The window boxes we planted in June are in full bloom and everything that was broken has been repaired. Little annoyances that loomed large at the beginning of the summer seem insignificant in the end. The air is fresher, the beach more pristine, and the mountains even more majestic than ever. It's time to pack up the paints and the dog and head for home. One last day to soak it all in. And then we're off.

Dark Turn of Mind

Dark Turn of Mind

Oil on Wood

12"X12"

Among other things, my sister and I share the same taste in music. In June she sent me her newest find, Gillian Welch's new CD, "The Harrow & The Harvest." Gray, sultry and soulful it has been my studio  sound track all summer. Listening over and over to Welch's humid voice I heard something new each time. The words, the music, and the even the titles, all perfect little works of art. This is the music that inspired me and will forever sum up my summer. "Dark Turn of Mind" is the title of the second track which I played over many times while making this painting. I love the song and am grateful to Welch for her work. And to my sister who has known me longer and better  than anyone else on earth.http://www.npr.org/2011/07/18/137823880/the-fresh-air-interview-gillian-welch-david-rawlings?sc=emaf

Weekend Race

Weekend Race

Oil on Wood

6"X6"
SOLD

The weekend was warm and sunny and everyone was out soaking it in. We sat around a lot. Sailboat races put on a good show both days, and we watched with relish from our deck. No wind one minute, blowing 20 the next. I certainly do like watching weather come and go from the comfort of home. Right now it is pouring down rain. The sun is shining through a wall of grey on its way to setting. I am inside watching the show. And there is nowhere I would rather be.

The Sailors Set Sail

The Sailors Set Sail

Oil on Wood

6"X6"

It was sunny and just enough breeze to set sail right from the mooring yesterday when the sailors headed West for the week. I have been painting ever since. Except when I rode my bike to the end of the island and stopped to talk to friends along the way and picked up the mail and bought ice cream at the store. Rosie is here. She gets walked and talked. It's hot and all the doors are open. A little coolness is wafting this way. Just about perfect.

Dark Sumatra in Maine

Dark Sumatra in Maine

Oil on Cigar Box

7.5"X10"

"Dark Sumatra" conjures up something dark, rich, exotic. Not exactly the words I would use to describe an island in Maine. An escape of a different sort. But dreamy and desirable all the same.