Starfish

Today we went to the newly opened Academy of Sciences. So many people, so many exhibits...this 11 legged starfish

was encased in resin along with a whole slew of other creatures along a back wall. They actually were plaques that acknowledged those who gave large financial gifts to the institution. The fact that this was floating all alone in a foreign white void, apart from it's normal habitat was striking to me. Lost in whiteness, but so exquisitely beautiful. This notion, pulling from nature, re ordering, re presenting so that ordinary things can be seen new again is potent. I try for this in my art.

Dog and Painting

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I like this painting or at least the start of it, but then I didn't and ended up painting it all red....This is Maizy my dog who runs trails with me.

Olema Barn

"Olema Barn" 84" x 72" 

Barn in West Marin

"Between Lines" 40" x 36"

These  old barns are all over West Marin.

The subtlety of the lines and textures of the boards

contrasting with the hard darks of missing ones

seems to give these buildings a quiet strength.

Studio Work in Progress

I work on about 7 paintings at the same time.

My process involves layering of paint and since it is oil 

I have to let it dry before it can be  covered over. I am so impatient

and so all I can do is start working on another one while the first one is drying.

It's best for me to not work too long on any one painting on one particular day.

After awhile I can't see the painting clearly. Today went well as I like the way these paintings 

are going. The three on the right are strong starts--the green one on the left is already totally 

repainted. I liked this start but couldn't figure out how to finish it. so I covered it up with paint.

"Kalahari"

'KALAHARI' 60' X 60' OIL AND BEESWAX ON PANEL

BAOBAB TREE IN BOTSWANA

Painting when you feel different creates different paintings. I wanted to make a painting that felt like but not necessarily was a representation of the feeling of Botswana. The rawness and extreme earthiness of the place was what I was after. I cannot look at this painting without it reminding me of Africa. This painting came very easily. The palette here is different for me. 

I kept asking people in Botswana how old are these magnificent trees were...no one seemed to know as no one has ever been alive long enough to see one die from old age. It's possible these trees are several thousand years old. This one tree was here when the pyramids were being built. It has a hole in it half way up that was used as a kind of post office so early explorers could leave messages that would be taken back to Europe by others who happened to pass on their return home.

AFRICA

AMAZING PLANT FORMS....

Just returned from a month in Africa. Jen and I brought our two daughters

Lyla (14) and Hannah (12). Besides seeing amazing animals on Safari we spent some time volunteering at The Esibonisweni School, an Elementary School in South Africa. It was truly inspiring to feel the warmth and kindness of these children. 

I just drew in my sketchbook, took pictures and tried to soak in the heart and soul of this wondrous place called Africa. I have a feeling we will be going back.

Paintings Leaving for Show

"Tangerine" 60" x 60" oil and beeswax on panel. #8309

Paintings waiting outside to be picked up by the delivery truck.

Clearing out the studio of all the paintings I have been working on for Santa Fe. 

This orange one, done last and as "extra credit" is my favorite. There is a looseness and an out of control aspect to the way this was made that is refreshing. The easiest painting and, of course the best. There is something here.

Artplane Workshop at Esalen

The organic gardens at Esalen.

A demo painting done at Esalen

Some of the class of 2008.

This years workshop was tremendous. 18 people came together 

and we painted till late into the evening for a week. I always find it so hard to get away to do these workshops but as soon as I get there I re remember. Full moon by the sea, Friendships made and getting inspired from watching people overcoming fears of art. And then of course there is the food, hot springs and always much laughter. I return renewed and re inspired....

Dog wants to go for a walk

#8302, #8303, and #8304, finished. 

Many other paintings going on besides these but I have to free up time for the dog who 

waits all day long outside my studio door to go running. Maizy, rescued from a kill shelter in Oklahoma.

Forever grateful, she is wonderfully sweet.

Time

#8283 Finished

Still going, ended up destroying the middle one for something else...

Been very busy now for several weeks. Posting these after the fact....seeing paintings that were covered over that were pretty good. Making it difficult just to make it difficult. 

Tuesday Afternoon

#8302, #8303 and #8304

#8305

#8283
Getting 8305 close --not quite sure yet. 

Friday

Continued on these 5 paintings.

New Panels

#8302, #8303, and #8304

#8305

#8283
Today about 15 new panels arrived. So I started in on some new ones a set of 3  24" x 24" and a 36" x 40".  The green striped one, 8305 is quite hideous at this point but  I just wanted to get something down to respond to later after this layer dries. The 3 24 x 24s are a bit better, at least from a distance. And then since I had a big pile of paint I made a giant blue square on #8283. I am thinking of small light shapes on this dark background--maybe very very tiny marks on a dark field.

Raining

#8157

Kept going on 8157. Almost everything gets re painted over and then by the time I come around to paint it again it is done in a different way. The ghosting of under painting is very interesting when it is contrasted with a thickly painted shape nearby or on top of it. I tend to work on parts of the painting that are easy to reach--the bottom part takes more effort so I notice I leave it more empty. I need to add more screws in my wall so I can hang the painting higher up. Today I bought 5 months supply of paper towels. These have a new pattern on them that leaves a kind of grid mark when I press it in the paint. Kind of fun.

Saturday Afternoon

#8157

#8283

Today I kept working on #8157  and #8283-both of which have changed into very different paintings than the way they started.

One thing that I find difficult is putting marks on a painting when  I know that they are not right. But the very act of being careful creates a mark that "feels" careful -which is usually boring. When I find myself spending more time looking at what I have done than actually making changes to a picture then I know that I am holding back. Sometimes I have to plod for awhile till something strikes a chord and then I re remember. I am trying to be thoughtfully out of control. Carefully careless.

Falling Backwards

#8157

#8165

Heard the poet Billy Collins last night. Wonderful...he left me with the feeling that having no plan or direction might just be viable. He described the importance of writing about nothing in particular- a found chess piece, a bit of string or maybe a hippo. Stumbling along, bumping into things along the way. The delightfully randomness of  life. It is in the in between moments that matter and sometimes illuminate. In a strange way this seems applicable to this practice of painting. However, realizing this has made the starts on several paintings seem thin and not at all juicy with life. So I repainted and started several over. 

Barn Roof

"Spring Rain" 48" x 96" #8296

I spent the first part of the week painting another painting from this one pictured here--This is a diptych-2- 48" x 48" panels that hang together. Another "Weave Painting". In a way it has been easy but it has also allowed me to see more clearly where and how the pattern and balance can be more refined. Shown here is a barn roof  I drive by on the way to Bolinas. I love this roof.

West Marin

"Madrone" 70" x 90" #8269

I drive by these water tanks all the time out here in West Marin. I finally took some pictures and it's amazing how similar they are to some of the recent "Weave" paintings I have been making. 

Nature has corroded and weathered these surfaces in much the same way as the layering of paint and washes that I use in my work. The formal grid lines of the construction of these barns and water tanks are beautiful contrasts to the out of control degradation that is occurring year after year from the natural elements.

Re Re Worked

Re Re painted today......

Oak and Bay

8300 "Oak and Bay" 70"x 63"

Finished  8300. Kept it more raw and direct. These colors are also more subdued for me but they actually feel richer than a lot of my other work. 

push

I drastically changed the paintings today. It was beginning to feel tiring-when I feel as though no part of the painting can't be worked on then the whole painting begins to look more cohesive. All parts are considered. Took me all week to really let go and risk. 

wednesday

#8300

#8157

#8283

Introduced these roundish shapes on #8300. Not sure  I like it. Worked awhile on this and it might have gotten worse. Can't really see it clearly yet. Moved on to the "Sand Shapes"-#8157 re do and #8283, the 36" square-tried to paint as loose and as bold as I could after feeling like the larger painting kind of stalled out--I think they are getting better. Lately, I have been using the paint very thin in washes and this soupy application is impossible to control which ends up being a good thing.