We got away for a few days. I saw some paintings or photos, I’m not sure which at the frame shop in Seabrook. At first I thought they were just ocean scenes, but soon I found them hypnotic. The artist is John Duckworth. 
Rain hat
A rain hat is a talisman in our family. We used to lead llama treks. You would wear a rain hat to insure that it would not rain. It’s like a rabbit’s foot you carry to ward off bad luck. And if worse came to worse and it did rain, at least your head stayed dry. The second painting is of the same image as the blue barns. I don’t know why it’s so fuzzy, except that it is small, 8″x10″ and the Rain hat is 30″x22″.
Stress
Unfortunately I think a lot of my creativity comes from stress. I’m old enough to not want the high highs and low lows. Maybe that’s one reason that some young’uns seem creative, their willing to ride the manic wave.
Surprise
Gregg and I do crossword puzzles, thanks to Unkie Dave. A clue was “artist with a melted clock”. The boys say the key to comedy is surprise. I think a painting should surprise the painter. I can’t tell about all of the rest of you, maybe I’m easily surprised.
Rock me baby!
We had a nice Fourth, porching. It rained which may have frustrated the fireworks crowd, but I bet the local firefighters were just as glad as I for the moisture.
Rock, paper, scissors
I think the rock looks a little more solid. But guess what? I got to paint today, and that’s what’s most important. Even if I throw it in the garbage, I got to paint it!
I am a rock
Not really. However, I tried to incorporate the looseness I had in the self portrait. The rocks and snow have been kicking my butt. Part of it is I don’t know what it is that I’m trying to accomplish. Are they just exercises in texture? Gregg, my barometer, has not been very impressed by the rocks, but he was with the self portrait. I know it isn’t the subject, it’s the attitude and paint handling. So this rock is going to have a little attitude! Happy Birthday all fellow Cancers.
Self portrait
The title of this is from the book Dune. “Fear is a Mind Killer”. I’ve experimented with the enamel tears. They are latex and the rest is oils. They may peel off, or not.
Technology hates me.
Yes this photo is out of focus, but now the zoom lens on my camera is stuck. Yesterday I had to deal with medical technology and the day before I screwed up the photo transfer. It is considered uncivilized to be a Luddite, but I’m more comfortable with paint, brushes, and images that I make by hand. Since Gregg is civilized he will fix the camera when he gets home. Machines are afraid of him.
Rocks & Snow
This new one is one quarter the size of the previous ones. I work on gessoed Lenox paper which is 22″ x30″. I lose about a half inch from the edges where I taped the paper to a thin plywood board. This is cheap, light weight, and easy to store when they are dry. This iterration is white and Payne’s gray. I avoided the pallette knife, but used a brush, rag, and bamboo skewer for sgraffito(sp?). I do NOT want to end up w/ something that looks like a fuzzy black and white photo. There’s always tomorrow.