Water in Mineral King

What water in Mineral King? Isn’t it all snow right now?

I’m glad you asked (all interviewees either say that or “Good question” in response to most questions).

This is a pencil drawing of water in Mineral King, on Franklin Creek. I discovered a great name for it in my own imagination, without resorting to a contest. Here it is before my middle-aged-mush-brain erases it.

Every Drop, pencil on paper, 9×12″, unframed, $200

The part about this drawing that thrills me the most is that I was able to recognize it as Franklin Creek from the photo. (Trail Guy was also able to recognize it, and I confirmed it by going through my 24,000 photos on the computer and finding it in context.)

I drew another pencil piece of Spring Creek, also in Mineral King. It was the one that began this water project, and it took about 2 years to complete. The name is “Hard Water”, because I found it to be difficult. And because my friend and drawing student Rosemary was so taken with this drawing, I continued with water pictures.

Hard Water, pencil on archival paper, matted and framed to 15×19″, $399.95

(The price is because Rosemary and I got a little silly one day and decided this was a good compromise for the 99er and the 95er schools of pricing.)

Artists’ Words

Once of the most dreaded tasks of an artist is having to write a biography. However, this is a piece of cake compared to an “Artist’s Statement”. I have no idea what this actually is, in spite of having read about them numerous times and having tried to wade through such things as written by other artists.

Look at the type of Artspeak that fills up Artists’ Statements.

I’m constructing a framework which functions as a kind of syntactical grid of shifting equivalences.

Or try to digest this one:

Imagine the possibility that painting might take root and find a place to press forward into fertile new terrain.

In reading a blog by artist Lori Woodward recently, I came across this sentence with which I agree completely. I have had this thought this many times:

Representational works need no explanation – they either resonate with the viewer’s life experience, or they don’t.

Here is a piece of art that I hope just speaks for itself:

Sunny Sequoias IXXX, 8×10, oil on wrapped canvas, $125

And here is the link to Lori’s post: Lori Woodward

 

Distracted

I went back to work in the painting workshop. The main distraction disappeared out the door, so I was able to concentrate for brief periods of time. 

There is a sense of urgency to get some things finished so I can get to Exeter and repair the faded mural.

All of these can be considered finished, except for drying and getting varnished.

But, when the sun comes out, I forget what I am supposed to be doing. Everything else is more interesting than oil painting or the business of art.