Friday, September 12, 2008

The summer

sold
The summer here was packed as usual with shows and wonderful travels, and I hope yours was pleasant as well.

I treasure many conversations I’ve had, online and in person, over the course of the summer. It is delightful to chat with people who are also ‘visual learners’. (I have often wondered what brain imaging might show, if done on different persons as they examine art. I speculate that--with some--the whole posterior portion of the cortex might light up.)

—the Maryland State flag (from the ‘Chesapeake Bay’ miniature, 3.5" x 2.5")--sadly, the low resolution for images (required for the internet) is not capable of transmitting the detail of the miniatures

Chesapeake Bay (oil, 3.5"x2.5")
However, here is a ‘detail’ example, which magnifies an area 1/2" high on the painting (it helps, but due to low resolution, can still only provide a small amount of what would be actually visible in the painting if you were holding it in hand.)


—the following miniature was done on commission and provided a good challenge
sold
Going-Away Dress
miniature oil painting on panel 3.5” x 2.5”

--from the Snow Goose Gallery in Pennsylvania -- the critic’s award had been received for the Exploring By Kayak’ miniature (also 3.5” x 2.5”); the review was published in the newspaper there, The Morning Call (PA and NJ states)



—the ‘brush study’ painting, filmed during creation as time lapse photography, has been sold. The short video is on YouTube and was a fun experiment; I’m not sure when I’ll have time to do another

—there is still a number of upcoming shows in the fall

A massive ‘purge’ of my studio (the old horses’ stable behind the house) was also done in early summer. It now sports brand new shelving all the way up to the high ceiling, plus a clean, spare & freshly painted look. It is full of light (sparking the imagination in new ways), and the easel has a certain ‘come hither’ look. Some on-site colour studies from summer are lined up nearby; these are vivid reminders of the place and time and whole aura of the places where I made them.

Right now, there is that wonderful September light, quite golden and slanting. On the hazy mornings I see a landscape painting wherever I look, and it feels like time to get the ‘big brushes’ out, too.

Happy Trails—Judy

Quotes:

(in J. M. W. Turner's studio)Whistler exclaimed: "Don't touch it, the paint's wet!" "Oh, that's all right," replied Mark with his characteristic drawl, "these aren't my best gloves!” (Mark Twain)

The position of the artist is humble. He is essentially a channel. (Piet Mondrian)