Tags
Botanica Studies, Meditation through Art, Painting from Life, Timeout for Art: Nature the Great Listener, Working from Life
“Lose yourself in nature and find peace.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Jama Ecuador – This week’s work was painted in the serenity of the outdoors. The image below was started in the calm stillness of a late afternoon at Hostal Palo Santo, where I stayed this past Sunday night. I worked until almost dark and was amused when two of the leaves nodded their heads back and forth as if to say, “We know you’re studying us and just wanted to say, ‘Thanks!’” I acknowledged their subtle gestures, smiled and continued painting. They resumed their poses as the silent communication between us remained strong.
Working outdoors presents its problems. The sun and heat dry the pigments a bit too fast, and the wind scatters papers or flips through pages of sketchbooks. Large works, taped or clipped to panels, often attempt to take flight and soar away on strong breezes. Foliage flutters in the wind, so keeping an eye on a moving target presents its own set of problems. Continue reading