La mémoire de la réflexion

La mémoire de la réflexion
watercolor on Fabriano, 5"x 7"
matted and backed to 8"x 10"

This title is far better in French than in English. Maybe because it's such a Cocteau-like phrase... or Proust, for that matter.

Anyway, the weather here has been perfect and I had time to walk around Radnor Lake both yesterday and today. I was stunned at every turn by the beauty everywhere I looked. Just as well I forgot to pocket my camera on each walk — I would never have made it around the lake!

But I brought my memories home and this is a result of one.

Evaporation

Evaporation
watercolor, 5"x 7"

This painting gave me the feeling of all vapors being sucked up into the atmosphere. It reminds me of paintings I made in August of 2008 like Auvergne, Near Baden, 1904 and Drained.

I like humidity, in relative moderation. But now is the time of year when the air crispens and the leaves turn dry along with my skin and hair. Water. I'll just have to drink more of it.

For those of you who have been waiting with bated breath about the new roof I've been awaiting all summer, it went on one week ago today. It suits the house perfectly and my old chimney was carried away in buckets along with the remaining pennies of my home equity loan. But that's what those pennies were for!

Rain Fall

Rain Fall
watercolor, 5 x 7

Richard Diebenkorn once pointed out that the venetian blinds in his studio influenced an entire later series of his work. I can say the same for my back yard which serves as an influence to more than just paintings.

If you've been following over the past couple of years, you know that paths, ways, and courses of all sorts feature prominently in this ongoing series. But so do variations of my lovely and inspiring immediate landscape.

As some of you know, I've had unexpected but helpful renovations to the house this past summer. I've been waiting for a new roof since June but my roofer has been delayed by rainy week after rainy week. Here it is October and yet another rainy week. No leaks, so no complaints!

See photo posts from my back yard at My Great Day.

Satisfied Setting

Satisfied Setting
Watercolor Crayon, 5" x 7"

Wow, that's a lot of yellow! Well, the sun was going down on a beautiful day and I was filled with the good feeling of a job well done. I grabbed the watercolor crayons and went for it. Voila. I'll have to try these crayons on hot press. I bet they'll perform better.

Time for pizza.

The Shadow Clan

The Shadow Clan
Watercolor and Karat Aquarell, 5"x7"
Matted and backed to 8"x10"

I have a lot of anxiety to work out this week. Why not take it out via art? The healthiest way to vent, I say! Also, the coming season is closing in and I'm feeling like venturing back into nocturnes.

After much scribbling and playing with markers at the end of last week (see Studies and Sketches), I prepared several pieces of paper and went to town here with Staedteler watercolouring crayons and left over paint from Ripe. I almost overdid it but forced myself to stop when I ventured towards mud. I have the desire to make more of these. Now let's see if I can make the time.

Ripe

Ripe
Watercolor, 7"x10"
Matted and backed to 11"x14"
$125

I threw myself into this then tossed it aside thinking it was a throw away. Then, as usual, once I let my dear partners - the watercolors, paper, and time - do their things, I discovered a piece that I like. Hope you do, too!