Simple

I worked all morning on an image that became more complicated and overworked with every passing minute. Finally I realized it was hopeless and reached for a rejected background and with a few strokes painted the trees against that textured space. A simple, direct image is more compelling. If it seems that the artist is trying too hard then nothing in the piece can redeem that rigidness. It has been said that an image is only as strong as its weakest part. However, there are exceptions. Great work is held together by vision and/or passion not component parts and those override every weakness.

Night Weeds Too

The plants in the yard become alive at night. In the daytime they are easily recognizable, but at night something happens and they become themselves.

Night Weeds

The dark areas are ground earth minerals applied with water. The density of these minerals gives a richness and depth that watercolor alone lacks.

Water Dream

If you look at it just right you will see a manatee swimming under my dock.

Hippo

My initial process for developing a new visual language is almost complete. It's time to add the second phase. The first series creates breath and the second depth. I will be talking more about "process" soon as I enter this next phase of the project.

Opening

I am having to think carefully about what my work is about. I started this project because I was in transition and have no clear direction although I have many years of work behind me. Finding truth in an image is a life's work. It can't be done without penetrating effort and it isn't about process, technical ability, interesting images, entertaining stories although these can be a vehicle to something profound but in and of themselves they are nothing. Every good artist has something important to say and searches for the means to say it. We have to be dedicated to the truth in all things, and only then can we begin to find ourselves.

River Sunset

This is as close as I come to a festive painting. It is the river again and a sunset through some gathering mist. Florida light seems so clean and pure. Every pastel color flourishes here. Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Hidden Spiral

Even as I experimented with these new monoprint techniques, I caught the spiral patiently waiting.

Utah Ground

The desert is back, the dryness and austerity. I still have no direction but I will take it one day at a time.

Ground Minus Zero

I have lost control of the images. The yard has proved stubborn. There is also less time to work. Tomorrow I'll sort this out.

Open

I like the way this image opens up like a seed.
I still want to do some "ground up" images, but so far there's more talk and less walk. I still want to tell the story of the yard.

Ground Zero Plus One

I don't know where this is headed, but really I'm just digging around in the dirt.

Ground Zero

The spiral is gone because nothing lives forever, but the ground has changed. There is something there that I have not seen before and what is going on I am not sure.

What's This?

I've started over, opened up the process again when I could feel the spiral images ending. It's hard when anything is new, like being on an alien planet without any gravity. I have to invent a different world but using the same language. THAT is part of the process. As for this image, I don't know what its about, but that's OK.

End

Memory of A Found Object

Memory of That Which Was Lost

What if not only the thing is gone but its memory too is lost?

Spiral Memory

Does memory takes shape where longing leaves off? Maybe it is the abyss of dreams.

End of Yard Spiral, Maybe

Yard Spiral is finished, exhausted for a time but the ground is alive. Something important is planted here.

Yard Spiral Spins

That's what spirals do, they spin like tops for a while. This dance has its own design. It's wonderful to watch.

Yard Spiral Lights It All Up

Yard Spiral doesn't care about the house. It is of and for the earth and plays with all things living in the yard. I can watch from the porch. It's safe there.

Yard Spiral Glows In The Dark

On a clear night and a full moon if you are lucky, yard spiral sings with the light.

Yard Spiral Asleep

The spiral has taken over the yard and moves at will through the space. Now it is resting. Soon it will be rearranging things. It has its own plans. I am never included.

Yard Spiral On The Move

 Yard spiral has a life of its own, twirling its way across the lawn.

Yard Spiral Returns

Colors and shapes in the yard have suddenly become simple and bold.  Then the spiral enters from the bottom left. The question is, will the spiral be strong enough to hold its own?

The Secret Life of Trees

These trees are in my backyard and as I sketched they seemed to be peering directly back at me. Our gaze met, and it was the strangest feeling.

Evening

The light at twilight is beautiful in Florida, all turquoise and yellow. Even the land seems sometimes under water.

Unravel

My focus is gone today. The landscape seems like a tapestry with unruly threads and many holes. There is not much you can do when this happens. I try to just wait it out.

Eye of the Sunset

Maybe the sunset looks at us pooled in the water and glowing through the sky. What do we see when we look at dust?

Howling Tree

We've had days of storms that finally broke today. The trees were howling like dogs with the wind.
Gabbe, this one's for you.