-
From the East
Thy Nativity of Christ our God
Has shown to the world
The light of wisdom.
For by it, those who worship the stars
Were taught by a star
To adore Thee.
The son of righteousness
And to know thee.
The orient from on high,
O Lord, Glory to Thee!Nazo Zakkak
Looking East over Lake Monona
This is an Orthodox hymn to Christ, celebrating the sun rise from the East (Orient) and the Star that drew the Wisdom seekers from the East.
-
Drawing Selfies
Our last assignment was to draw a self portrait from a mirror (no photos). I decided to use this as a review of the differnt media we used in class; Sharpie, charcoal, conte crayon and pencil.
I knew from wood carving that getting a human shape is not that hard, but to get it to look like someone in particular is tricky. Our eyes are attuned to notice small differences in facial features, so only s small variation makes a big difference.
cross contour with sharpie
Charcoal, which has a softer feel than ink/sharpie
Conte crayon
Pencil – 6B
After #3 (Conte crayon) my daughter suggested I avoid lines and think in terms of blocks of shade. So the pencil worked best for me, though getting two eyes to do the same thing is a work in progress.
The eyes are the hardest part – in class most of us tended to make them too big. The instructor also warned us that we will look a little grumpy becasue we are concentrating on details when we look in the mirror.
It was a good execize.
-
Drawing Continued
A few more
Pumpkins in pencil and charcoal 
Eggs in glass dish 
The kitchen sink 
Unmade Bed At the start I had no idea of how to use charcoal. That was good to begin to work with. Softer than pencil and often working with removal by kneaded eraser.
Also, learning to draw around the object, not using outlines. That is a work in progress.
The last assignment will be a self portrait. Stay tuned.
-
More Drawing
Drawing life.
Sermon notes 
Good morning 
Cafe Domestique
The “sermon notes” was from something I heard in the liturgy about being hidden in the Rock.
-
Drawing
I’m taking a drawing class with Bill Eddy through La Crosse parks and rec. The assignment last week was to draw breakfast. We went camping, as always in the rain. One morning we cooked cinnamon rolls over the coals. Quite tasty, but tricky. For shading I used charcoal from the previous evenings fire.
Over the coals The next assignment was to draw a room in the house showing the corner, a window and a chair. Our open concept house has fewer corners to pick from. The only option features a set of bookcases.
Progress 
The book corner Unfortunately, we do not have uniform sets of books, so lots of variety. Also the middle bookcase is set at an angle between the two walls. No rulers were used so some lines wobble a bit.
-
Quick Plein Air
I joined the Between the Bluffs Plein Air event, which included a quick paint (two hours) from the top of Grandad’s Bluff. From this vista rain could be seen to our West and North, but we were ok up to a point.
I selected a site and worked on this view, looking South and three bluffs were in view
Looking South My kit is a modified camera tripod, and what fits in a backpack, and on this day an umbrella.
My set up I struggled with the medium in that the watercolor did not dry as quickly as usual, so my tree colors blended together more than expected.
Finished There were six participants, and some remarkable pieces were painted in our rain interrupted hour and a half
Finished works I’m already thinking about next year, and changing to acrylics. It was a great experience.
-
Between the Bluffs
Plein Air
I am participating in this two week long event. The rules are to use media outdoors within a 15 mile radius of downtown La Crosse, WI.
I started with the bluff just down the street by our house, “Cliff Wood.” This view is from Cliff Side Park.
Cliff Wood Bluff There is a cemetery on Losey Boulevard which has some interesting monuments. I thought that the bluffs are also a kind of monument to the geography of this town.
View from cemetery The third location is the Community Food Forest at the YMCA on West and Main. I like the contrast between the urban setting and the food forest. The fruit that grows there is made available to anyone in the community.
Community Food Forest Plein Air involves the elements. The first session was rained out, and the following day dark clouds approached as I finished up. The cemetery and the food forest had easier weather conditions. Here are some process pictures.
Cemetery 
Food Forest 
River View You will notice the river view painting, it did not make the cut, but I did get to meet Sunny.
Sunny Here are the three submissions ready for framing
Bluff View 
Monuments 
Food Forest There is a show and sale at Studio Gallery 1311 on Market and 13th St. September 23 (11-3) and 24 (12-3).
I’m still deciding about joining the Quick Paint event on Saturday at the top of Grand Dad’s Bluff on Saturday from 10-12. Artists have two hours to complete a work.
-
Earth Connections update
An artist’s reception was held on Saturday, September 9. Dane Arts Buy Local (DABL) also hosted a Pop-Up Art Market.
I was relieved to see that my installation was intact. In fact nature joined in when a vine started to climb upwards.
Art meets life The stains are fading with time, but that is what happens to leaves.
Aging in place. If you would like to visit, the exhibit is open until October 31.
Map -
Bleeding Heart
The adventure with abstraction continues.
In our yard. I didn’t like these
#1 
#2 I painted over #1, moved in close, switched to pallette knives and turned the black into an under layer. This at least lightened things up.
#3 (in progress) It reminds me of our Madison neighborhood which embraced the plant in response to the frequent accusation of being “Bleeding Heart Liberals.”
In the meantime our plant has gone dormant. We look forward to next Spring.
-
Fall Leaves Fall
It could be a simple statement of fact: “Fall leaves fall.” It is what happens every year. It could be a direct request: “Fall leaves, Fall.” as if we could somehow encourage this to happen.
I see it as a celebration: “Fall leaves fall!”
This installation celebrates the symmetry of drawing from the soil, the ground water and sunlight set beside the death and decay as the leaves become mulch and nutrition.
We may call it a design or a happy accident. It happens without us, though we through our lack of care could disrupt it.
Isn’t it better to celebrate and enjoy the benefits?
These leaves are cut from trees felled from the grounds here at the Farley Center. The leave shapes are from this tree. The colors are from the weather and natural stains.
I hope this work directs your attention to the annually repeated process all around us.
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Two Book Reflections 