Serendipity and Grace

Back in August I created a hand-painted, self-folded 'sketchbook,' whipped up a partial design for its cover, and proceeded over the course of a few days to rustle up experimental content for the first two of the sketchbook's three two-page spreads.

I ran out of steam for the last spread. No ideas presented themselves for consideration. I pondered and wondered and mused and kept myself open to forward motion. Nothing.

So I propped the book up on a countertop in my studio to allow for percolation. The book ended up traveling to new locations. Still nothing. It eventually got tucked into a folder and placed in a drawer.

Then, four months down the road: something!

It Is Up to You to Recognize Help When It Arrives
4.5 x 6" two-page sketchbook spread; acrylic, ink, and oil pastel
abstract
2022

Here and Now 1 January 2020

Here and now.

Michelle Gives Me a Starting Place
playing with acrylic and pastel on a book page
abstract
2020

The Pull of the Brush

I didn't go to Monhegan with preconceived notions of what I would paint. I suspected I'd stay with what I'll loosely call abstract expressionism but I was open to the possibility that I might want to paint representationally. The only thing I knew for sure was that I'd paint with watercolors.

Once on the island, though, I was surprised by how strongly I felt the following: I didn't feel called at all to paint recognizable scenes. I didn't want to paint Monhegan, I wanted to be at Monhegan and paint.

Early Morning Undulations of Trail and Cove
4.5x6"; watercolor and ink on watercolor paper
abstract
2018

Ironically, I arrived home to find in the mail the delightful gift of a representational, entirely recognizable scene of some Camp Takodah buildings, painted evocatively and to great effect, with watercolors, by my camp friend Jane!

Co-Lab

Michelle posts a meditation with dots.

Joan sends me a handpainted postcard (which I forgot to photograph) from her vacation on Martha's Vineyard.

Lightbulb!

I channel Michelle onto Joan's postcard and mail the update to Joan.

Thank you, both!

Blowing Bubbles in the Bright of a July Afternoon
4x6"; acrylic on cardstock
abstract
2018
[gift]