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| Spring Thaw, Acrylic on Gallery Canvas, 20" x 20" |
While straightening up the mess I'd left at the charcoal station with hope of restoring a sense of order in the studio, Spring Thaw, on the adjacent easel, shouted, "FINISH ME ALREADY!" So I did. I have no idea where this painting is taking me, but it is taking me somewhere. It's those damn lines I find fascinating.
Caught a good shot of yesterday's storm. Nearly everyday this summer, we've gotten storms, but yesterday's was particularly ominous. It would make a great study in mucky greens and grays, but there's red burmuda shorts on my plate. Maybe later? Note the linear effects of the rain pounding against my window. Line is everything with this gal.
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| Rain Forest Summer, photograph by l.w.roth, Nikon Cool Pix L12 |
I think the lines give the painting a lot of energy and movement, and you know I love lines.
ReplyDeleteGreat work.
The lines also speak of the restlessness,recklessness and disorderly order I saw in the woods that early Spring day--haphazard, but not. Lines are great. Thanks Roger
DeleteWow!...Linda...your photography is awesome...I love the drips of water in this picture of the storm!! So nice!!
ReplyDeletefuture painting??! I LOVE IT! And You did a great job on Spring Thaw...! Wonderful painting..
There's a lot of melancholy in this rain shot. I'm not sure melancholy is where I want to spend my time these summer days--maybe when I'm knee deep in snow? Thanks Hilda. Spring Thaw is one of those paintings I love to do; I can't screw it up. The woods is full of beautiful mishaps.
DeleteHi Linda,
ReplyDeleteBravo on starting the new blog. About a year ago, a blogger friend of mine, Harry Kent, of Tasmania, Australia, announced he had been diagnosed with Menieres and told his followers all about this often debilitating disease. He didn't post much about his treatment, so I'm not sure how he's doing these days. You would, I believe, be tremendously impressed with Harry's paintings. His blog, which I stumbled upon one day, was hugely inspiring to me. If you visit his blog, be advised that he hasn't posted much since being awarded a Masters degree in Contemporary Arts (with Distinction). I recommend combing his earlier posts to see just how expressive a painter he was, and still is! Maybe the Menieres has him down, but I just don't know.
But, we're supposed to be talking about you, so let me get back to the point.
Sharing this experience, and your determination to fight the disease will no doubt prove inspirational to many others afflicted by it. I greatly admire your decision to kick and scream and beat this thing publicly. I salute you and wish you all the best in your battle to regain your health and with the new blog.
Sincerely,
Gary.
Treatment seems to be cautious according to my doc. Water pills. Eliminate as much salt from your diet as possible. Drink lots of water to keep flushing out the water I tend to retain in spite of cutting the salt.
DeleteThe bitch of it is: I have to drop seafood from my diet and I am a big fan of shrimp, lobster, mussels and sashimi with pickled ginger--I can live without the soy and have for quite some time.
Ferreting out saltless recipes and foods and spending time in the kitchen devising my own concoctions seems to be my newest interest. How to do that and not let the painting suffer is the problem? In a day, I only have so much energy for creativity. We'll see how the new blog pans out. I know it will help me, but I'm hoping to hear what other Menieres patients are doing to make life more calm.
There is great vitality and energy in the painting that is very impressive. Love the photograph, what a subject for a painting.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo, let's leave it at that. It's melancholy. Who wants to paint melancholy unless they're melancholly; it could be a bummer. There'sno bummers allowed inthe summer.
DeleteAwesome work, Linda!! It really draws me in, it's a very expressive painting.
ReplyDeleteAlso love the photograph, wonderful catch, looks like a painting!!
Thanks Hilje. Quite personally, I don't know what to make of this painting? Yes, lines fascinate me and have a wide range of expression, but this is not a parlor painting. It's nervous energy doesn't exactly lend itself to settings that should be tranquil. I can only think that it's a step I'm taking in a new direction that eventually will reveal itself.
DeleteLots of great energy in this painting along with lovely vivid colours. It really leads you in! Love the photo too!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Helen. I finally did get some order out of all that disorder saw lying around the woods--but that's what art is all about, so "they" say.
DeleteGlorious spring thaw, tremendous light and energy! The photo rminds me of a painting a friend made entirely of tiny vertical lines!
ReplyDeleteI think we're still having it. The temps have warmed, but spring rains are painting the rose leaves white with powdery mildew. The painting is a strong one, but could be more colorful. After varnishing, I'm observing it and thinking more spring green, a touch of magenta--and that's why we keep painting. Thanks.
DeleteI noticed you went to life drawing and did a lovely portrait. You are so energetic--on the train and all. I envy your enthusiasm and persistance.
Spring Thaw is absolutely wonderful. I remember the model you used and the finished product is astounding to me. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI don't know about wonderful> Intriguing, yes.
DeleteI love the lines, complexity and color of this painting!! A grand success, I think!
ReplyDeleteI hope so, for that's it. Complexity is right.
DeleteI don't know how you did it - with all those juxtaposed lines - but you did! It looks like a tapestry to me - a beautiful Spring Thaw.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why I did it! I am attracted to conflicting lines that somehow go together to make masses that somehow go together to form comprehensive compositions. Those are the subjects that make me take out my camera--and my paints. I suspect I think these scenes are metaphors for--this is goinhg to sound hokey--life? I really don't know what to make of this painting. I've hung it in my kitchen for observation and I am totally drawn into it wondering what it's all about. It would make a good puzzel.
DeleteYou seem to understand the lines Linda! You make such good use of them.
ReplyDeleteI love your colors and composition- Spring Thaw is gorgeous.
Your photograph is so interesting as well. We are having so much rain, it feels like my brain is wet!
I've signed up for your email updates with another email address. Hopefully I'll start getting them.
Thanks for becoming a follower on my Menieres Blog. The disease isn't all that interesting to a lot of folks, since so few people have the damn affliction and thank God for that, but lowering sodium intake is a good idea for everyone. I don't like Americans being the fattest on the planetI want us to be lean, mean, fighting machines full of vim and vigor and innovations--like before fast food restaurants and eating on the run.
DeleteI think I have to put subscribe on the other blog?
Thanks about the line. II like your lines too the written ones as well as the ones you draw.
Yes! Put a subscribe on your other blog. I much prefer to access blogs through email. That way I read them! Thanks.
DeleteBeautiful painting! I love everything about it. Nice photo too--It looks really great because it is blazing hot here--I would welcome a nice rain storm!
ReplyDeleteThanks Celeste. I thought it isn't supposed to be hot in Portland--but then, it isn't supposed to be this lush in Michigan this time of year. I really do think I'm suddenly living in a rain forest.
DeleteThe lines in Spring Thaw are fascinating, and the painting is so dynamic.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're right - the photo of the torrential rain would make a great painting.
It would make a dynamic larger painting with a lot more work involved. Dynamic is limited on 20 x 20".
DeleteThe photographic would make a tedious painting with all those "drip" lines. Would have to be in oils.
Linda!
ReplyDeleteI love, love,love "Spring Thaw!" I loved it "unfinished" and "finished!"
Great energy! Movement! Color! Excitement! So much more! It shouts out for attention!
A gem!
I hardly ever know when my work is "finished!"
Happy Fourth Of July My Friend!
Michael
I never know when my work is finished either Michael. I stop when I get the feeling I've gone as far as I can go on this one or I run out of steam. This painting ended when I thought, That's it, no more. I don't know whether I like it? It's an odd one for me, but this has been an odd year. My art is self expressive. What I'm expressing here, I have no idea? Happy forth of July weekend to you too.
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