Poppies on the corner

It's June, almost July! But it has been a good summer already in a number of ways. We have planted vegetables this year and it seems to be perfect growing weather. I just don't know when to harvest things, so we have missed a couple of good eating opportunities. Nonetheless, everything looks so good. 

And I have just finished a series of playful art sessions with a local artist, who has not only twigged my memory in terms of old training, but taught me some new tricks and I have been eager to find time to paint and play whenever I can. I highly recommend if you have an hour or so, this holiday weekend, dragging out the watercolours, cameras and coloured pencils and just spending some time looking at life through new eyes. It's very refreshing and satisfying. 

Veggies and marigolds

more to come

 promise of spring

I am paying a little more attention to the colours used in art direction for movies more these days. Sometimes I think the colours are just the art director's preferences, but sometimes they do set a tone/mood or a time period, from scene to scene, and help to enhance or tell the story.

In Blue Velvet a movie made in the '80's the colours are extra bright, saturated. They help to keep you on edge and are at the same time surreal, like the story.

In Blade Runner, the colours were muted, sepia tones - they created an ambience of a vintage period, but set in the future. It added a patina to the images and the story. Even the wardrobe was an eclectic mix of 1940's clothing and futuristic. 

I am paying more attention to colour everywhere these days. It's feels like it's been a long winter.

C'est tout, that's all I have to say today. Just an observation.

There is always an anchor and a horizon

Not done yet...

It just occurred to me tonight that it seems a lot of paintings, whether representational or abstract include an anchor or centre of focus and a horizon, that one line that draws your eyes in and can even give you a sense of perspective, or not. 

I wasn't able to paint tonight, but did start several pieces this past weekend. Instead of canvas, I bought a few wood mounted surfaces. I like them very much. Not as sensitive and I can sand and do other treatments if I wish. Now there are four surfaces part-way done, just waiting for some inspiration to complete. I don't mind this kind of limbo.

It has been a whole year since I last posted here. There has been nothing to write about - this blog is about the creative process and it was a long dry year. Suddenly within the last couple of months there has been a rejuvenation or a revival of ideas and the desire to paint. But it's all abstract, the thoughts and the outcome. Here is a sample.