watercolor 108 13 x 20”
12:40 PM: watercolor 108 was bare bones yesterday. so i worked more on it today. i wasn’t crazy about that central rock, and i was thinking i might need to scrap it and start over. what snapped it into focus was that deep red on the left. i had just been reading about the history of the color red last night before falling asleep. it’s an amazing story told by victoria finlay in her book, but lets save that for another time.
in this instance the addition of deep red on the left of the composition, rather than distracting the eye because it’s stronger by far than any of the other colors in this watercolor, it gives us a focus to bounce off of, and actually allows the rest of the softer colors to announce themselves.
i was afraid it might be getting too busy, and as soon the those reds showed up, that fear dissolved.
this morning i was abruptly awoken by a strong dream. once i awoke, i couldn’t fall back asleep, and this song by greek composer mikis theodorakis began playing in my head and wouldn’t stop. the translation of the poem by odysseus elytis, as with all translations of poetry doesn’t even come close to doing it justice you can hear it performed on this youtube video, with the extraordinary voice of bithikotsis. i was at the very first public performance with my ex, and to think of it sends shivers down my spine.
Single Swallow
A single swallow, and the cost of Spring is dear
For the sun to return, much work is needed
It takes thousands dying at the wheels
it takes the living, also, giving their blood.
God, my Master builder, you built me inside the mountains
God, my Master builder, you enclosed me in the sea!
The body of May was taken away by Magicians
They have buried it inside a tomb of the open sea
They have sealed it up in a deep well
Its scent filled the darkness and all the abyss.
God, my Master builder, you too among the lilacs
God, my Master builder, you felt the scent of Resurrection