6:29 PM: well, this may be it. we stopped off at my studio on our way back from our stupa walk a few hours ago. we both agreed that this appears to be a completed painting, and is far better than the previous version. so maybe it is singing and i just didn’t get it! would it hold up hanging in a beautiful space adjacent to other beautiful paintings? more importantly, is this a painting that the new owner could look at every morning and see something new, something fresh? looking back at the arc of my creations over the past 2 decades, when i was increasingly consumed with the beauty and mystery of our creeks, these recent creek oils reflect that deepening connection to their forms, colors, sounds.
before (left) and after todays changes to 2021 creek oil 1
2021 creek oil 1 26x78” as it looked moments ago
DETAIL
2:42 PM: here’s the current state of 2021 creek oil 1 as of a few moments ago, at the end of my painting day, as i prepare to go back over to the house & drive up to the tashi gomang stupa trail for another delightful and energizing afternoon walk. i’ll resume tomorrow morning. it will be an abbreviated painting day due to an afternoon appointment. right now i prefer it to how ot looked when i walked into the studio this morning, but it’s not singing yet. when it starts singing, you don’t have to think about it; you know it!
1:53 PM: i did a bit more over the past hour, and here’s what it looks like now. still working, and will likely continue modifications tomorrow morning.
2021 creek oil 1 26x78” as it looked moments ago
12:55 PM: my first glance at recent work usually lets me know what needs work. today it was 2021 creek oil 1. the left portion looked ok, but the center and right areas of the composition seemed too busy, and my eye got confused about where to look. so i started working on it. it’s in process, but it’s interesting to watch the progression. BELOW right is how it looks at the moment; about to launch back in.
