Hearts Made Of Stone

I Paint Rocks

Most of you already know that.

Split Rock Triptych
In the private collection of Chip and Carolyn Herman

  Those rocks I paint come in many different sizes, some considered pebbles and some boulders.  Because I am enamoured with  rocks of various sizes, I tend to pick them up and carry them home now and then, the ones I can.  I have even had a couple tables made out of rocks, one weighed in at two tons, but that is another story.

Last week I was given a petite book titled, Heart Stones, by Josie Iselin.  Yes, I have a small collection of stones shaped like hearts, but receiving the book prompted me to wade around in the lake for a chunk of time looking for more. 

Look at the little tiny one sitting on the bigger rock.  It's a perfect heart shape!

 I found four new ones in about a half hour.  This is just another reminder to See Where You Are (yes, that's the title of my book), and most of you know I believe you should look closely at everything around you and you may be surprised at what you  see.

Reading about and collecting heart shaped rocks jogged my craggy memory about painting shapes, like hearts, to look like rocks.  'Hearts Made of Stone' are four small canvases that are exactly that, heart shapes looking like stone.

Hearts Made of Stone

There is a fraternity of stone lovers out there.  According to Iselin we 'share an abiding respect for the Earth and her wonders'.  It's true.  That is exactly why I paint rocks and tell people that Nature is my muse.

Inspirational Time of Year

It's The Light

Or maybe it's the clarity of the water.  Or maybe it's both.  Whatever it is, this time of year inspires.

The leaves on the trees begin to change color.

The light that is cast is golden.

Fall Aspen Leaves
40" x 25"
Giclee Prints  600.

The water in Tahoe is at it's most transparent, and by the way the color is almost unreal....shades of transparent turquoise.  When it's calm the surface almost looks like jello, clear, clean jello.

Where I live human movement is almost non existent.  It's peaceful, it's quiet.  Nature is the emphasis.

All of this permeates life and self.  It's an infusion of inspiration.

Aspen Mountain
30" x 15"
Acrylic on Canvas
800.

To see additional Leaf paintings Click Here

To see additional Tahoe Rock and Water paintings Click Here

Expression

Express Yourself

Pears and Apples

Palette Knife Painting

Sometimes it is so very easy to express yourself...with words, with deeds, with paint, paper, sticks, stones...whatever.  Other times it seems so difficult.    The other day was one of those difficult days, so I decided to experiment, do something different.  Take an old painting that was a failure, gesso over, and pick up a palette knife! Something I have not done for many years.  I like my brushes.

Detail: Pear and Apples

 The pears and apples were still in the studio, so I started slathering on the pigment while observing the fruit.

Detail:  Pear and Apples

The palette knife dictates application of solid color, simplified shapes, heavy application of the paint.

When all was done I realized I had enjoyed the process of expressing myself, but I do still love the brushes.

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It Really is Fall

Like A Light Switch

Mother Nature threw the switch.  Last week I was kayaking and swimming in the lake.  Today snow is flying through the air, and I refuse to believe it is winter.  
It's Fall.

Looks a lot like winter...

As I mentioned in my last post, Fall fruits are showing up in the market, and making their way into my studio and onto the canvas.

Piles of crisp apples in the market....

My painting palette is changing.

Leaves on the trees are changing color.

Fall Aspen Leaf

16x20

Acrylic on Canvas

Baked apples and ginger cookies are coming out of the oven.

Yummy ginger cookies...


The house and studio are filled with delicious aromas.
And though a dusting of snow surrounds us, it really is Fall.

Fall Fruit

Apples and Pears

Three Pears on a White Cloth
8" x 10"
Acrylic on Canvas Board

Nature's fall fruits are beginning to show up in the market, and yes the summer fruit is still there, but the allure of the change in the season is too much to resist.   


Naturally these Fall fruits end up in my studio and on the canvas.  

Results of the Giveaway

Thanks to All!

To those of you you took the time to 'like' my Artist's Facebook page, thank you.

To Christine, whose name was pulled in the draw, congratulations.  Beets Entwined is on it's way to you.

Have a relaxed, productive, creative weekend.