Spring Shifting

Almost a month has passed since last I posted here. The snows finally melted, 

and warmer weather has come - but just barely. April did not bring lots of rain, 

and the wood stove was still burning for much of it. I have little work to show 

you - the last weeks of teaching seemed more demanding than usual, and then 

grading and ill friends to worry about and on and on. I've been unsettled with life

demands, many errands and paperwork, and have not had my usual diligent studio

schedule. The pinboard was cleared except for a few pieces that I want around to 

inform my next paintings, work that I'm interested in knowing better. 

I did get a few days work in and made a three panel painting. Its the middle piece 

in the image below. I was happy with the first layer, but not so with the next. 

Working quickly over the whole expanse went well at first, but I didn't take in 

the whole piece visually when I added the next layer. Having had some time away 

from it, its not as terrible as I thought, but it lacks the nuances of the two pieces 

above it that I am quite interested in. I suppose its time to buy a large roll of 

paper - the challenge might well have been from painting on three sheets together 

as opposed to one large one. 

Below is first wash layer, it had a lot of potential, oh well. 

I had some final details completed in the studio that, though seemingly small, 

finished off the space nicely. The plan had always been to put posts in the 

entry to separate it from the rest of the space. I'm happy with the results. A 

few more details - some coat hooks (natural branches is the plan) and a larger 

bulletin board, and the entry will be complete. When I am in there now, I feel 

something in the energy of the space has shifted, and I am needing to re-settle 

once a few important tasks are accomplished next week. 

With a wonderful new wooden post to play with, I got right to work, banging 

nails for brushes and hanging a lovely little plant-dyed silk bag made by Velma 

that my friend, Donna, sent me. They met at a bookarts fair in Maine where Velma 
was a vendor, what fun! The bag is hanging with some dried plants from last season.

A few more wonderful gifts have arrived in the mail, but I just realized I don't have 

photos of them yet. I am continually grateful for this blogging community... as I 

look around the studio, I see little cards, sculptures, pictures, poems, seedpods, 

notes and all kinds of inspiration from all of you. I had no idea when I began blogging 

a few years ago that there WAS such an inspiring, generous and amazingly gifted 

community waiting for me... thank you! Waaay back when I reached 300 followers 

I wanted to do another giveaway, now that number has climbed to 365. So, I hope 

to get something together soon to pay forward the generosity. 

The next images are out and about and in the forest, but just this week the leaves 

have come out and the ferns are unfurling. Wish me luck in selling a few things I've 

inherited - which will mean that I can focus on being a full-time artist this summer, 

and maybe not feel financially strapped for a change! I hope to be back after next 

week with good news to share and continuing with the new work. I wonder how the 

spring-green forest will influence the images?

Coltsfoot - flowers first, then the leaves. 

I took a few photos of myself in the forest to use for bios. 

From intense forest woman to more inviting - both useful.

Life is good for Pasha, long days outside and good naps on 

the porch make him a very contented kitty. 

Deep in the Forest

"Late Winter Forest",  watercolor, VClaff 2013

I've come to an important moment in the development of this new work. I've explored the possibilities of the technique, found its limits and understand a little better how to achieve a balance of allowing and controlling. Last week was particularly productive as I had a day off from teaching, which doesn't sound like much, but allowed a four day stretch to focus entirely on painting. 

"Winter Mists",  watercolor, VClaff 2013

All the small explorations have given me a confidence about what is possible, 

especially in the first wash layers. This week I began to play with sublte details

in the other layers as I get a clearer understanding of where I want to take the 

imagery. I also invested in a new brush (more expensive than you might think) 

which helps me achieve the detail I desire. I love the new brush, and now 

need a few more! I'm reminded of a chalk board in my father's woodshop that 

for years had the words - don't use cheap brushes - written on it. I completely 

agree. I have a good stock of very good brushes, but each way of working demands

specific tools, and as this work develops, I need different tools for different 

details. In the case of these paintings, each layer of paint demands a different 

kind of brush. 

"Winter Marsh",  watercolor, VClaff 2013

In the three paintings above, I'm getting at the essence of technique and image. 

In the top two, the subtle addition of dimensionality in the darker layer of trees 

suggests many directions I might go in. It seems the further I go with this work, 

the more expansive I feel. I am deep in the forest now, navigating by my intuition 

and possibly with the assistance of an unseen tree-spirit or two. 

Pasha is always there to guide me, too, though the last few days of cold and 

frozen percipitation, had him a tad on the grumpy side. On a particularly raw 

and wet day, I found him perched on the gas heater, enjoying the heat radiating 

off of the cast iron. 

 In contrast to the unfriendly week I posted about last time, this week has brought 

some lovely surprises! A gift in the mail from Grace at Windthread really made my 

day... a Grass Woman to add to the magic of my studio. She was placed on the 

windowsill temporarily until she finds her permanent place. When I looked at her 

later in the day, I noticed that she hadn't quite liked the position I had chosen for 

her, so instead, had leaned over and grabbed the candle holder. She is keeping 

company in the cozy corner with my sculpture Root Grandmother. I'm sure they are 

sharing many an important story about roots and grasses together. 

I'll leave you with a series of images from my walk yesterday... I walked slowly 

and found great pleasure in the last of the winter garden stocks and the vibrant

mosses now visible again as the snow melts.