A Pause to Drink the Season

"GreenWood", watercolor on paper, 15in X 22in, VClaff 2013

These are joyful, slow days in the forest. Lammas, the first harvest festival in 
the pagan wheel of the year, brings a celebration of flowers to my garden. Deep 
in the forest, the green, filtered light is extraordinary and the mosses gleam with 
the abundance of moisture this season. I watch as light creeps over branches, 
streams through leaves and illuminates one small spot on a tree. In a moment, 
it fades and travels on, finding its way over the canopy and as far beneath as 
the branches allow. Dark and damp and mysterious places remain hidden, even 
while the fields are aglow with goldenrod and all seems revealed. 

"Ghost Tree", watercolor on paper, 15in X 22in, VClaff 2013

In the studio, I feel the mystery seeping into my work with ghostly trees and 
the magical, green light of ferns and mosses. My production has slowed, as 
I have a clearer sense of my process with this new work. I understand what 
is possible with technique and open to the infinite-seeming possibilities of image. 
I love that there seems so much to explore with this work, I can trust that it 
will keep me going. 

"Earthlight", watercolor on paper, 15in X 22in, VClaff 2013

As the weather has cooled to warm and sunny, but not humid, and the flowers 

and bees and butterflies dance in my small clearing, I come to a moment of pause. 

Having made a huge amount of work in the studio, and finished nearly all the 

outside projects, I find myself needing to stop. It feels appropriate for the season, 

like a flowering plant having put all the energy towards the flower, and now that 

it blooms, there is a pause before the energy begins to sink again towards the 

roots. Crickets buzz in the late afternoon, juncos bathe in the stone bowl in the 

woodland garden, and Pasha and I find shady spots to be still and drink in the 

abundance of the year. 

If you'd enjoy a peek at a sampling of the new work all together, visit my art web 

site at www.valerieclaff.com  I've been uploading much of the new work there and 

find it interesting to look at in a group. 

Its a perfect moment for visits from friends and family this week and next - a 

perfect moment to nourish my body with herbs from the garden, berries from 

the forest and the colors, shapes and forms of high summer - a perfect moment 
to pause and reflect and rest in the exuberant embrace of flowers. 

Do you see Pasha in his cool hiding place below?

One small friend just never seems to get enough time outside. 

This is the usual scene just after his pre-dusk curfew.

Forest Paintings and an Afternoon Walk

new work, VClaff 2013

new work, VClaff 2013

new work, VClaff 2013

Having had the week off from teaching, most of my time was spent in 

the studio, painting. I'm continuing to explore the forest paintings, playing 

with scale and technique and finding the balance of subtlety and drama. I need 

to keep painting and exploring before I really know this work well. The long, thin 

format is interesting for the forest theme, I think. But I've also made some square 

and don't feel the need to limit myself to one format only.  

My studio assistant has really taken to his little bed. In fact, I seem to have to 

convince him that occasional outside jaunts are good for both of us. 

  

  

The week brought a mixture of lovely, sunny and stormy days, adding to the 

mountains of snow piled high around the house and in the driveway. I think 

the snow might have influenced the next three paintings. 

new work, VClaff 2013

new work, VClaff 2013

new work, VClaff 2013

detail, painting in progress

cropping to generate ideas

Today was warm and sunny, the snow fell from the trees in great, muffled thunks, 

water dripped from icicles and dripped endlessly on the metal roof. There was no 

resisting the call of the forest, so I buckled on snowshoes and set out with my very 

adventurous cat friend. As soon as we were in the forest, he could not contain his 

excitement and raced up a big hemlock. 

He was certainly in an exploring mood today... or maybe he took every opportunity 
to get off of the cold snow. 

We came across a very large fisher's tracks. Its wonderful to know who's been 
wandering through and also puts me on high alert when walking in the forest 
with a potential meal for a large fisher. 

Pasha is also on high alert, as soon as we get to a particular point in the forest, 

he pays close attention to every sound. 

We ended our walk on the bench overlooking the clearing as usual, though 
today the bench seat was level with the snow, so I was rather wet and somewhat
uncomfortable with my knees up. 

The view from the bench...My, what a lot of snow!