Cloud in Heat Wave

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It was barely tolerable in the heat yesterday and that continues today. I had to stay in the shade to diagram for this painting, even though it takes only minutes at most. I love these giant summer clouds that rise over tree lines. You can see what the scale of the picture is like.

Heat Wave, July

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I spent the day searching for shade. There was a bit here, provided by canopy from the country laneway. These days of extreme heat and no rain always feel dangerous, but I like to be out in them.

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Some Spring Paintings

Recently the Millbrook, Ontario printmaker, George Raab gave my some various sizes of Arches paper that he couldn't use for his large prints, and I'm really enjoying painting on the unprimed surface; it's very intimate and responsive. In some cases a thin wash goes in as an undercoat, and sometimes a last stage of pencil work is used to help tie things together. The little paintings seem to be getting a bit bigger...yikes!....but still not bigger than 11 x 15 inches. Thank you, George!

Garden Hill

This is a special hill that has been painted many times, in all seasons and all weather conditions. On the day this was made, I made a trip just to this site with the intent of painting this subject. That's not usual for me....usually I have no idea what will happen or what I'm looking for.

My preference is that the process maintain a very easy flow and a good sense of mystery. I don't really want to know too much about what will happen....when I DO end up knowing too much, making the painting can turn out oddly oppressive and less alive. I like pleasing surprises at every stage. Here, the last stroke to the painting was the horizontal bit of white on the top of a cloud mid right sky....it lent solidity to the whole painting.

At a certain point, the painting is about mechanics....how much of this to how much of that? It turns out I am really a painter of blobs....I like making a paint blob and moving it around....whatever else the painting is, it's a pleasing arrangement of blobs.