The Awakening

"The Awakening" - Oil - 20" x 24" - $2400

"Spring has a special brilliance and these yellow wildflowers rose to the occasion. I painted this with extra passion and energy." --- SFG

WORK IN PROGRESS:

Apologies. I forgot to take a shot in the drawing stage. As I drew, I paid attention to the shapes I was creating and to the perspective of the upslope. Here I've laid in some of the dark shapes of the foreground and the cooler, lighter, more distant hills and mountains. The big shrub in the upper left serves to stop the eye and provides value contrast and structure.



In preparation for the blooms to be laid on top, I painted the green leaves in a value close to that of the ground.



It was important to reserve the lightest, coolest yellow for the top surface of the blanket of flowers, so I under-painted the area with a warmer, darker yellow. I even picked up the red-orange areas that I saw in spots.



In the finished work, you can see the loaded strokes and the texture that I reserved for the finale. The pattern of the large and small strokes moves the eye around and creates a lively display. A little calligraphy for the shrubs finished the work.

A Day of Tears and Hugs

I was privileged to join others who so loved and admired Bill Reese (William F. Reese) in celebrating his life today at services in Cashmere, Washington. For all the fine tributes, nothing matched the poem he requested be read at his graveside in portraying his indomitable spirit and love of art...

WHEN EARTH'S LAST PICTURE IS PAINTED

When Earth's last picture is painted
And the tubes are twisted and dried,
When the oldest colors have faded
And the youngest critic has died,
We shall rest, and faith, we shall need it
Lie down for an eon or two
'Til the Master of all good workmen
Shall put us to work anew.
And those that were good shall be happy.
They'll sit in a golden chair.
They'll splash at a ten league canvas
With brushes of comet's hair.
They'll find real saints to draw from,
Magdalene, Peter, and Paul.
They'll work for an age at a sitting
And never be tired at all.
And only the Master shall praise us.
And only the master shall blame.
And no one will work for money.
And no one will work for fame.
But each for the joy of working,
And each, in his separate star,
Will draw the thing as he sees it
For the God of things as they are.

---Rudyard Kipling