Blowing in the Wind

The answer my friend is blowing in the wind. The answer is blowing in the wind. What answer? Before I attempt that, I will share the purpose of this post and blog. And, I want to welcome new readers here too. Let’s get to it.

Spaces and Places in Between

Welcome new readers! Each year, I select a theme for my weekly paintings. This year’s is “Spaces and Places in Between.” This year I plan to expand on last year’s theme. 2021’s theme was “Small Spaces Special Places“. Since we were all spending a lot of time in or close to home last year, it made sense to me to keep paintings small and simple.

This year I am ready to expand, maybe even explode the size of my paintings! Why? I want more room to paint! And, when there’s more room, specifically bigger panels, there’s more room to think about space, too.

But I will continue to do drawings and smaller value and gouache studies everyday. Why? I really enjoy doing them. And, I find they contribute to my paint handling skills.

As for actual topics in paintings? This week’s painting is a subject I love to do! Leaves? Yes leaves. I found these two leaves on a morning dog walk. They’re HUGE and lovely. The American Sycamore tree that shed these leaves is around the corner from our house. I’ll share more below.

Anyway, if you are not subscribing to this blog yet and think you might enjoy a weekly dose of unique artwork with a dash of color and musings on life, sign up here. Let’s get to this week’s topic!

What’s Blowing in the Wind

Even though most of the trees are bare around here. There are still plenty of leaves. And, even though the leaves are on the ground, I love seeing them and picking them up on my morning dog walks. Also, I can imagine what the leaves might look like as they float and swing back and forth to the ground.

This week’s painting of leaves conjured up the protest song sung by Peter, Paul and Mary and written by Bob Dylan.

Why? Oh geeze, let me count the ways. I’m not here to rant by the way. I’m here to share paintings that I hope delight and inspire. And, I also want to share a glimpse of life here in the studiooo. But indulge me to share just one stanza of this song:

How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, ‘n’ how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, ‘n’ how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
-Bob Dylan

The Answer is Blowing in the Wind

Right? I’m afraid that’s the best answer I can give to this ever presence problem of social and environmental injustice. Here’s hoping someone with better communication skills can initiate changes to feed the answer. I, for one, know that my best effort is to look and paint and share what I paint with you here.

Blowing in the Wind Details

This is a 6×8 inch painting on linen panel. I’m excited to share that, technically, it represents one of the goals I have been striving towards. That is, I love (love!) love the buttery nature of oil paint. And, I am eager to create work that has beautiful, downright juicy brush strokes.

As I thought about the song and imagined these leaves actually blowing in the wind, I mixed up the ‘wind.’ What? You might be asking? I wanted the spaces around the leaves to communicate the wind. So as I worked, I would load up my brush with paint, apply one stroke, step back and evaluate. In an ideal world, this is how I paint the entire painting.

It may sound tedious to you. But, it’s a path to that blissful zone we creative types tend to seek out everyday. And, shazam it happened with this painting for sure.

For Sale

Yes this sweet painting is for sale for $192 + shipping + taxes. This includes a frame so it’s ready to hang on your wall. To purchase simply click on the PayPal button below.

What’s Blowing in the Wind with You

How about you, gentle reader? Have you noticed issues that concern you and conjure up the song “Blowing in the Wind?” Oh I would love to hear more about it. Please do share in the comments below and thank you!