“A pencil is quiet, clean, odorless, inexpensive, and lightweight. I can slip it in my pocket and take it with me everywhere – my secret friend.”
Sherry Camby
My Secret Friend…
artistic process
Old Paintings and the Wondrous Elasticity of Time
.
It has been many years since I’ve worked on this painting.
Maybe even a decade.
Yet, here at my easel..
it could have been yesterday.
I remember everything.
I dive in without hesitation..
effortlessly matching the subtle shades
of complex color
perfectly.
Seems I have never left you.
Trust the gift.
Clean Teeth and the Art of Visiting Trees
I arrived early for my teeth-cleaning appointment
to visit my favorite seedpod tree.
I was disappointed to see it had been trimmed recently..
with all its magnificent treasures far out of reach.
Nevertheless, I was determined.
Finding a long, sturdy stick
I jumped up..
whacking at the branches above my head
until I was able to finally knock one loose.
You’ll find a lot of these seedpods
in my paintings..
It’s where I keep all the things I love.
Little Canvases and the Wondrous Experience of Painting Small
.
I love painting small.
It is an remarkable experience..
wondrous and intimate.
Leaning in close
with tiny brushes..
I can unleash my soul
onto a canvas
that can fit
in the palm of my hand.
Painting and the Art of Losing Control
.
Sitting at my easel painting,
everything is moving along as expected..
then suddenly I’m using the wrong color
the wrong brush.
I am adding strange objects..
lines twisting across my canvas
in bold, strong strokes..
I have lost control.
I never fight these impulses..
this is what happens
when God steps in.
Painter’s Tape and the Art of Being Frugal
My favorite old scrubby brush
was getting too splintery to hold..
so I wrapped it in painter’s tape
and went back to work.
Embracing Bliss and the Art of Painting Slow
.
I spend a lot of time on my paintings.
The days and hours
slip seamlessly into
weeks, months
and years.
Time ceases to exist
as I linger over every inch of the canvas
retracing lines
adding layer after layer
of color…
lovingly,
in my state of bliss.
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I don’t fundraise off my blog, use Patreon or ask for donations. If you would like to help support The Secret Kingdom, and brighten my day – please buy a book.
Thank you!
The Creative Process and the Art of Watching Paint Dry
.
When I paint,
I spend a lot of time staring at my work.
It is an essential part of the artistic process.
Leaning back in my chair
I contemplate every line..
Examining shape, color and shadow
exploring possibilities.
I could do this for hours..
just sitting here
watching paint dry.
.
.
.
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If you would like to help support this blog, and brighten my day – please buy a book.
Thank you!
Raw Umber and the Art of Saying Goodbye
Goodbye,
my beloved tube of Raw Umber.
I will see you again
in the rough bark of trees,
in the shadowy corners of secret rooms..
dark and deep.
I will see you again
on the tip of my brush
and at the start of every painting..
when we meet again
like old friends.
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If you would like to help support this blog, and brighten my day – please buy a book.
Thank you!
Runaway Trains and the Art of Breaking the Spell
I get carried away when I paint..
This is not always a good thing.
Doing detail work
with a ragged paintbrush..
stuck in the zone
and unable to stop.
I am a runaway train heading for disaster.
“Stop!” I shout,
attempting to startle myself out of my trance.
Sometimes it works..
sometimes, it doesn’t.
The other night, in desperation
I whipped the glasses off my face and threw them at my table.
Hard to keep painting when you can’t see.
.
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If you would like to help support this blog, and brighten my day – please buy a book. Thank you!
The Secret Kingdom 