Water Mill Sunset
In Water Mill, NY, there is a field one passes on a back road to the sea. Multimillion dollar homes are about a half a mile away, but the homes nearby have increased in value and are probably worth at least a million, although elsewhere they would be reckoned as average homes. The field is low enough that it is filled with sea a sea grass. Perhaps when the original farmers were here their cattle grazed on in the field.
|
For the moment the field is fallow,left to the wild sea weeds. It is someone's tax deduction, perhaps credited as a wet land. For now it exists, much as it always has, wild, even primal and seemingly eternal. When the sun sets over the field, it is a glorious sight.
The glory of the sunsets over this field comforted and inspired me as I would pass by this field daily, for about a month during a difficult time as this art theory, movement and ministry was just beginning. It was both a time of testing and learning and learning to walk closer and recognize and rely more on my source of inspiration – that “still small voice.” |
Water Mill Sunset
2004
Genesis: Sunset-Sunrise series
Strokes: Genesis 1-2:7. Deut .6:4
and "framed" by Psalm 8
18 x 24 inches
Acrylic on board
Click here to see image larger |
Although the paintings have been compared to Impressionist paintings for the vibrancy and action of the strokes, in fact the works are created slowly, with letters piled upon letters, interwoven just subsequent to the Water Mill Sunset, also used as glazes.
I was inventing the methodology for working with a letter for each stroke using acrylic paint. My own training was with oil paint and I was learning how to use acrylics more as the Old Masters had used oil. One day. When I have a large studio space, I would like to also use oils, but that would require space as I would need to leave each cannas or board to dry before I could begin the next layer. There are many, many layers
During this time I was working at a short-term temporary day job to bridge the gap until my initial funding came through. I was working as fill-in for a famous award winning actor whom I greatly respect for his courage as a human being, while his assistant was away, plus I was teaching him various computer programs. It was a job I enjoyed because the boss is such a dear, plus it was a kind of relaxing break from painting, which I continued to do once I returned home. I think it lasted six weeks until both my funding came through and the real assistant returned.
By then I was painting a work where I would discover the glazing techniques I use, plus I had also moved bravely to tackle a larger supports. As I have moved up in the size of paintings, my skill and courage has grown as much of each painting is created using the very smallest brushes available.
However, the painting, Water Mill Sunset, was also a breakthrough painting. The free flowing way that the grasses are painted using the name of the Lord was a breakthrough moment. Before that my strokes were usually far more ordered, in chains or precisely applied. The very way the grasses would blow in the late winter then early spring breeze inspired this. Although the Hamptons have a reputation for being green and lush, at this time, only evergreens are green. There are no leaves on the trees, no flowers and even the famous Hampton hedges are bare. My area has a wild, even stark beauty in the winter that has a peaceful feel.
January 10, 2007
|
