The Heron

This painting was done over a year ago after hiking with my brother Cliff along the Manistee River. Cliff was nice enough to slow his pace so that I could stop every now and then and take photographs. This painting is a representation of some of the planted tree rows along the trail. Their unnatural look caught my attention. This may have never seen the light of day if Bethany from Davinci’s Gallery hadn’t selected it from my portfolio. It’s currently on display at the LCVA Gallery. Although it may be of interest to some people I only see it as a path to a style I’m trying to call my own. A later painting which I titled, “Trillium Gap” is a further example of my fascination with repetition and verticals. James Freeman told me he liked “Trillium Gap” because it reminded him of some of the woodcuts from the Arts and Crafts movement. I am familiar with the architectural arts and crafts style but not very familiar with arts and crafts woodcuts so I researched it a little and noticed the similarity. I looked at some of Arthur Wesley Dow’s work and it raised my eyebrows. Like Dow, I admire Japanese paintings. I also prefer to emphasize line and color as opposed to realism. I was so inspired by Dow’s work I’m going to try another rendition of Trillium Gap, only larger and more in the arts and crafts style. I’m even considering purchasing a starter wood carving set to try my hand at some woodcut prints.

As Norman Maclean’s father stated about fly casting, “it is an art that is performed on a four-count rhythm between ten and two o’clock”. The book, “A River Runs Through It” is still my favorite book for many reasons. For me, fly fishing is more than just a hobby and the book reinforces how it can be thought of as a religion. I love the quote, “that man by nature was a mess and had fallen from an original state of grace…As for my father I never knew whether he believed God was a mathematician, but he certainly believed God could count and that only by picking up God’s rhythm’s were we able to regain power and beauty”. I am fascinated by rhythm in nature. .

Trinity is the name of this little painting. It’s a rusty little painting and that’s pretty much how I feel. Spring has sprung, and I’ve pronounced war against my yard once again. Last saturday I got a nice battle scar on my forehead from an Oak tree branch while mowing. The weekend before that i spend about 12 hours in one day cutting and burning brush. It’s a tough job that doesnt get any easier with age and my body doesnt bounce back like it used to. As far as this painting goes it did turn out rusty. I intended to paint some rusty colored flies tonight but I didnt expect it to turn out this way. Actually I didnt expect it to turn out any particular way. I’ve sort of abandoned the whole notion of trying to paint the images in my mind. I usually abandon that image about 2 minutes into a painting and just go with where the painting takes me. If I listen to my body, it’s telling me to take it easy, open up a cold labatts and chill out for awhile. Tomorrow I’ll make another attempt at a few more flies.

Where have all the architects gone? I was once an architect student in college before I switched to Industrial Design. Even though I decided against that career there’s still a part of me that enjoys studying architecture. One of my favorite websites to visit is www.adrianarchitecture.com . I took Peter Barr’s tour last year during Adrian’s Maple City Fest. There’s actually a tour map that you can use to take the tour yourself if you’re so inclined. Anyway, I love that kind of stuff. I admire the people who spend the time to buy these old houses in order to bring them back to life. My favorite styles are probably the craftsman, Greek revival and Romanesque. Sure these houses are a big challenge to refurbish, BUT the results are worth it in my opinion. If you take the architectural tour behind City Hall you’ll also find that the streets were modified to create an ideal place for children to run around. That’s what neighborhoods are all about!

So why all this talk about architecture? Well, I’m wondering why all houses have to look the same these days? I painted “Little Boxes” for the LCVA Box Show Auction last Fall. It represents my feelings concerning all the vinyl sided little boxes cropping up all over the place. I understand why people buy them and I cant really blame them. You can buy a brand new vinyl sided box for less than an old clunker downtown. People buy box houses for the same reason people shop at Walmart and that’s $$$. So what’s the problem? Well there are a bunch! But, here’s the one I feel like complaining about today. Small farmers cant compete with megafarms, just like the corner store cant compete with Walmart. So, when it’s time to retire how can you blame them for selling their land to developers? And, developers make out like bandits when they can subdivide the land into a thousand quarter acre lots and put up cookie cutter homes as fast as they can. Building cookie cutter homes keeps the costs down and allows them greater profits…..So they can buy up more farm land and start all over again, and again, and again. Why would anyone want to pay more for an older house? Well, for one I kinda like farm land. I grew playing in open fields. I wonder what’s going to happen to Lenawee County when all the farm land is gone? And, what about the older homes? Should we just write them off and bulldoze them over? Who cares about those old junkers anyway? I care. I guess I’m stubborn like that. And, the painting “Little Boxes” is not about the cute little song. To me the little houses on the hillside represent little locusts eating up all the countryside.

Kayleen and I just got back from the Smoky Mountains visiting my parents. Last week went by fast, way too fast. Due to some unfortunate events we only got to hike one day, which happened to be the last day of our trip. We hiked the 1.1 miles to Grotto Falls. We couldn’t believe how many people were on the trail. The trailhead was packed. I thought I had picked a trail that was out of the way but apparently not. The walk to the falls was the best part of the whole hike. I love the smell of the trees, moss, dirt and rocks. We’re not in the best shape of our lives but we managed to get to the falls rather quickly. I was surprised at how many people commented about how far it seemed. I wouldnt call those people too dedicated to hiking if they thought the 1.1 miles was a long hike. Compared to the Appalachian Trail from Fontana to Newfound Gap this trail was a cakewalk…especially when doing it without 35-40 lbs on your back. Anyway, the falls were beautiful…BUT also very crowded with people. We didnt stay long. We took the typical pictures and left. It was nice to get back to the trail where there were fewer people. Well, I had stopped along the way and noticed how beautiful the pines looked standing tall in the woods with light coming through from the back. I took a picture of course. And, the first watercolor sketch I did when I got home was this small painting of those trees along the trail.