February 19, 2011

This past week brought heavy rain to the North Coast of California. We always need rain and the ranchers and farmers are happy to see it arrive. This kind of storm moves in across the Pacific and we can see it coming long before it reaches shore. Our then sunny California skies turn into a scene from "Macbeth" dark and gloomy. The lake and sea water turns dark and the trees are black outlines against the sky. All the birds are suddenly quiet, waiting.

The good thing about days like this is that more work gets done in the studio. I am not lured out into the garden but am able to concentrate on new art work. Lately I have started a series of seascapes. Living on the ocean gives me plenty of opportunity to see how sky and sea change constantly with shifts of light morning, noon and evening. This is a subject I haven't explored and find I am really enjoying the challenge.

During painting breaks I am at work on the "House in the Country" book and find it fascinating how each new idea informs the next. I see now that writing is just as absorbing as painting and I am looking forward to sharing the finished work.

        Sunny shores are overtaken by...............

      Darkening skies, a storm moving in

         Seascape #1    Afternoon

   Seascape #2  Morning

                                          House in the Country Book project laid out on my

                                           studio desk.

More rain is forecast for the coming week so now you know what I'll be doing to pass those rainy days of February.
Josephine