"When dawn spreads its paintbrush on the plain, spilling purple... ," Sons of the Pioneers theme for TV show "Wagon Train." Dawn on the mythic Santa Fe Trail, New Mexico, looking toward Raton from Cimarron. -- Clarkphoto. A curmudgeon artist's musings melding metaphors and journalism, for readers in more than 150 countries.

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Visions of Beauty

"Purple Mountains One," 8 x 10 watercolor, 140 lb. cold press paper

"Purple Mountains Two," 8 x 10 watercolor, 140 lb. cold press paper
It's easy to forget these days that America can be beautiful, except perhaps for the grace and courage of those facing danger every day for the benefit of fellow citizens. They, not politicians and inept rulers, make America beautiful.
I started thinking about the song, America the Beautiful, specifically about the purple mountains and spacious skies calling to me to get outside, to once again be able to enjoy the natural beauty of our land. It's important that we not forget...in fact beauty intensifies in times of ugliness.
"O beautiful for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain
For purple mountain majesties
Above thy fruited plain"
I had a hard time translating that into a painting that was not corny or trite, and after several tries, I came up with two visions, one more abstract. Which do you prefer? 
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