Land of light

"New Mexico, land of light," 5 x 7 watercolor

New Mexico more than enchants me...it heals...the body, the mind, the soul.

After this past dark year of biologic, racist and social pandemics,  we needed more than our vaccinations. Our recent trip was good medicine in so many ways. Long a destination for healthy living, for TB cure, or the healing soil of the Santuario de Chimayo, New Mexico's atmosphere has miraculous effects.

"It's the light," my father used to say, describing New Mexico. Dry air, high altitude, rugged country and vast skies all become more intense. So does color.

It's no accident that art and creativity also  thrive in New Mexico. I believe there are places of power on earth, where the connection between the now and spiritual eternity is thin, and New Mexico seems to host many of them. It's no wonder, that while there, I realized with the Creator so close, of course creativity flourishes.

We're back home...healthier physically and mentally in a long time, and after a dormant period, art begins to stir again.

Today's watercolor, New Mexico, land of light, land of color, 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico rough press paper.

Solstice Mood

"Solstice," 5 x 7 watercolor, 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico rough press

 The longest day of the year has come and gone this week. A full moon crosses the sky. Summer descends in force. Brilliant light brings brilliant colors, and moods to match. Life blossoms..

Today's second watercolor, because we moderns often forget the influence, the importance of  summer solstice.

Because, Color

"Because," 5 x 7 watercolor, 140 Lb. fabriano Artistico rough press paper

The answer?

"Because, that's why." You've heard that as a child from your parents. Sometimes simple answers are the best, and you learned to accept them.

In our complicated world, there seem to be no simple answers, and that's normal. Very little in our lives is an either/or situation. Those who think  so become fanatics and extremists, as we can see repeatedly these days. 

But there is an honesty in a direct answer, not mincing words, or evading direct answers as politicians do when a simple "Yes" or "No" would do.

One of today's watercolors, in response to the previous one, "Why Not." 

Because. Color can speak directly. 

Why not?

"Why not?" 5 x 7 watercolor, 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico rough press

 Healing. 

Good medicine.

Vibrant color in  drab times, life and world.

"In the beginning God(s) created color." "In Him was the color of the world."

Why not? After all, what is light but colors. No light, no color. 

The more color, the more creativity, the closer to the creators of color.

Healing. Good medicine.

Why not?

Today's 5 x 7 watercolor.

Don't take my Kodachrome away

"Kodachrome," 8 x 10ish watercolor, 300 lb. d'Arches rough press paper

When there are blahs, or whatever other names there are, we need bright colors

That was certainly true during this past year and a half of  pandemics  of violence, disease, death and dangers to democracy.

It still is now for many thousands around the world for nations. And as the search for "normal" weighs down the days, also for individuals trying to cope with untold emotions

A favorite song comes to my mind, harking back to the turmoil of the Vietnam years.

"They give us those nice bright colors,

Give us the greens of summers

Makes you  think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah...

So mama, don't take my Kodachrome away."

--Simon and Garfunkel

Thus today's watercolor, the first in a while, trying to escape the blahs.