Seven Blues, for artists

"Blue Tree," 5 x 7 acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas

Favorite color is blue, and I find I use more blue paint than any other. 

And there are so many hues.  I ran across these quotes today, and had to follow Gauguin's advice. So here it is, courtesy all the blues I have,  Ultramarine, Cobalt, Prussian, Phalo, Cerulean, Teal  and Turquoise speaking to me.

 "If you see a tree as blue, then make it blue."

― Paul Gauguin.

"I never get tired of the blue sky."

― Vincent Van Gogh.

"The sky was a midnight-blue, like warm, deep, blue water, and the moon seemed to lie on it like a water-lily, floating forward with an invisible current."

― Willa Cather, 'Sunrise On The Prairie.'

Enchanted Season

"Enchantment," 5 x 7 watercolor holiday greeting cardAdd caption

"Be clearly aware of the stars and infinity on high. Then life seems almost enchanted after all."--Vincent Van Gogh

How long since you've been enchanted? 

This year of pandemic, racism, violent storms, and political chaos has seemed almost devoid of  that emotion. But

On social media, have you seen the wedding photos, the photos of parents with new born? Enchantment in wonder, smiles and eyes. Have you viewed nature up close, the aspen, the changing leaves?  Enchantment, in spite of the rest of the world. 

I grew up in New Mexico, aptly named "Land of Enchantment." It still enchants me. especially in the mountains, when I can look up into the night sky and see the stars.

And,  though this year will be different, the holidays approach, a traditional season of enchantment. Thus today's watercolor, plus of course, my cabin in the mountains. Enchanted.

Starry Night Cabin fever

"Starry Night," 5 x 7 watercolor card

When winter closes in, as cold as the stars, with short days, long nights, and rain or snow...
Cabin fever? Tis a season for the warmth of solitude, for quiet, for thought, for memories.
All you need is a cat or dog, a fire, a loved one, books, stories, imaginations, poetry.

"That does not keep me from having a terrible need of - shall I say the word - religion. Then I go out at night to paint the stars."
   - Vincent Van Gogh in a letter to his brother

The Starry Night

Anne Sexton

Inspired by Van Gogh's painting

"The town does not exist
except where one black-haired tree slips
up like a drowned woman into the hot sky.
The town is silent. The night boils with eleven stars.
Oh starry night! This is how
I want to die.

"It moves. They are all alive.
Even the moon bulges in its orange irons
to push children, like a god, from its eye.
The old unseen serpent swallows up the stars.
Oh starry starry night! This is how
I want to die:

"Into that rushing beast of the night,
sucked up by that great dragon, to split
from my life with no flag,
no belly,
no cry."