Morristown Art - Pen, Ink & Watercolor - Fall Tree

“In every change, in every falling leaf there is some pain, some beauty. And that's the way new leaves grow.”
― Amit Ray

Monday was a day of bad news. Ugh. Tuesday was a day of dealing with Graduation stress (seems like my vendors have problems with the belts I need EVERY TIME.) So I definitely needed some art therapy tonight. Back over the spring and early summer I created a triptych of Spring Trees using pen, ink and watercolor. Tonight I decided to use the same technique to create a Fall Tree. Trying to mix a little beauty in with the pain and stress, and hopefully grow a new and better attitude. Pen, Ink & Watercolor on 8x8 paper.

Morristown Art - May Thru July

Its been too long since I posted. Summer has been slow for painting, but I have managed to get a few things done. I'm posting a few paintings from May thru June below:

Lavender

Yellow Flowers

Field Of Lavender

Orchids

Pen, Ink & Watercolor Tree

Pen, Ink and Watercolor Spring Tree

Pen, Ink and Watercolor Spring Tree II

Pen, Ink and Watercolor Spring Tree Series

Hummingbird

Hummingbird

Watercolor Bird

Morristown Art - Catching Up On A Few More Creations

A few more of my creations I have shared on Facebook but forgotten to blog recently.

Watercolor Flowers On 4x6 Paper

Spring Blossoms On 6x8 Paper

Winter Hunter On 6x8 Paper

Spring Field On 6x8 Paper

Lone Fisherman On 6x8 Paper

Flowers On 6x8 Paper

Watercolor Flamingo On 12x12 Canvas

Morristown Art - Spring Redbud

This is a "catch-up" post for a piece I shared on Facebook March 18th.

"There is no glory in star or in blossom til looked upon by a loving eye." - William Bryant


Spring. Time for blossoms. One of my favorite times of year.

 I cannot wait for the trees and wildflowers to begin to blossom in earnest. The quote I reference above talks about the glory in blossoms (and other wonders) not truly being realized until looked upon with love and appreciation.

Its a wonderful symbiosis.

Gazing on those spring blossoms doesn't just reveal the glory of nature. The beauty of those blossoms is what helps open our hearts up to joy, love and appreciation in the first place.

Love and joy are the true glory.

Spring Redbud - Pen, Ink & Watercolor On 6x8 Paper

Morristown Art - Grinding Ink & Relaxing

This is a "catch-up" post from a piece I shared on Facebook March 20th.

One of my favorite parts of brush painting is grinding ink. The rhythmic grinding of the ink stick against the stone usually, along with some controlled breathing, helps me to loosen up and relax. 

Usually. 

I wanted to try some bamboo today, so I got out my stick and my stone and started grinding away.

But I forgot to slow down and focus on the moment, to focus on the grinding. My mind was overwhelmed with the pressures of the past weeks and the weeks to come. My mind was chaos. So of course I found myself gripping the ink stick with what I would describe to my junior karate students as a "Grip Of Doom."

For the first time ever, I snapped the ink stick in half. Yikes. Wake up call. Good grief, here I was about to attempt to paint bamboo, the plant synonymous for flexibility and relaxation, and I'm all rigid and tense.

I think I managed to recover. I slowed my breathing, dialed my grip on the stick down by a factor of about 1000, and finished grinding my ink. I don't think I achieved the perfect "zone" by any means, but I did find myself in a better place with a more relaxed attitude, and I enjoyed working the bamboo, and even the leaves (which is huge for me!)

How much better would our lives be if we could maintain a state of focus and relaxation like that?

 How much more pleasant would things be if we didn't need breaking something, if we didn't need snapping, as a wake up call to slow down and just BREATHE, to RELAX, to be in, and enjoy, the moment for what it is.....

Bamboo Brush Painting On 12x18 Watercolor Paper

Morristown Art - First Tree Of 2015

Haven't painted any little trees in a while. This is my first of 2015. Didn't quite turn out how I wanted. I am still learning how these new QOR watercolors mix and flow.

Watercolor Tree on 6x6 Paper

Morristown Art - A Few Recent Paintings