Here at CampV, weeks two and three flew past so quickly that I neglected to post after week two – oops. No one will ever accuse me of being a social media influencer or maven, and I’m okay with that. 

I’ve never had this much uninterrupted, focused, creative time to think, research, and sketch. I’m amazed at the insight I’ve gained. My ideas for the next series are coming together and making sense. I’ve also started making digital collages from the hundreds of photos of the Dolores River and the surrounding landscape. So far, I’ve put over 1000 miles on my car while out taking those photos.

As far as painting outdoors, I’m slowly improving. I’ve only painted landscape studies, nothing finished. My last blog entry was about my first day working outside and how conditions were rough. I made a plan to work with the weather in the future. I did and began using loose charcoal to create drawings to cooperate with the wind rather than fight it. I’m now a fan of using loose charcoal on windy days and its unpredictable, free-wheeling messiness. The drawings are not phenomenal and will never hang in a gallery, and I look like I’ve been in a coal mine when finished. But for me, it’s play. PLAY! I’m a kid again, just noodling around with basic materials, experimenting, the wind snatching my drawing support, and throwing charcoal into my eyes. It’s a beautiful thing! The wind assists and beats me up a little, but we do it together. 

I’m not sure when I last genuinely played, really played, while making art. If an artist is not careful, being a full-time professional can take the fun out of it. The pressure to make good paintings that sell has, on occasion, totally killed my joy. I now remember why I wanted to be an artist in the first place and will do my best to hold onto the joy of play, experimentation, and wandering creativity, even when real or metaphorical winds blow. What’s ironic is that wind is my least favorite weather phenomenon. I feel restless and anxious on windy days and often remain indoors to avoid it. Now, it has taught me a valuable lesson, one that I hope to never forget. Thank you, wind. I like you, even if you are a bit of a bully.