All the recent images and footage of Vermont's rivers made me think a lot about the one I know the best, the White River. Here's a composite photo of the way it looked one winter morning when I was out for my usual walk; this is from the same bridge as in the first video a few days ago, right near our former house. I thought the black and white shapes of ice and water were especially beautiful, and have always been meaning to do an oil painting of this scene, sort of like this one, of an uphill scene a couple of miles away:
Jericho, Vermont, oil, (c) 1985 E. Adams
The trouble is, as beautiful as that river scene is -- the subtlety of the sky and island contrasted with the starkness of ice and dark water -- I'm no longer very interested in doing a realistic treatment of it. After thinking about potential landscapes for another semi-abstract relief print, I got out these photographs and began doing some exploratory drawings a couple of days ago.
Here's a first sketch, in pencil:
And here's one of several pen-and-ink studies:
That wasn't making it, but the ink drawings showed me what needed to be simplified and through them I could begin to see how the essential shapes related. I went home and thought about it last night, and today did the charcoal sketch below. I think it's a lot closer to where we're headed, but I don't know yet how I'm going to translate it into a print. I like the drawing though!
What an agonizing process, for an impatient person like me! But I'm starting to settle into it; this seems to be what's required! I appreciated Marly's thoughtful comment about how far certain types of art have moved from this sort of mind--and--handwork process, and how some artists are now moving back. Frankly, I think a lot of serious artists have always done a lot of preliminary work, and returned to certain subjects and motifs again and again.
Beth,
I love seeing this process. Recently took a class in encaustic and find that it's just what I've been yearning for with my photographs--the chance to actually get my hands dirty again. There's just something so satisfying at the end of the day after working like this.
Posted by: Mary | September 01, 2011 at 04:51 PM
What a glorious oil painting, Beth. You remind me of winter's beauty -- no small feat, as I resist the impulse to mourn summer's end. And I really like the charcoal sketch, too, and am eager to see how it becomes a print.
(I realize, as I write this, that I would like to own a piece of your work someday...)
Posted by: Rachel Barenblat | September 01, 2011 at 05:02 PM
I like that odd shape in the foreground very much. So the last rendition does not please me as much as the next to last one.
Posted by: Hattie | September 01, 2011 at 07:10 PM
I like the penultimate one a lot for the vigor (a sort of gyring quality as if the sky were connected to the earth that is not present in the last.) And I like the last for the shapes and sweep of the thing. Like them both, really.
Posted by: marly youmans | September 02, 2011 at 06:16 PM
just saw a wonderful piece on the news about Vermonters pulling together to help each other after the hurricane. It was a community meal with everyone pitching in.
Posted by: zuleme | September 02, 2011 at 07:46 PM
I love the black ink drawing- looks like a print already. Look forward to seeing the next stage.
Posted by: Natalie | September 04, 2011 at 08:37 PM
Very much appreciate everyone's feedback. I'm desperately trying to get my work done today so I can start a relief print of this image; I did another sketch and hope I've figured it out a bit more satisfactorily.
Posted by: Beth | September 05, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Like the last drawing a lot. You're really moving into Expressionist territory with the mood of it and the angularity. VERY pleasing!
Posted by: Clive Hicks-Jenkins | September 06, 2011 at 07:12 PM
I am enjoying your process in exploring painting, especially the way you show your transitions in trying out different mediums to simplify or fill out details, as in this river painting.
I am a closet painter - have explored it a bit - different mediums - I like to go to nature spots and sit and do a quick rendition of the moods of places, or have even been colouring in colouring books ... obviously need to get into it ha ha!! Thank you for your awesome sharing!
Julie
Posted by: Julie Michaud | September 11, 2011 at 05:52 PM