You might remember the painting I began at the beginning of the pandemic that freaked me out so much that I didn’t want to paint it. It seemed to be a grim picture of a friend looking into the vast and terrifying unknown.
I started working on it again a couple of days ago.
I realized, while painting, that when you put a human being in a painting you will end up with a story. No person, no story. I saw all the directions this story could take and it was very tempting to paint a very powerful scary painting. I decided I didn’t want to.
It’s based on a photo from a moment in a March day that was really great. I called my friend to ask if she wanted to out and look for cranes with me. I picked her up in my NEW CAR and we headed out to the wildlife refuge. The cranes weren’t where I expected them to be, but I had another possible destination in mind. On the way to that second spot, we saw this amazing, immense dead cottonwood tree. My friend wanted a photo and when I saw her taking her photo, I saw the whole scene and took my photo. We continued on and ended up seeing thousands of cranes.
That’s truly one of the best things that can happen in the Big Empty. The painting is a long way from finished, but I think I like it fine, so far.
It’s a very large panel. To take a photo, I had to climb up on a step ladder.
Women's Wilderness Legend “Summer is the season of inferior sledding” - Inuit proverb 
It’s beautiful!
😍
😊
it’s really turning into something beautiful
Thank you 😊 I hope so!
I love what you have here, I can only imagine what it will look like when you are finished. Can I say it, you are massively talented!
Thank you. ❤ You made my day.
I love it so far. I have to agree with the insertion of people – it does then become a narrative of lives… But this sky is enough to get lost in.
I get lost in it as often as possible. ❤
I like it fine too, Martha.
❤
Might be interesting to leave the person a solid white silhouette.
Then it would be a scary painting.
Love the painting – and, yes, a person = a story. Even better 🙂
Thank you. It’s funny how much responsibility I feel toward that little figure in all that space.
You’re welcome. And I get it. ❤️
❤ I haven't figured out WHO she's going to be yet. My friend was dressed all in black which is a dramatic statement, but is that what I want the painting to say? Is that the story? I don't know…
Since you’re the one with the brush, you get to decide what this picture will say. 🙂 Looking forward to seeing what you do!
I am liking this, too! Be careful on that step ladder:)
Seriously. I hate climbing up, but at 5’1″ sometimes I have to…
Me, too. I always think, “What if…?”
Ha ha ha! I had to use my reacher to tell Tu Fu where he needs to reach now that he’s 8 feet tall… It worked.
Stunning! Love the vibrant colors and underlying message of uncertainty.
Thank you! Somewhere there’s a post showing it finished. Since this place doesn’t scare me, I was a little uncomfortable painting it as a scary place…
Acrylics? Or is this oil? You are talented.. scary painting or not.
It’s oil. Most of the paint I’ve used is made of natural pigments. The deep blue in the sky is ultramarine made with real lapis. Under that is cerulean blue. The ultramarine is magical, transparent and cooperative. Only the hat and jacket on the woman are synthetic colors. I lucky enough to get to live in this landscape in Colorado. 🙂
Yes you are and love the hues of blue! Cerulean blue was a favorite of legendary painters and so you are clearly in great company.
It’s a truly beautiful color. 🙂
https://marthakennedy.blog/2020/08/22/finished/
That’s a beautiful end product! ❤️
Thank you. ❤