The Consolation of Clouds and Shadows

I had a long busy week. Spent some time out of town and another 8 hours working on my large piece. (Still not ready to show it!) I've been reading "The Accidental Masterpiece" by Michael Kimmelman which I have consumed heartily! In it he tells the story of the artist Jay DeFeo who spent 11 years working exclusively on The Rose. Over time she layered and enlarged the piece until by the time it was exhibited it weighed nearly a ton from all the accumulated pigment and grew to be eleven feet tall and eight feet wide, "built up at its thickest to eleven inches, like some geological formation." She called it "a marriage of painting and sculpture", adding that all she had in mind at the start was "an idea that had a center to it." I think it was her heart she was trying to reveal but I don't know if I am more impressed by her tenacious passion or intimidated by her singular drive and commitment. Her story is an inspiration in any case; she gave everything she had to offer to one piece of work until it was finished without shortcuts and only gut instinct as a guide. Another artist, Eva Hesse said "I think art is a total thing. A total person giving a contribution."
Yesterday evening in the studio I was thrilled that the weeks end had arrived with a face of clouds in the sky light and the grace to see and photograph the consolation and company of shadows. It was a definite synchronicity to my reading "The Accidental Masterpiece, On the Art of Life and Vice Versa". What a pleasure to see the studio itself as accidental masterpiece.

The yellow iris from my garden seemed more than content to provide a peaceful still life,

as did the wall clock.

My classic muse was the biggest show off! She went all out revealing abstracted blue light

and rose light

and beauty that touched my heart. I stayed in the studio until the shadows left.
Have a good week end everyone. Stop and see the shadows!