April 14, 2020
Winter storm watch today in much of western Montana. That kind of weather is not especially unusual for this time of year. But I’m in my studio mitigating the cool temperatures with an underpainting in warm colors. Cadmium yellow medium, perylene red, pyrol orange, and quinacridone magenta! I’m curious to see where this beginning leads.
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
“When it’s springtime in Alaska it’s forty below.”
~ Johnny Horton
With a little more home time on our hands one thing we can do is catch up on our reading!
I confess I’m an avid reader of about a book a week, and this one is my new favorite.
I think any artist will LOVE this book. Jerry Saltz is an extraordinary writer. I guess that’s why he was honored with the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 2018.
Buy this inspiring and very readable book.
Marshall
“Something got a hold on me right now. Oh, it must be love.”
~ Etta James
What is it about a barn that I find so appealing? I’m happy to say our barn, which actually looks more like a huge garage, holds loads of good memories for me. Horses, cats, hay, kids, and music!
Barns are, of course, iconic. Especially in the West, where they seem to pop up in the middle of nowhere. Although you midwesterners and easterners certainly can lay claim to some fine examples!
I guess when all is said and done I simply like to look at, draw, paint, and walk around barns once in a while.
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
“Well, I said, come along my baby, we got chicken in the barn. What barn? Whose barn? My barn.”
~ Big Maybelle
March 10, 2020
Before long we’ll be witnessing a cacophony of color here in Northwest Montana. Some of the bluest skies you can imagine. The bright chartreuse of the maple trees in bloom. And the almost unbelievable turquoise of the water in our lakes at springtime! Some of you know what I’m talking about. I’ll snap some pix. But for now I’m happily enjoying the pale blues and silvery grays of late winter.
Have a look!
Wet Morning | Oil on Canvas | 48×48
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
March 4, 2020
If you ever get the bright idea that it might be faster to get through a ski racecourse on your face instead of on your skis, make sure you’re wearing an International Ski Federation approved helmet.
I tried it last Sunday and found it to be less than an ideal way to navigate a slippery slope!
Also, it may be of interest to my fellow color lovers that any color of FIS approved helmet will provide the protection you need. Go for it!
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
February 25, 2020
Last week I posted the underpainting which was bold to the point of being out of control in my opinion. And in case you’re wondering, when it comes to my art, MY opinion is paramount!
Here’s how I resolved the color issues I created: cool payne’s gray over the gold ochre to establish warm / cool tension; warm portland gray over the viridian green for the same reason.
As much as I disliked the broad band of viridian in the underpainting, the glowing remains of that color really activate the bottom of the composition. Hints of pink are all that are left of that broad stroke of hotness! I wanted to draw the eye to the horizon with that visually demanding color.
Is it finished? Maybe.
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
“Well it’s all right now. I’ve learned my lesson well.
You can’t please everyone, so you’ve got to please yourself.”
~ Ricky Nelson
February 18, 2020
It may seem counterintuitive to begin a gray painting with colors this bright and unharmonious. But that’s how I like to do it. First I stir up some trouble on the canvas and then I try to regain control.
In this underpainting the seriously bad actor is the viridian at the bottom of the canvas. Fortunately the gold ochre acts as a referee, keeping that sick green away the magenta and pink. But further measures are needed to get THAT problem child to toe the line. This could be interesting!
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
“Right now I need a Telecaster through a Vibrolux turned up to 10!”
~ John Hiatt
February 14, 2020
I confess I’ve been derelict in my communicating lately. But two of my three daughters were visiting, and the snow on The Big Mountain was spectacular. That proved to be an irresistible combination for me. I simply HAD to go play with my kids. No surprise there I guess!
Now I’m back in the studio and walking down a path I’ve not traveled before. I’m cracking open tubes of paint in that lovely color gray!
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
It occurred to me not long ago that I’ve deliberately and unrepentantly avoided the use of any shade of gray in my paintings for as long as I’ve been using color! Not long after having had THAT thought, I stumbled across these words when re-reading Josef Albers’ Interaction of Color.
“Therefore, we try to recognize our aversions – what colors dominate in our work: what colors, on the other hand, are rejected, disliked, or of no appeal. Usually a special effort in using disliked colors end with our falling in love with them.”
In my case it took a special effort of 12 or 15 paintings before gray stopped feeling rejected, disliked, and of no appeal to me. But now, I must confess I am a zealous convert. I love gray!
“Not a trace of doubt in my mind. I’m in love. Now I’m a believer…”
~ Neil Diamond
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
January 21, 2020
I hope all of you can join us for an artist’s reception at The Myrna Loy Center in Helena, Montana this Friday from 5:30 ’til 7:00! My artist daughter Sarsten and I are honored with a two person exhibit through the end of February. Looking at the paintings for the show I was struck by our similar color sensibility. Even though our subject matter is very dissimilar, and we work in different mediums, there is a common thread.
The bond of color is a strong one!
Let’s keep in touch,
Marshall
