If you’ve been seeing my “Blank Slate” blogs, you’ve got some background on our time in Idaho. At the generosity of friends, the Aleixos, we’ve spent ten days in their lovely “cabin” making art.
The view from the back porch.
The cabin is situated on its own trout pond with views to live for. Seems we took this picture several times a day, every day, and it was always different.
A view of the front of the cabin.
Fall is a lovely time of year to be here, with trees turning color and leaves everywhere, like paper-thin diamonds graveling every path.
Anne put ten hours a day at this table, or more.
Inside, we made temporary rearrangements of things to set up our studio. As usual, we brought Anne’s “smaller” press, a tall work table, and all her printmaking paraphernalia.
My studio. The writing office off to the left.
It looks like “plein air” work going on, but the landscapes were from photos I’d taken, maybe moments before, then viewed on a computer screen. It’s just easier inside.
What a way to spend a vacation. But who said it was vacation?
Here we are working together, separately. With each of us concentrating, conversation during these periods would be minimal. Pandora music would be on, or sometimes it was just nicer, quiet. Note two palate tables for me, one for oils, the other for acrylics. Anne, of course, uses inks.
Twelve “smaller” works.
Anne generally brings pieces to finish that she’d started earlier. Here’s a final shot on the last day, after all the clean up.
Fifteen “larger” works.
Since the monoprints are made up of multiple layers, multiple passes through the press, sometimes with parts scavenged from other prints pasted in, and then details scratched out with an exacto knife, it’s quite labor intensive . . . each requiring a lot of time before she’s happy with a piece.
Eight landscapes on the hearth.
Here are the oil paintings, large and small. There were two others, not shown. All are from local scenes, right around the house. The oils I worked on during the first half of our stay, to allow drying time for transport. All painting was done in the afternoons (and sometimes evenings) while the mornings were dedicated to writing and book projects . . . though sometimes this reversed.
Fifteen barns, acrylic on canvas.
Once again, I worked on barns. It’s a year-long project, which I’ve been doing in spurts. There will be some 100 pieces, for a motel in Ames, Iowa.
Underpainting.
Here’s as close as I got to plein air (outdoor) painting. It’s not that at all really, but rather a place to make a mess on an experimental abstract. Some of that tall grass wanted to get right into the painting. It fit right in, so I let it be.
It’s about rain and snow, watering the earth.
Here’s how that one turned out. As you’ll see, almost none of those early colors survived, though in person, up close, hints are evident, which is the intent. Same with the bits of grass.
The day begins.
The start of every morning looked something like this. I didn’t know Anne snapped this, from where she sat, doing more-or-less the same thing. It was our meditation time, reading, jotting a few notes, maybe a little conversation, often prayers. It’s the same at home, but here with a different view.
Anne, thinking? Or watching her step.
Another daily ritual was the walk, sometimes down a dirt road or on a path over to the river . . . for exercise, conversation, the beauty, and just the air.
Everywhere you look, patterns and textures.
Here’s the Snake River, as it divides and reconnects through a series of islands. Always we saw fishermen on the river, either in boats, or with waders out in the water, using flies.
Last day, last light.
One more view out the back. As I said, every hour it was different . . . this one taken on the last day, the end of a very fruitful trip.
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Next:
Sandstone Gallery Show
For the month of November my work abstract figurative work will be featured at the Sandstone Gallery. The opening is during Laguna’s Art Walk, Thursday evening, November 5th, 6:00-9:00 p.m.
384 A North Coast Highway, Laguna Beach. One block north of the Laguna Art Museum, near the corner of Coast Highway and Jasmine.
Art Under Pressure
The only book quite like it, 120 pages of Anne’s prints as well as an explanation of the process.
A beautiful book to page through for inspiration and intrigue. $24.95.
Order on Amazon or directly through this website here.
Sketches of Italy
Another book that’s one of a kind. This one all drawings, done during a week in three cities, Rome, Florence, and Venice (as well as a day in Siena). The drawings are of other art works, classic architecture, or people on the streets . . . also peppered with musings and comments, sober or witty. $14.95. Order on Amazon or through this website, here.
Home and Studio Show, Dec. 5-6
Save the date. It will have been a year since our last studio show and many have asked about it. The next one will be the afternoons and early evenings of December 5 and 6. That’s the weekend after the Thanksgiving weekend.
33752 Big Sur, Dana Point, California. Come, and bring a friend.
12:53 pm
My god what a lovely place Swan Valley is. Each pic of the scenery you took is like a painting in itself. I particularly liked the one you took of “Anne thinking”.
Your red barn series looks bright and energetic and Anne’s work looked elegant as always. I’d like to come see the work in person soon.
Cheers, Judy
1:24 pm
Thanks so much, Hyatt, for sharing the gift God gave to you and Anne there; enjoying His creation, and using your creative gifts and blessing others through them.
3:15 pm
Especially love the aerial photo of Anne…the eight landscapes…and the “last day” photo.
3:51 pm
Thanks for the tour! Beautiful trip and works of art!
5:13 pm
As I often am, when I see your photo blogs, I am speechless. So many exquisite pieces the two of you have created! One thing I am sure of, is that the fruits of your efforts are certainly colored by your prayer life. Thank you so much for sharing this rich experience that God has blessed you with. I almost feel like I have been there.
Susan Morrison
Otter Rock, OR
5:47 pm
Beautiful ! The landscapes are my favorites, but everything you both do….beautiful. Thank you.
6:06 pm
What a pleasure it is to “join” you-all on this last Idaho trip. There is some wonderful stuff calling from those papers and canvasses.
7:21 pm
What a gorgeous setting! I love the “view out the back” especially the evening shot, so calming and tranquil. And the oils, Hyatt, are so representative of the balance in nature that you spoke of earlier. Everything so harmonious and inviting. Glad you and Anne had such an inspiring and productive week!
8:13 pm
Love the abstract–grass and all. Thanks for taking me along on your journey.
9:10 pm
What an incredibly beautiful location! That barn project you were doing is so fun and colorful. I’m sure they will be thrilled.
10:35 pm
Thank you for sharing your creative jouney. It gives insight ti how srt is recognized snd created
12:05 am
Lovely!
5:48 am
Hyatt,
What a lovely retreat for art and creation. Wish I were there, with my guitar and my fly rod. Music and frying fish seem to be the only things missing. Cheers.
6:06 am
You are both inspired and inspiring. I feel as if I have been revived through your work vacation and your sharing of it.
8:23 am
Boy, it just looks so tranquil. It’s so cool how you both get inspired where ever you travel. I can’t believe how many pieces you both did in such a short time. It takes me forever to finish a painting. Anne’s prints are so lovely. Your paintings are beautiful. I love the barns! They would all look right at home in that Idaho retreat too. So glad you share the blog with all of us. Really neat!
3:22 pm
I love seeing this. So interesting to see the day to day details of your “vacation”. Thanks for sharing your life with us. Always inspiring!
6:45 pm
WOW! What a team! You’re both just oozing with creativity. How lucky that you get to travel and create such beautiful and impressive work. You’re a match made in heaven creating heavenly artwork. How romantic. Ha! I’m a total fan. More blessings to you.
10:52 pm
Hyatt,
Just viewing your wonderful photos of the landscape caused me to automatically breathe in deeply in absentia to inhale some of that clean air and nature’s beauty. Is there anything more animating to the spirit, or that fills one’s whole being with wonder and appreciation more than the grandeur of nature relatively untouched? Thanks for the moment.
Jane
9:43 am
I love how you and Anne weave your time together, from the early morning quiet times together & then throughout the day. A lovely pictorial dance of your relationship and your art work.
The scenery shots in Idaho are so inspiring. My favs are the abstract painting and the last day shot. Incredibly beautiful and inspiring.
Looking forward Anne, to seeing your work in person at your open house in Dec. My friend Donna, who works at Joni and Friends, and I,already have our reservations in Laguna for that weekend.
See you soon!