As a teacher aide for the Carrollton School District, I get
   the summer months off from my job. This summer I worked hard 
   to finish new paintings for my home town show, which began 
   July 3rd and runs thru August (2005). Alot of time has been revolving 
   around my mother-in-law who is gaining strength at home following
   a hip replacement. This last week I had camp duties as a counselor
   for three days. But occasionally I do get a day here and there
   to go out and paint on-site. I now have a new term to toss about.
   If you finish a painting all in one sitting is is called "alla prima."
   The following entry took place Monday of this week.

  ...............................A wonderful day of painting down by Wakenda. 
   Once a farm community, destroyed by the 1993 flood, now it has 
   crops where houses once stood. It is near river bottom fields and levees.
   The waterway under this one-lane bridge reminds me of the marshes up 
   near Bellingham, Washington (where my nephew got married two summers 
   ago). A setting I've been looking for, just now discovering in my county,
   ten miles from home. On the drive over, I kept my eyes on the pavement, 
   with brief glances at the terrain. Man, the morning light was gorgeous. 
   Lest I stop somewhere sooner than my destination.

                         Currently I am working on prepared Masonite boards, 
   7 by 10 inches, 5 by 9 inches, even trying 4 by 6 inches (which is 
   pretty limited I know) (there was a miniature exhibition I was 
   considering sending out to) (I know, some want me to work on a 
   bigger picture plane) Also, working vertically with the longer 
   dimension pointed up. That way I can work with the field patterns 
   and sky / cloud patterns. Trying to work wetter, faster, with less 
   detail, broad strokes on a small scale.

                        Sat up on top of the pickup cab, my feet dangling 
   off the side, resting against the windshield or on the open window 
   ledge. Wide brimmed hat, color jars in little basket, palette next to 
   me, holding the board with one hand, dragging the paint across with 
   the other. Wonderful wide view. Choice!!! Primo!! Excellente!!

     
          From The Top Of My Cab    8" x  24" x 1"    Acrylic on board  2005

                          Took my bike for a spin down the road to 
   check out another waterway, cement culvert, short-leafed 
   green water plants with tiny yellow blossoms. Lots of soybean 
   fields. I like the dried up splotchy fields, myself. Pedaled back 
   past the truck. My florescent pedants fluttering off the tailgate, 
   indicating artist at work. The truck sits off the winding blacktop 
   on an overgrown slope into a farmer's field. Some light peach 
   or rose colored grass spreads out in an elongated triangle, 
   surrounded by a solid stretch of dark blue-green. When I return 
   to the snapping pedants, the bike is lifted into the back, 
   equipment is secured, panels dry inside on the front dash, 
   and I relocate to the next vantage point.

                         Later, I discover that I need to be wearing longer 
  shirt sleeves and long-legged pants, either that or at least sun 
  block ointment. Fortunately there was no peeling.

                            With permission, the axles bouncing up 
   and down, I viewed the Missouri river from a shaggy levee. 
   The elevated hill separated a sea of soybean green from the 
   rock strewn edge of the river. Someday, I hope to feel the surge 
   of inspiration when I gaze on the Missouri river. Caleb Bingham did. 
   Others have. It hasn't for me. It's flat. There are trees and a beach 
   on the opposite side. Perhaps the cloud patterns could excite this 
   scene. The moments pass. I stop the truck, walk to and fro, looking 
   at the river from high and low, cottonwood limbs obscuring, back up 
   on the levee. Stopped to watch a tugboat from the Port of New Orleans, 
   Louisiana, the "Jennie Demper," labor, water churning, as it shoved 
   two long low barges up the river.
     
                            It was a full day. On-site at 10 am, rolling back 
   into Carrollton at 4:30 pm. Lots of water to drink. The exploration 
   of the levees was good. One farmer friend tells me I can climb up 
   his grain bin ladder sometime. After seeing how high it was from 
   the ground today, I'll wait to make an appointment. (And rent a space 
   suit) The best hours were at the beginning of this day, in retrospect. 
   Best lighting. Best energy. A good variety of clouds to study. 
   The weather (today Monday, July 18, 2005) was not as hot 
   as it's been. I want to go back for sure.


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