Holy Fish

Every time we have extreme weather like we did last night, I thank God I'm not out there in our boat. I think about fishermen a lot when we're sailing because I see them at work. You have to have a lot of courage to do what they do, but I  can't stand the idea of them doing anything else - and either can they. They're scoundrels and their wives saints. The ocean will morph them into what they hunt in the end - a final and peaceful act of supreme individuation.

I did this painting last night and have absolutely no idea where it came from but am guessing it may have something to do with Carl Jung. It was his birthday.

Holy Fish • 8" x 8" watercolor framed to 12" x 12" • $200

It was Just Me Swimming in the Ocean Today

It was just me swimming in the ocean today

until two loud gulls arrived and cavorting above, split my ears
as three fish flapped around in tutus to my rear

and four cats sailed through in an impromptu afternoon regatta 

while five labs paddled in endless circles trying to find the blessed ball

that is until six big black clouds glowered overhead 

whereupon we all promptly went home to play instead.

It Was Just Me Swimming in the Ocean Today • 8" x 8" framed to 12" x 12" • $200

Rock Meditation

I am a Taurus and was therefore born with an inherent love of rocks. I used to do a lot of rock cairn paintings. I designed the rocks and then made them into piles like the above - all on paper. It was very meditative for some reason, and well, er, a bit like being God for a minute - sort of heady.

Years ago I read John McPhee's geological history of this country Basin and Range. It was exhausting but fascinating. After I painted this Rock Meditation, I decided to bite the bullet and find out what kind of rocks we actually have here in Maine. I couldn't bring myself to go back to McPhee's or any other encyclopedic account, so I jumped on the internet and found a way cool resource that turned out to be at my level of comprehension.

Chebeague Island's K-3 graders had been studying rocks and minerals, and created and posted their own Maine Rocks and Minerals Book. They have utilized a collection and information put together by the Maine Geological Survey. A number of the children from the class, along with Beverly Johnson and geologist Carol White got together, took pictures and wrote up descriptions of the collection for this booklet. Though I think I might have learned all of this a long time ago, I re-learned the following basics and lots more.  It seemed like more fun this time - maybe because I now know I probably won't remember it all. The link to their book is below. In the meantime, and so you don't hit the page at sub-K like I did, here's one thing you ought to know:

Minerals are a natural solid substance of a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure and rocks are a mixture of one or more of these minerals.

When I found Andy Goldsworthy's books I thought I was in heaven. For those of you who haven't seen his work, check out his web site. Andy Goldsworthy's web site: http://www.rwc.uc.edu/artcomm/web/w2005_2006/maria_Goldsworthy/TEST/index.html

Chebeague Island's K-3 graders web site: http://www.chebeague.org/cischool/rocksminerals/http://www.chebeague.org/cischool/rocksminerals/

Rock Meditation • 8"x 8" watercolor framed to 12"x12" • $200

Who Messed Up MY Sunny Day?

I wanna know 

who's to blame 

for messing up

my sunny day?

Who Messed Up My Sunny Day? • 8" x 8" watercolor and ink framed to 12" x 12" • $200