There have been some personal challenges this spring and summer. The spring was especially tough and when I was in the studio I was pulled towards painting moons and tree silhouettes. I love the moon. I mean, how does one not? I have so many photos on my phone of a beautiful moon spied especially on walks with my dog.
Several years ago, through Lark & Key Gallery, I worked on a commission of an oil painting of the sky at dusk with the moon above a tree silhouette. It was on the larger size for me- maybe 40 inches tall? Maybe 48 inches? I really enjoyed working on it. And even though working on commissions can be nerve wracking, it actually was a very calming. So this spring, I needed to recapture that, while also creating works for an upcoming show with the theme of “serene”. Because I was feeling anything but serene!
Today I finished the fourth of the moon series. This one is the 3rd, based on one of the moon photos on my phone. While painting this I found out that when the moon’s crescent is low and turned upward, it has two names: Cheshire Moon and Wet Moon. The term wet moon originates from Hawaiian mythology, where it was thought that the Moon appeared as a bowl that would fill up with rainwater. When summer comes, the crescent shape shifts, pouring out the water and causing the summer rains.
Considering that years ago I was obsessed with bowls and painted a series about bowls, I just loved learning that.
“We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.”
Ray Bradbury
Cups, bowls, same difference.
studio wall
While I have been painting landscapes and skies with moons, I have been creating small abstracts using the same palette. Not sure why, not sure where it’s going, but letting it happen.
