It took a major escape to Utah to get the paint flowing. Escaped to the Back of Beyond in late April. To raise the stakes, I slept in Maynard Dixon's bedroom in Maynard Dixon's cabin. This was no screwing around. Sounds silly, but I made myself paint. No procrastinating, no excuses. It was a frenzy. Four days in Southern Utah including one great morning painting with Kate Starling. This canyon is about 3 miles from her house. But this isn't what we painted together. That's another story. We yapped and yakked all morning about the latest gossip, the art market and the state of the world. Kate is not one for "instruction" on these outdoor sessions. She did have one piece of advice for me. "Orange" she said. "You need orange." Needless to say, this opened up a whole new world of value and tone.
And then there's the big ass butte. It actually looks like late afternoon. Another goal . . . harkening back to the sessions with Brad Faegre who remarked he never knew what time it was in my paintings. Well buster, I think it looks like 5:30 on Spring afternoon!
More frenzy postings coming.
