This is an amazing place which makes going to Las Vegas a completely different experience. OK, so what's it gonna be. Abstract . . . realistic . . . or (yikes) . . . . cartoon. A funny thing happens out there in the wilds painting outdoors. When I paint "out of my head" and make it totally visceral, I have a 50/50 chance of the painting being coherent. It's almost like design by accident. I find a composition. I start to set the values. I find what appears to be decent local color. But then what? Is it an impression? Is it an emotional response to the scene? Am I conveying any ideas? What about the brush strokes? What the hell am I doing? Can I even remember how I made that perfect passage?
Holy cow . . . just reading the preceding paragraph was a little scary. My alter ego says "What difference does it make?" Just PAINT!
It was a cold morning out there. Wildman Fehlman made me turn the easel around so that I painted with direct sunlight hitting the board. Love "breaking the rule."
