Tag Archives: skyscape

Sometimes, the Sky is Purple

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A lesson in creativity.

When I was about 7, we were doing artwork at school. It was a assignment, don’t remember what.  Exclusive of one little boy, the kids at my group of desks, were drawing the sky blue.  That one little boy, was energetically coloring the sky purple.

 

One of the gaggle of kids, (I use gaggle descriptively, we were not geesee.) jumped on the purple sky boy and said:

“What are you making the sky purple for? Everybody knows the sky is blue!”

Then the rest of the gaggle, including myself, joined in the fray, insisting the sky is blue.

A teacher’s aide, noticing a ruckus, came over to see what was going on.  We all almost shouted, “Johnny (or whatever the boy’s name was) is making the sky purple.   The sky is supposta be blue!

The aide however, said, in a calm, knowledgeable voice, “Sometimes the sky is purple. For instance a rainy, cloudy day it’s purple.  The sky is lots of colors.”

We all quieted down.  However, I knew a scam, when I heard one.  Of course the sky is blue!

In all honesty, it’s not the royal blue in the small set of Crayolas either.

When did I decide the sky could be different colors?  I think it was when I made the sky a shocking shade of green.

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I’ve done my share  of purple skies.

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AFTERTHERAIN

Often, the sky is multi-colored:

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But truth be known, most of the time, I believe the sky is blue..

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So there..

In other news, here’s the latest note card. Pumpkin posed for it.

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Good Morning!

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Okay, it’s actually 2:15 EST.  It’s snowy out, and I’m having a hard time getting going on a day like today.  However, I was talking about morning, and so I continue.

Another ditty…it’s always darkest just before the dawn.  Literally, when I’m awake all night, I can see a grayness in the sky before dawn.  Figuratively, I guess that’s true.

But darkness and dawn are an excellent subject.  So, here’s “The Dark before Dawn”

It’s a little Christmas card like, didn’t mean it to be like that.   That’s supposed to be Venus, which shines brightly in the morning here. I had fun drawing this, it was different for me.

And Then It Dawned On Me

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On nights when I’ve had trouble sleeping, I’ve stared out the window as morning approaches.  The sky looks peaceful and promising, not vibrant and bright as it does at sunset.  So, what makes a sunrise picture look different than a blazing sunset?

“Red sky at night,  sailors’ delight”

Red sky at morning, sailors take warning”

I’ve forgotten the scientific reason behind that little ditty, but it does answer my question.  I know now how to make a sunrise not look like a sunset.

Here’s a picture from a long time ago, which my good friend refers to as the “Psycho” house.  I can see what she means, but the windows were supposed to be reflecting the rising sun. Norman Bates doesn’t live there.

So, pastel greens instead of bright oranges and pinks make a sunrise.    Here’s a dawn from not too long ago:

Words Fail Me

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I’ve been working on a drawing.  First version, I tried to do completely from imagination, and that turned out to be doomed to the trash can.  I should know better by now, that I need good reference pictures to do something believable.

Then, good references in hand, I redid the drawing.  This time, I was satisfied with it, but when it came to writing this blog, I couldn’t think of anything to say.  Yes, that can actually happen!  I was at a loss for words.

Flashback to my short-lived, day job of last month.  Everyone was thrilled about the Super Moon in December.  As I stood in below freezing weather, waiting a half hour to the bus, I would gaze to the east.  There was the Super Moon, on the horizon.  The sky was pink like the inside of a seashell.  So, impressed that I was, I decided to draw it.

And that’s that.  No metaphor comes to mind for it.  I can’t think of anything to say, except “This scene was pretty so I drew it”.  Those are the only words for it.

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It Was a Nice Idea, While it Lasted

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Having a shortage of paper, and a shortage of energy, I decided the best way to keep up with my art, was to do little handmade notecards…much as I did holiday cards for the Winter Boutique.  Something that I could maybe sell for $5 easily at a later show of some sort.  Just relaxing, fun easy drawing, sketching and coloring.  That’s what I thought.

Yeah, right. I did one, promptly misplaced it.  Then, having been wowed by the Supermoon last month as I left my day job, I did another little card.  I thought, well maybe that would be good for a full size drawing.  That was it, I jinxed myself.  I could not think of another fun, playful idea to put on a notecard.  The well of ideas just dried up.

I kept returning to the Supermoon.  So, I guess, I’m destined to make a large drawing based on this little notecard.

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Flourishing, not Surving

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So, as I think about getting through the winter once again, I remind myself that certain species do very well in the cold, dark time of year.

It used to be that in Connecticut, there were all sorts of winter birds.  There were titmice, chickadees, and lots of cardinals.  I’m not sure where they are now, probably climate change has affected their migrations.  They’re happily snuggled perhaps in Maine, where it really does get cold.

But what remains of birds?  Plenty of crows.  They’re around all year, and they’re stubborn.

So, I’m putting together in my mind, a drawing of my admiration of crows.  I did a drawing of crows last year, but that was mostly incidental..this one I intend to be a full out celebration.

Speaking of crows, back in New York City…they give the pigeons a run for their money, too.

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This drawing was “Making Peace with January”, from nearly two years ago. This year, the difference in my art is not the “Making Peace”, but joy to be found in the dismal.

Fading away

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When I first moved to Danbury, the ideas for pictures came in a rush. It was a lot like being in a wild, passionate beginning stage of love.  Once the highs and lows have straightened out, you’re either left with a solid, loving friendship..or a lot of bittersweet memories.

As it was, I really was overwhelmed with the physical beauty of being in Connecticut again. Last winter I worked quickly and intensely on lots of drawings…but, just as that love fades, so did the intense impressions.

So, now, much as I spent 16 years in Queens looking and reinterpreting the scenes around me, I guess I will do that for however long I am here in Danbury.

As for Looking at the Smaller Picture, or as it is now called, The Fading of the Morning Star, here it is…

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