Budded

Budded   watercolor   18.5 x 7

Our challenge was to paint a tree in its early spring budded state....not an easy task, given the small white blooms....in watercolor!  As I do not use opaque white in any form, or masking fluid, my challenge was to use brushwork to move around the work, avoiding the buds, thereby using the white of the paper for the blooms.  The tree I selected was one that I photographed while in the drive-through line at McDonald's.  The moody spring sky behind added to the immensity of the day...as well as to the immensity of the challenge.  The buds at the horizon line are mostly pure white.  Those at the top were toned to blend in with the sky.

Final word:  this is the best I could do with a difficult challenge....This small painting makes me happy.

Clownfish

Clownfish   mixed/paper   19.5 x 12

are important roles to dance in "The Little Mermaid".  And these dancers were so impressive....quite a pair.  They were both dedicated, focused and graceful to the max.  No Alphas.  Two halves::one whole. And....just as a school of fish moves instantly together, sensing the minute neuromuscular movements of the others, these two young dancers were oh-so-in-sync.  Each pose, not only portrayed each dancer to advantage, but also formed an interesting together shape.  They moved without speaking a word.

THESE DANCERS WERE AMAZING!



And...as for the highly developed sensitivity to the movements of the other....

I sometimes think that the world would be so much more pleasant if we all learned this sensitivity...we all learned to dance.

And....just maybe...we would be better drivers.

M as Shark - The Little Mermaid

M as Shark   mixed/paper   20 x 13

Konstantin Stanislavski remarked that "there are no small parts, only small actors."  Some of the young ballet dancers that we have painted have the "chorus" roles, the smaller parts.  I suspect that these roles go to the younger, less experienced dancers.  M. stood before us in her shark costume...the dearest shark I have ever seen.  While this hat and these fin attachments are clever as can be, my goal was to give to M. the innocence and humility that enveloped her.  No grand gestures here.  Her stance was natural.  No affectation.  Hooray for sharks!

Dabbs Greer, a bit actor, once said, "Every character actor, in their own little sphere, is the lead".