Forgotten Landmarks

When the sun bounces off the neighbour's window and illuminates my easel 
(raiders of the lost ark style) 

Hello Dear Readers, 

We meet again. How are you this week? There is so much going on in the world, I am not sure how anyone is really okay. But we keep showing up in our own little ways, in our little pockets and larger communities - surviving the madness together. 

As I mentioned last week I have been unwell, so it was another week spent in recovery mode. September felt like a month of sickness, with a week here and there feeling less bad, but not great. I want to give my thanks and gratitude to NHS Scotland, from reception, to doctors, to pharmacists, - I am always amazed and thankful. We must protect and support our NHS at all costs. Coming from the states, I certainly never take it for granted. 

Thankfully, I am feeling much better this week and I'm planning to meet Julia for a coffee nearby later today as a bit of an experiment. Read her blog - it's almost as good as meeting my talented friend in person.

Speaking of friends, my very kind pal, Philip left me a gift in my garden last Friday. I was feeling pretty glum about being so ill again as well as not celebrating my Scotland milestones. It was such a boost to receive this thoughtful tote filled with an assortment of teas, a matcha advent calendar, and The Book - The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding Civilization. The Book is filled with gorgeous illustrations and it brought to mind one of my favourites from childhood, Gnomes. The kindness of friends and community is everything. I am very lucky. 

kindness

This week, rather than watching old films, I spent some time researching the ancient family (my autumn hobby). I didn't get too far but it was a good way to spend some recovery time. I plan to spend a bit more time this weekend with the old ghosts. 

I had cousins that lived in the Canongate, here in Edinburgh, and one even married in the Canongate Kirk in 1731. They left behind a fascinating set of letters to their first cousin, Governor Samuel Cranston of Rhode Island, who was my 8th great-grandfather. His father John Cranston (also a governor) came to the colonies but John's brothers Caleb and Samuel (my 9th great uncles) stayed in Scotland.

I of course, would still love to know more about my more common and much more recent Scottish dirt farmer ancestors my 3rd great-grandparents Murdoch Campbell and his wife Christian McNeill, but I fear their records are lost to the mists of time. So the fancy people it is. 

And to round out the week, there was of course, painting - I managed to work on three canvases this weekend. I need to get better photographs of two of them, but I will share the one I was pleased with here. I put the image against a black background to share what it might look like in a simple tray frame or against a dark wall. 

Latest finished piece in the series

There are now thirteen works in my series Fire on the Hills of Yesterday. This series began in July as my mother and I began chatting about art and working on our pieces each Sunday. It has been great to share this experience with my mother. 

My latest work is directly referencing a previous series of paintings from 2004, that was called "Within the twilight." A dark landscape series that I was fond of but that never really found its audience - however many of these works did find homes one way or another, over time. That series eventually started to shift as I evolved as an artist and gained gallery representation. It is fun to revisit the ideas behind this work. If you have been following my art for a while you may have recognised the reference and may live with some older cousins of these new works. 

A dear friend and fellow painter wrote that these new works were like "lost 18th century masterpieces of forgotten landmarks." I will happily take that! 

the illuminated easel 

We are on a wandering path, full of learning, unexpected beauty, and choices. Every choice, loss, and discovery makes us who we are. Thank you for being on this path with me.

Until next week, take good care.

Special thanks as always go to my dedicated wee group of monthly Ko-fi Supporters who encourage me to create these works, write this blog, and stay on this path through their regular support. Thank you, Jennifer, Tamsin, Jennifer, and Annie!

Thank you, Pat, for the monthly gift you arranged that continues to support my art. (I know you would have loved the Canongate story most of all). You are missed.

Message from an unknown sender

I went to the studio on Monday and a new painting showed up; dark, veiled, and mysterious. Filled with broken rules, muddy colours, and no distinct vantage point. It came fast and strong, the title too. This was a message from an unknown sender. A message that I was very happy to receive. It unnerved and excited me and provided some sense of relief.

The start of a new series brings a type of fever and remembering back into the process of painting. I love having a framework, the foundation to work and play in. I need a reason. I don't paint because I don't know what else to do with my time or hands. Honestly, I spend a lot of my time resisting painting. Balancing that uncomfortable dangerous undercurrent, that anxiety that will finally push me to get back to the "serious" work (whatever that means). This week the "serious" work showed up again. The kind of work, I love the most.

Just as I love the colour white and most colours (really - look back at my earlier work), I also love black and darkness (again, look back at my earlier work and the "dark landscapes"). We were trained not to use black and white if you could ever use another colour. I like breaking rules. Muddy paintings are also considered bad form, and some of my earlier paintings are so clean and vibratory you'd think a machine painted them. But, I like a bit of mud, a dirty veil on the surface of the painting, a bit of dullness over the brighter colours below. Remember the shock after they cleaned the Sistine Chapel ceiling... I liked it before (and after). Think of all the reproductions we have come to love because we were looking at old, yellowed and dirty paintings before they were cleaned and restored.

Darker paintings might not work with your decor or match your sofa, they might not sell in galleries as easily as their colourful and "fun" fellow paintings (I know this to be true - why do you think I stopped with the dark landscapes). Darker paintings will, however,  thrill me and I think that is a very good reason to receive their message. So I call out to the darkness and crack open the studio door, I invite it in. The dark warmth envelopes, the other colours reach out from underneath, the veil lifts and welcomes us into the fold with mystery and yet something familiar we all recognise.

Until next week, keep fighting.

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