I promised a few weeks ago to share with you the several little plein air paintings I did while traveling New Hampshire last month. I've fallen behind with that. The truth is I've had a hard time turning my thoughts back to New England when my heart is breaking in...
musings from the studio and beyond ~
dawn chandler’s reflections on art and life. . . .
Dawn Chandler
of painting tidal rivers and lakeside tool sheds
Walk for maybe ten minutes from my aunt's front door, across the academy yards, past the post office, past the Congregational Church (with a wave down the lane to the Unitarians), past the town hall and bandstand, and make a quick right turn into Me &...
living free and coming home
I’m in a live free or die state. No, I don’t mean ideologically (tho’ that, too). I mean physically — in the Live Free or Die State. New Hampshire. In the years that I’ve been writing this blog, my love for New Mexico is evident: simply survey my paintings and...
the colors of my world….
These were the colors of my world today at 4:30a.m.... and these these were the colors of my world today at 8:30a.m.... And somewhere in between the two, the colors of my world were these.... { ~~ blissful sigh ~~ } OHhhhhhhh, BLESSED DAY!! For...
figuring: words and value and color and play
One of the many things I love learning from other artists is what their daily studio practice entails. What rituals they embrace to get into the flow of creativity. Often when the subject of creative flow and ritual, comes up, writer Stephen King’s name is mentioned....
being an art student again
"The answer is 'YES!' If you are asking me a question about your painting, the answer is 'YES'!" His point being that most of his students are looking for permission to paint the way they want to paint — the way they've always dreamed of painting — but were too...
creative change: shaking things up
To say I was in a funk is too strong. I guess you could say I'd kind of painted myself into a corner. However you want to describe it, I was ripe for a creative shakeup. Much as I love my work and love my life, earlier this year I was in need of a creative change of...
of pith, sharp vicious teeth, and free art
My high school senior English professor used to wear a pith helmet. I don't remember the specific circumstances required for him to don the pith helmet, but they had something to do with intellectual pithiness. I also remember that it was rarely donned, but when it...
back to the high meadows of new mexico . . . .
We had been camped on the far edge of the high south meadow. The evening before we were lead up a west slope trail, where, just beyond the ridge in the blaze of sun sinking quickly before us, we stood at a fence line, and watched color radiate from a point just beyond...
some unsolicited advice from me to you
Forgive me, but I’m going to give you some advice. Well okay — it’s stronger than that: I’m going to tell you what to do. I’m going to implore you. Entreat you. BESEECH YOU to do this, now: Go to Nebraska. Yes, Nebraska. If you simply can’t get there now, then...