Many Moons

Eight of the small square pastel series, Many Moons, hanging on the studio wall. I've decided to frame them separately in a shadowbox style of wood frame. This will happen a little later as I want to continue making them as they occur to me. I intend them to be ready for the Butternut Gallery in early 2014.

The motivation behind the Many Moons series is my habitual interest in stepping outside last thing at night and first thing in the morning to look at the sky...and sniff the air. I am fortunate to live under relatively dark night skies here in rural Vermont...not perfect, but pretty good. At those times I can regain touch with the universe as well as my own neighborhood. By sketching in the dark at that time and then translating to a little painting later that day I capture and preserve those moments. I have been relying on drawing, notations and memory rather than a camera. Sometimes the moon is New and then it does not appear at all. There are still owls to hear, dogs who howl, stars and planets and, with luck, the milky way ...and frogs croaking. The moon is a powerful symbol of mystery and I like to know that it is predictable and scientific as well as beautiful, even while it appears altered each time I see it.

Stormy Moon

I was chatting with a friend this morning. She lives about 20 miles away from me, but the moon looked the same to both of us; just past full, surrounded by a rosy red blush. She wondered what makes that red ring? I think it is the earth's atmosphere....moisture, dust, pollution? Anyway, I hope you saw it, too. It was spectacular and brief. I observed and sketched for half an hour just after 9pm. I saw big banks of fast moving dark clouds (north to south - sort of). And I saw flashes of lightning, but no bolts and I heard no thunder. I even saw the moon wearing a fuzzy dark cloud hat...amusing.

Then the show was over. The sky had darkened for the pending storm and I went to bed.

Greenhouse in Moonlight

Today's 6" x 6" studio pastel painting made from last night's sketch (below).

(photographed this morning on the windowsill, but drawn in the dark...using the light of the moon)

Full Moon Setting

As readers of this blog know, I am an early riser.  I sat on the edge of the bed to sketch this morning's full moon, just sinking through the pine trees.

This is the 6 x 6 pastel I later did in the studio. I have always liked following the moon and knowing what phase it is in and where it will appear when. It is a mysterious magical orb that is also completely logical and predictable. I guess I am a fan of science and art. Since my first school science fair project I've known they were good bedfellows. (cotton glued to blue poster board to illustrate the different forms and types of clouds and their significance in weather science)

Sturgeon Moon

The full moon has influenced me to do all kinds of unusual things...like draw....no, not blood...pencil to paper in the dark....complete dark....didn't want to ruin my night vision by lighting anything.

Then, today at the studio I turned my memory and scribble drawing into this little sketchy 5" x 5" pastel.

And I have plans for tonight....yes, it's true I will be lurking in the shrubbery...fumbling with my assortment of tiny lighted objects, sketchbook, pens, etc....please don't come 'round my house and scare me.