Unleashed

Unleashed

OK. So what the heck is this? It's a place that existed only in my imagination before I painted it. My imagination tends toward the fun and foolish. My motto is "If it isn't fun, I ain't doing it!"

What we have here (in case you can't tell) in this mythical place is a calm pool in the background and the water rushing out in the foreground, with wildflowers on the hillsides watching the festivities.  I kinda wonder what else exists behind those wildflower covered hills? I'll bet five bucks there are some teepees back in there.

Walker

Bird Man

Bird Man

I don't know exactly what this is. Just another fantasy of mine. I'm sure it is inspired by American Indian images I have seen somewhere along the way. Certainly, not local, probably further south.

Also, I was wanting to play around with the idea of feathers, what brush to use and the stroke. I love my freewheeling, undisciplined way of painting but the downside is when I'm done I have absolutely no idea how I did what I did. It's a bit of a problem when I wish to recreate the effect. Every painting is truly original, even to me.

Walker

Playing With Pyramids

Untitled

I must ask myself, what is this?

And, I must say to myself "Beats me!"

I had this notion I wanted to play around with geometric designs. I marched myself over to Michael's and bot some French Curves, templates for this and that and a compass.

I went right home and drew some triangles on a canvas, the three you see in the painting, and promptly put the canvas aside. When I came back to it I looked at those triangles and thought "What the heck am I going to do with this?" That became the exercise and the above became the painting.

The triangles became pyramids in my mind. The two triangles in the sky show the sun and the moon. Pyramids are thought to be very powerful designs. I have always thought it was interesting that the western indian nations designed their homes in the shape of pyramids. Many tribes have legends about gods coming down from the skies. The Sioux refer to Star People in their legends and songs. In my mind it somehow all ties together.

Art critics will tell me I committed a cardinal sin by placing the teepee smack dab in the center. All I can say is, it wasn't a teepee when I put it there. It was a triangle and then it was a pyramid and then it was a teepee. I think of it as a power center so being in the center is precisely where it should be.

The little fetishes resting in the grass are buffalo.

And, as always, I just love the colors!

If anyone seeing this would like to take a stab at naming it that would be great. Just leave it in the comments.

Walker

Blowing Through The Jasmine In My Mind

Blowing Through The Jasmine in My Mind

When I first started to see this painting take shape, as so often happens, a song began playing in my mind but I couldn't get a handle on it. I could hear the melody and the lyrics "summer breeze" but just couldn't pull it out. The best I could come up with was Landscape of My Mind so I went with it. Just a moment ago, the melody still wafting in my mind, I had a Eureka moment and there it was Seals and Crofts Summer Breeze. Maybe it doesn't work because Jasmine are generally white but that's beauty of imagination isn't it? Maybe Canyons In My Mind would be better?

I was in an expansive frame of mind so I treated my mind to a little color therapy. I've been looking at a lot of impressionist paintings lately; Monet, Manet, Van Gogh. Maybe that's where it came from. I can just stare at beautiful colors like these and be transported to another more peaceful place. Gads, I love color.

I tried like crazy to get the true colors of this painting. You'll have to take my word for it the actual painting is, to my way of thinking, prettier. Don't know why I couldn't get it right. Probably a light problem. It's fixing to snow and there's not a lot of natural light to be had. It's still very nice this way.

Walker

Always Express Your Inner Light

Aurora Borealis

At this point in my painting adventure I consider everything an experiment, an opportunity to learn. So, I won't beat myself up for this painting. It is very amateurish. I think even the reflection on the water is backwards.

I'm have not been clinically diagnosed as dyslexic. I avoid MDs like the plague. But, I can tell you, I see things 180 degrees opposite of how most people see things. Sometimes I almost feel as though I live in an alternate universe. So, I must muddle my way. Once upon a time it was hard. Now I see myself as blessed.

As usual, I love my colors even if my technique will not pass muster.

My advice to all: Don't let bullshit keep you from expressing your inner light and creativity. Love what you do. Love who your are. Love what you create if it is a creation of love and not hate. Never ever align yourself with negative rhetoric.

Walker

Aztec

Aztec

As so often happens I started this painting with an entirely different destination in mind. It took me so long to finish it I have completely forgotten my original idea.

The main thing is this piece gave me a great opportunity to find the right brushes for detail work. I have watched any number of You Tube tutorials and notice that different instructors favor different brushes for the same effect. I've also noticed that the sizes of the brushes don't always seem to jive.

As usual I've decided to figure out what's best for me through trial and error. I recently watched a video in which the instructor revealed her "secret" tip for painting fine lines, an angled flat brush. I was quite excited. But, it sure didn't work for me. Through this exercise I have stumble upon a small filbert that gets the job done for me.

The geometric designs were another experiment and practice.

I call this guy Aztec but maybe he's a Martian that came "Through the Looking Glass"?

Walker

Monet Must Be Spinning In His Grave

Once upon a time, when I chose to express my creativity with a camera, I took a photograph which would become one of my all time favorites. I entitled it "Monet Aspen" To me it looks like a Monet only it is a Mother Nature Monet. I think Monet would have liked it too. It is a photograph of aspen trees reflected on a pond in Montana. I adore Monet and impressionism.

The other day I decided to try and paint the photograph. I suppose I should have known better but I couldn't help myself.

Monet Aspen - The Photograph

Monet Aspen - The Painting

 Well, what is one to say? I just have to laugh at myself. If Monet were to view my painting I am certain he would exclaim "mon Dieu!" and not in a pleasant way. My reaction was "Merde!"

Because I so often just go slapping paint on the canvas without any direction in mind I'm afraid I have become a little lacking in self discipline. I think I'm addicted to reckless abandon. It feels great to me but probably doesn't make for much of a painter.

Still, I want to learn how to paint with a purpose. I realize that if I'm going to do this I have to have a plan and work it. I must really think about what I'm going to do before I do it. It is so clear I did not do this when it came to painting the green leaves in this painting. I must remember to restrain myself and ponder with purpose. Probably an experienced painter could do this without thinking but I am a long way from there.

There's more to learn here than just painting. Painting is a great enterprise for developing patience and mindfulness, two qualities I wish to improve upon in my life in general.

As a means of my own encouragement ,I will say, I create absolutely delicious colors. Now if I could only make something of them.

Walker

Through The Looking Glass

Through the Looking Glass

I gotta wonder about myself when I paint these abstracts. Somehow that red thing on the left makes me think of a portal into alternate universe. Or maybe it's my subconscious looking into Mars the red planet.

See more flights of fancy in my Abstract Gallery

Walker

Mare's Tail

Horse Tail

Who can say why we do the things we do? I certainly have no idea why I love to paint abstracts. That's not entirely true. I love the freedom of expression, the raw creativity and I love playing with color.

After "trying" to paint Roble Rey I felt the need to be free.

I love to name my paitings but it can be kind of challenging when I paint something like this abstract. After some pondering I came up with Horse Tail. I'll leave it to you to try and figure out as to why.

Walker

Roble Rey

Roble Rey

This is the first time I've actually tried to paint something that already exists.

In 2008 I was on a photo shoot in California. Whilst there I made a stop in Gilroy. Forever looking for places to walk I discovered Harvey Bear Ranch. My beloved partner Lakota Sunrise was still with me. Oh, how I miss my boy!

Anyway, it was nearing sunset when I saw the silhouette of a dead oak tree standing on a ridge. I love dead trees so I set up and shot it. The above painting is my feeble attempt to paint my photograph ROBLE REY.

Walker

Geometric Oops!

Geometric Oops

For some reason I took it into my head I wanted to do some geometric designs. Horses have been on my mind a lot lately so I thought about a saddle blanket. Western saddle blankets have some awesome geometric designs.

About half way through I realized the error of my ways. If I'd wanted something to resemble a saddle blanket or maybe even a place mat I would have had to paint the designs on the horizontal not the vertical. LOL! A lesson learned for next time.

I also learned it is darned hard to paint straight lines free hand. Honestly, I don't know how people do it. After the first line up at the top it occurred to me that taping the lines would help. But, the other designs, egads! Indians painting on cave walls did better.

Even though this kind of painting vexes me no end I should probably make myself do it every now and again. It requires discipline and patience. When it comes to my painting I prefer the flourish to flourish.   

As usual this painting is just my latest mistake. And, as usual, I love it! Heaven help me I love color!

For more of my painting boo boos click here.

Walker

Lagoon

Lagoon

 

I had quite a hard time coming up with a name for this puppy. The best I could come up with was Lagoon.

The Jennifer Lopez song, Where Are You Going To, comes to mind as regards this painting. I had absolutely no idea where I was going. Had I had a clue I might have done some things differently. But, there you go!

Someone asked the other day what kind of painting I do. I really had no idea what to say. I prefer any kind of painting that does not involve realism. I greatly appreciate the skill and training that goes into these types of paintings. And, whilst I often find them beautiful I do not find them mentally stimulating. I like art that challenges the imagination and gets the viewer involved in thinking and wondering. I also love giving voice to my inner child aka my primitives. So, what kind of painter am I? In a word I guess I'd have to say "Wayward?"

Walker

Stormy Weather

Stormy Weather

I have always loved this song, "Stormy Weather" made famous by the great singer Ethel Waters at the Cotton Club in New York in 1933. It was before my time but some things are timeless and that song is one of those things.

It played over and over in my head as I painted this.

And, here we go again, into the horizon.

Other examples:

http://followingmyart.blogspot.com/2018/01/where-are-you-going-to.html
http://followingmyart.blogspot.com/2017/01/the-source.html
http://followingmyart.blogspot.com/2017/01/cosmic-sunrise.html

Walker

Where Are You Going To?

Where Are You Going To?

I notice I'm painting a lot of pictures that have a lot of horizon in them. Makes me wonder if I am subconsciously thinking about adventuring into the unknown. I am beginning my seventieth year today. That certainly feels like venturing into the unknown.

Walker

Power of the Pyramid

Blackfeet Country

Over on the other side of the Rockies, east of here, is the Blackfeet reservation. It's is by turns a gawd awful place and a place of unimaginable beauty. I love to go over in the spring to hunt for and photograph the new born foals that dot the landscape. I also like to fantasize about those long lost days when man and animals lived here in natural balance. I can imagine the braves racing like the wind across the plains on their painted ponies. The vision literally brings tears to my eyes.

The painting is, once again, just my musing. I would classify it as one of my primitive efforts. The Rocky Mountain Front looks nothing like these mountains and I made no effort to paint authentic Blackfeet teepees. I believe in the power of pyramids. I think indians felt that power and designed the teepees to tap into it. The green grass and lupine are just will o the wisp.

I know this painting looks child like and that professional painters would puke over it's childishness. By I really like it. It's the child in me that cries out to be set free. Does everything have to be perfect? Can't just doing what feel's fun and whimsical be worthwhile? Stupid question. Of course it can. No one needs to like my drek but me.

I enjoy looking at this painting and dreaming of my next trip to St. Mary in the spring. And, as always, I just love the colors. I am a color junkie. I am a color junkie!

Walker

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas

I was raised with the old bromide "Waste not. Want not". Believe me that one has stuck in my head to the point of sometimes my being a cheapskate. Also, I suppose, my Scot ancestry didn't help.

When I paint a picture there is generally paint leftover. Getting paint back in the tube is kind of like trying to un-ring a bell. I just can't bear to waste the paint. So, I take the opportunity to really let fly and try to create something with just the paint I have left.

Upon finishing WHEAT FIELDS & WILDFLOWERS, as usual, I had paint that needed using. Hydrangeas is what that paint wanted to be.

Don't waste paint! Cuz what you may really wasting is your innate creativity.  It's a wonderful opportunity to be free and be bold without fretting about the outcome.

Walker

Wheat Fields & Wildflowers

Wheat Fields & Wildflowers

I took a spring, summer and fall hiatus from painting. Not entirely, I painted a few rocks which was quite fun.

Now I am hunkered down, once again, for the winter and my thoughts return to painting on canvas. I put up my paint brushes because I felt painting was an indoor activity and I really prefer outdoor activities, when the weather permits and the days are long.

I am very much a fan of the impressionist style of painting and feel, even with my photography THE LIBERATED PHOTOGRAPHER one of my most influential muses is Claude Monet. So right out of the chute I tried my hand at my idea of an impressionist painting. In case you've forgotten I have no idea how to paint. I'm just making it up as I go along.

The subject matter is one near and dear to my heart, Montana. The Montana landscape is so beautiful any time of year. It being winter, the summer landscape popped into my head and voila this is what appeared on my canvas. Wheat fields and wildflowers are Montana in the summer. LOL! My color addiction is quite apparent n'est pas?

Speaking of not knowing how to paint, I have become convinced more than ever I made the right decision when I decided not to seek out art classes to learn. There is no doubt in my mind if I had done so it would have killed any chance of my pursuing the art. I would not have been unable to do what the teacher wanted and then in total frustration would have given up, convinced I had no possibility of being able to paint. What a shame that would have been.

The truth is, I REALLY like this painting. I love looking at it. It warms me to think I created it. It matters not if any one else likes it. I did not paint it for anyone else. My life would have been less enriched if I had never painted it. I am so grateful to have this painting.

I mention this for the benefit of anyone who would like to try painting but is afraid they have no talent and like me are unteachable. Just do it. Follow your heart. Follow your art. Nothing truly special and unique was ever created following the herd.

Walker