- Published on
"Afraid of Everything But Not Afraid" - acrylic and charcoal on cradled birch panel, 14 x 11 x .75. Ready to hang (sides are painted; no need to frame. Hanging wire is attached). Part of the series "A View From the Gorge." Available here and at Artfinder.
A dozen or more walking soundlessly east at night,
a half moon rising before them.
I like the long deft brush stroke
as each hoof swung into and out of the snow,
and the little splash kicked out ahead
as they stripped sweet bark from the darkness,
afraid of everything but not afraid.
from Winter Morning Walks: One Hundred Postcards to Jim Harrison by Ted Kooser.
A dozen or more walking soundlessly east at night,
a half moon rising before them.
I like the long deft brush stroke
as each hoof swung into and out of the snow,
and the little splash kicked out ahead
as they stripped sweet bark from the darkness,
afraid of everything but not afraid.
from Winter Morning Walks: One Hundred Postcards to Jim Harrison by Ted Kooser.
Afraid of Everything But Not Afraid
Well here we are in January. I am not a maker of resolutions, but was asked on New Year's Eve what I might choose if I were a resolution-maker. I'd like to not be afraid.
I mean, I am pretty fearless in a LOT of ways! But when it comes to people - friendships, romance, relationships, love - there is a fear monster perched on my head. With good reason, perhaps, and yet...I'd like to free myself of that monster and just live brilliantly fearless. So when I read this passage from Winter Morning Walks, I thought, huh, I can do that! Afraid but not afraid. I'm going to try that on for a bit and see if it fits.
I mean, I am pretty fearless in a LOT of ways! But when it comes to people - friendships, romance, relationships, love - there is a fear monster perched on my head. With good reason, perhaps, and yet...I'd like to free myself of that monster and just live brilliantly fearless. So when I read this passage from Winter Morning Walks, I thought, huh, I can do that! Afraid but not afraid. I'm going to try that on for a bit and see if it fits.
About the art: I'm working with a more neutral palette for the next three pieces. Today's painting was a big OH NO during the videos, as I tried to recreate an image from the gorge. It just wasn't working. So I turned the camera off and fully vandalized it. A more abstract expressionist landscape resulted. When I let water sit on it long enough, I was able to push through to the underpainting (raw umber and titanium white) to expose some highlights in the verticals. Yay!
Great resolution / non resolution. I think you’ll crack that and put it to rest.
I could look at the painting all day. I like the winter palette and there are so many great textures to get lost in.
Carl
Afraid of Everything But Not Afraid holds the magic of abstraction—although it is not representational "photographic" art but instead a collection of lines, drips, colors, shapes, scrapes, dabs, and impulses, my eye sees snippets of the solid physical elements of this spinning globe on which we are afraid of everything but not always afraid, snippets as real and tangible as if I were standing outdoors in their presence.