Some people look at this picture and think, wow it's so dead.
I'm on the horse trail behind my house. It is dry, it is brown and crispy right about now. I saw some fire captains talking on the news the other night how this season is the worst for fire danger in 100 yrs. Oh great!

I cannot let myself go there and think about that , it's my biggest fear....fire! 85% of all fires in Calif. are started my man.

I have to look at this as a process. I see the beauty, draw it, look at the composition of it, see natures plan....it's a blue print for the spring, for the future. Where will this piece go...when it falls into a dried pile below it? It creates layers, layers upon layers. It's natures composting. It's called rejuevenation. It's called rebirth, it's called our own sustainable environment.

Time and layering is fascinating to me. Can we apply that to our own lives? Don't we become more complex with the layers of years, and experiences, do we gain understanding, credibility? I hope so....I'm pretty layered right now. I hope it comes off as depth and possibly a bit of understanding. I've always loved that island saying "Take one look inside" means so much. It's something we should all do from time to time to be more conscious......

So there really is a process I go thru. It is one of adding, I grow a piece. I think of it as blooming into something. I guess that's the gardner in me, but I've always thought about art that way. My inks grow, they evolve, they become what they were meant to be.....simply a meditation of sorts for me. For complex pieces they seem so  simple to me.

Sometimes I feel like I am auto writing, auto meaning automatically my hand has a life of it's own. I hope it's being guided by my instinct. The years I've had of looking at art, that's got to do something to you don't you think? Years of learning composition, etc. to try and ultimately look spontaneous and fresh.

I have students that write me all the time. I love hearing from them, they are so energetic about their art.
I had one boy say to me that he didn't want to do the basics, he thought it was a waste of time. Who needs to learn composition? Who needs color theory? He wanted to dive right in, I applaud him. I applaud his spontaneity.

But,what happens down the road when he needs to solve a problem? When he needs to mix a certain color? When he is stumped looking at that same piece of art for weeks, maybe months and it not working....WHY?

There is something to be said for having a great base to work from. You know how to solve issues, you know how to look at your piece, and pull it apart, rip it to shreds if need be. You know about balance, it's been ingrained into your psyche thru years of study, years of trial and error....Hey it's what gives you the freedom in the first place. Then hopefully you can depend on your instincts as an artist. Your instincts are your balance.

I see it clearly....You start out with an incredible thirst to create, you feed it, nurture it through tiny steps of educating yourself, and then come full circle again to be able to create something that works as a piece of art. A line you saw in the street or in an ad, now belongs to you. You take it, use it. Something with balance, even though you were frenzied while in that moment you were painting, your gut told you where to put that splash of yellow, etc.
 
It's a dance, an orchestration of sorts, just like making a great apple pie.

Let's dance!

Fall is here, well sort of. It's Malibu in California, so we don't get a big bang like our family on the East Coast.
The changes are subtle, but there if you look. This is tucked away in my next door neighbors yard, so pretty. There's also an orchid farm, I like to sneak in and quietly walk the amazing grounds.
I like Malibu over cast and cloudy, the colors stand out.
I'm walking now, it's cool.
I like to waunder.
I love to explore.

I've always been a wanderer and an observer. When I see these colors and see these woods, I want to paint naturally, I want to draw leaves, feathers, twigs, and grass textures.
I'll paint a rock for my daughters friend  whose dog has passed away....life's a cycle isn't it.
I'm so glad I get to see the seasons go by.
 It means I'm alive.