After I’m done careening around like a madwoman…
My dog always knows when I’m getting ready to leave. He attaches himself to me, following me from place to place as I go through my workday. I don’t think I’m dropping non-verbal clues. I think he’s listening to my conversations and understands far more than we think dogs are capable of. I’m heading down …
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On painting water (and other traps)
The most common question I hear is, ‘how do you paint water?’ The answer-if you’re smart-is, ‘how it looks at that moment.’ Water, like the sky, is infinitely variable. Yes, there are some fundamental truths, such as that reflections are symmetrical across a horizontal axis, or that water will reflect the sky color. But other …
Seven things you should know about the Group of Seven
No, not the G7-that’s the forum of world’s biggest economies. They’re politically important, but nowhere near as important as the Canadian painters by that name. The death of Tom Thomson is one of art’s enduring mysteries. Although the Group of Seven didn’t formalize until after his death, he was one of the painters who gathered …
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A vacation from the news
“There have been few more momentous weeks in British history, or indeed in world history,” Bruce Anderson wrote in the Spectator. The Queen’s funeral coincided with the rout of Russia. I missed it all. I was coasting around Penobscot Bay on the schooner American Eagle, teaching watercolor, as I do twice a year. I would …
Five things I won’t waste money on
I’m wearing the tiara in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, whose state funeral is today. Cheap paint There are many good paint brands out there. They tend to be more expensive, but price is not the sole indicator of quantity. There are an equal number of horrible paints on the market. You might think you’ve …