Fickle weather!

watercolor in 8 X 8″Travelogue sketchbook

This is the kind of weather one might encounter suddenly on a gloriously sunny day lately, or at least a week ago. I’ve now accumulated a closet full of different weight coats and hats and shoes to try to meet the changeable weather with a modicum of equanimity. It means changing clothes frequently throughout the day at times to stay comfortable. 

This scene occurred on a lovely walk at the point where the South Puget Sound waters enter the town of Olympia. While we were strolling and talking, the sky behind us darkened suddenly, and we knew our walk was over, unless we were ready for a drenching. Such sky drama, though inconvenient, is never boring and sometimes downright thrilling!

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Riding out the storm

The wind and rain yesterday was unspooling my thoughts and making me quite uneasy. My cellphone was squawking warnings of roads flooding nearby and a mini Niagara of water was spouting from the storm drain next to my studio as the waters surged down the creekbed. I was looking through my “Conversations with the Muse” books where I have been collecting my art musings since 2004 and found these two pieces which reminded me of other storms and feelings similar to the ones I have now. I find that the advise offered by the Muse twelve years ago is still of comfort.

acrylic inks and pen on Lama Li w/c paper, 10 X 11″

Riding out the storm in a fantasy sleigh

echos of some springtime drawn by longing 

and the nagging pelt of rain

days end to end now

floating somewhere barely dry

lily pad musings nourished by deep running waters

making their way ever downward to the earth’s core

sumi ink, acrylic painted paper collage and pen on Lama Li w/c paper

Burrowing with my imagination as shield.

Another deluge this morning and now for a few minutes or hours a bit of sun. I must head out to soak it up before the next round of burrowing.

Storming

acrylic inks, gesso, collage (netting)

I noticed this one leaning up against the easel when I came in from the rainstorm tonight. My studio is a two minute walk from the house, but I put my rain boots on to ford the puddles.The (usually dry) stream bed beside my studio is a roaring cascade tonight, with nearby gopher holes spouting water like geysers.  We thirsty Californians have become rain worshipers.