"Into the Wind" oil on canvas If I were to judge from the size of his head, a marble mounted on his football of a body, I would have to guess that Mouse the house grouse doesn't entertain any big thoughts. Yet here he is in the morning, perched on the drying rack outside the kitchen window and hammering on the glass. He wants his sunflower seeds and he wants them now. Last night he suddenly decided to park himself in my lap like a feather muff. He's not here at the moment; probably off translating Crime and Punishment or teaching himself to knit. Theodore, on the other hand, should be able to create and run a widget factory with that enormous head he ports around, yet I might have to put my money on Mouse if they ever get around to that chess game they keep talking about. In fairness, Theodore has gotten so laid back, what with owning two slaves and all, that I doubt that the need to think is much of an issue for him. When it comes to crania, I guess head size doesn't matter much.
But for me canvas size does. Once again I seem to be on the brink of conceiving an elephant. My common sense argues against starting something big, especially on the eve of hot humid weather, but the heart wants what the heart wants. I know I'm in trouble when buying food seems less important than choosing the right shape. Rectangle or square? If rectangular, "portrait" or "landscape" orientation?? And in what ratio - "screen" or "book" or "paper" ? And how big? Subject matter drives these decisions. The painting below -- all about the force of the wind on the paddlers -- demanded a long and lean image. This time, all I've decided on is "big."
The Canadian painter, Tom Forestall, went so far as to make shapes that reflected the subject matter. One of his most exciting paintings was in the shape of binoculars. Huge binoculars looking out on a marsh. Stunning. It doesn't seem fair to ask Jon to give up fly-fishing in order to build and stretch enormous and unique canvases for me.
Still....
But for me canvas size does. Once again I seem to be on the brink of conceiving an elephant. My common sense argues against starting something big, especially on the eve of hot humid weather, but the heart wants what the heart wants. I know I'm in trouble when buying food seems less important than choosing the right shape. Rectangle or square? If rectangular, "portrait" or "landscape" orientation?? And in what ratio - "screen" or "book" or "paper" ? And how big? Subject matter drives these decisions. The painting below -- all about the force of the wind on the paddlers -- demanded a long and lean image. This time, all I've decided on is "big."
The Canadian painter, Tom Forestall, went so far as to make shapes that reflected the subject matter. One of his most exciting paintings was in the shape of binoculars. Huge binoculars looking out on a marsh. Stunning. It doesn't seem fair to ask Jon to give up fly-fishing in order to build and stretch enormous and unique canvases for me.
Still....
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