January 18
A beautiful sunny Saturday. The day my daughter caught the Bainbridge Ferry back to Seattle Airport. We stopped at Pegasus Coffee House for my last London Fog and her cappuccino together. It was a bustling place, full of good vibes, visitors just off the ferry and neighbors gathering for cheer. . Bainbridge is a boujee town with its close proximity to Seattle city life.( We drove through the neighborhood, checked out Zillow on a 800 square foot house —1.2M.) As we left the building, I noticed a plaque next to the front door — documenting the removal of Japanese American families from Bainbridge Island during WWII and their subsequent incarceration in concentration camps, the unconstitutional suspension of their civil rights. The building held memories.
Learning this history, I was reminded that an area at Fort Worden is named Chinese Gardens. ( had taken the picture below earlier in the week.) The first Chinese immigrants arrived at Port Townsend in 1870 and many of the immigrants raised vegetables on this land to sell to Port Townsend residents. These gardens also became the main portal for Chinese clandestinely entering the US. (after the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882). Due to the pending climate of discriminatory actions in our county, it’s important to reminder our history.
Chinese Gardens, Fort Worden.
sketch of large rocks on North Beach - a quiet image to move me back to studio work
I spent the rest of Saturday - through the evening - playing with blocks of wood and color. If there was any kind of “breakthrough,” I moved to creating my first little tabletop piece., a mix of found wood and my painted kindling., standing 2 inches tall. It’s a quirky thing— made up architecture for modern living. And then I kept on going, building more little structures with found wood from the beach, a florist frog and painted kindling.. Ok, call me crazy but I do have fun. The play of odd shapes— teetering —with a flash of color. Sorta how I am feeling right now about the world. We will see what tomorrow brings.
January 17
Morning view out my kitchen window. Mt Rainier in the distance
Another clear day was in the forecast, (I haven’t put on my raincoat yet! ) I spent the day in the studio, pondering sketches – what to paint, what not to paint - my usual drill for hesitating, before taking the leap on a blank panel. I have made a nest for myself in the spacious studio. One table for painting, one for working on little sculptures, one for wood that I have collected from a small construction site and beach.
Below are my “starts” — my first paint application based on the two sketches from Second Beach. My goal in these initial marks is to block in the composition and set a tone. ( I tend to listen to jazz pianist, Bill Evans to keep my hand fluid and flowing.) These paintings will change as I change my approach to capture the subject matter but at least……as I said…. a start! And, I am always guided by American Abstract Expressionist painter, Joan Mitchell ‘s quote: I could certainly never mirror Nature. I would like more to paint what it leaves with me..
And part of my day, I spent pondering wood. I find that building my little objects informs my painting.. (Keeps my mind thinking about shape.) I brought this grouping of pine kindling (below) with me, with the thought of trees in the PNW. I will be curious if some of these sticks find new mates along the way,
At the end of the day, I try to get in a walk on the beach or around the campus. The black-tailed deer are always present, morning and night. so wonderful to have them as neighbors.
