Haikus and Art

Currently entered in the Exeter Townhall Gallery for the next three weeks. It's a combination of poetry and art. A poem written for each piece of art or a painting made for a poem.

I write Haikus (Americanized version, three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables) for some of my paintings. Haikus are short and unpretentious (like me). Occasionally I write the Haiku and then paint a subject evoked by my Haiku.

This painting was done a number of years ago when I was in a darker place.

"Adrift"

"Adrift on a dark,

Dark sea I dream of what never

Was and never will be."

This painting has won four awards in Juried shows ranging from Honorable Mentions, to a first place in Pastels. I've shown this for many years now but have never been able to sell it.

Another autobiographical Haiku and painting: "Into the Sunset", as an old (really old) retired Air Force Pilot, I feel this is quite appropriate.

"Into the Sunset"

"The sunset beckons.

I fly the valley of clouds

Tracking the beacon home."

This one also won awards but one judge criticized the repetitious cloud shapes in the lower half of the painting. I guess she couldn't see the hand of God reaching out to receive me. This painting sold the first time I put it up for sale. The patrons are the judges who really count.

Two Paintings at Exeter Chamber of Commerce

I placed two paintings in the offices of the Exeter, NH Chamber of Commerce.

The first painting is an acrylic, 11 by 14 inches, of Peggy's Cove, Nova '.

The second painting is a pastel, image size 12 by 16 inches, depicting my haiku "Adrift." " Adrift on a dark, dark sea, I dream of what never was and never will be." It has been in my inventory for several years now. It's kind of a strange case: It has won several awards in at least 3 art shows, including a first with high praise from the judge but I've been unable to sell it. I've reduced the price hoping it will find a good home.

Japanese Gardens

I have painted several versions of Japanese Gardens and this is one of my favorites. It is a pastel on coarse Canson paper, hence the texture.

It's titled "Strolling Paradise", and it has an attached haiku.

"Gentle warming sun

Fragrant caressing breezes

Strolling paradise."

In the ancient world, the word for paradise was the same word as garden, hence my justification for the haiku.

May you also stroll paradise.

This painting also won several awards and has been sold.

My Aviation Art

I consider this painting "Into the Sunset" to be the signature piece in my aviation art endeavors.

It is actually somewhat biographical. I spent much a great deal of time in Japan and love Japanese Gardens and the Haiku.

The Haiku is a brief expression of a moment keenly perceived. The Americanized version is three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables.

My Haiku for this painting is:

"The sunset Bekons

I fly the valley of clouds

Tracking the beacon home."

I'm 70 years old, tracking the beacon home.

This painting has been sold and it is so personal to me I now wish I hadn't sold it.

I'm an old guy trying my first attempt at blogging so forgive any lack of skill or sophistication in this attempt.

I'm more interested in portraying my feeling of the romance of flying than the seriously accurate depiction of a specific aircraft that would be acceptable to the Association of Aviation Artists. I have nothing against the rivet counters (used in jest) and admire their art immensely, it's just not what I wish to paint.