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.

Veteran's Day

My thanks to all Veterans who have served and my thanks and prayers for all who are currently serving. My Grandson will be going to Iraq in February, please remember him in your prayers. My painting "Warthogs" was given to the Father of a Warthog pilot who was serving in Afghanistan. My second image, "Old Ironsides and Old Glory" is a woodblock print I created right after 9/11. I felt I had to do something with a patriotic theme.

Great Bay Art Show/my two paintings

As I stated yesterday, I didn't have time to photograph my paintings which I put into the Great Bay Art Show. One of the paintings sold so I went down to the gallery today and photographed my two paintings for my records. The first painting is an 11 by 14 acrylic of the Great Bay Salt Marsh. The "Salt Marsh" painting photographed considerably darker than actual painting. The second painting is titled "Lanteen on the Esturary" which is an 8 by 10 inch acrylic on stretched canvas (sold). We do have a large historic lanteen sail that will appear on the Great Bay on rare occassions. It is a recreated gundalow, which was a sail powered barge carrying cargo up and down the local rivers and bays in the 1700 and 1800s.

Two Sailing Ships

Ships are also a favorite subject of mine.

The first ship is a coastal wind jammer plying its cargo route. The rosey sunset is casting a warm glow over the scene. As all sailors know, red skys a night sailors' delight.

The second ship is my depiction of the whaler "Morgan" at twilight, the day's whaling is done and the rendering fires are reflecting on the sails. It is a lonely sight in the vastness of the sea. It has always amazed me that men could spend several years at sea on a 90 foot long woodenship. My painting is not an endorsement of whaling but a tribute to the men who endured the loneliness and peril of years at sea. I believe that whales have too large a brain not to be sentient and that killing an intelligent being is morally wrong.

Both paintings are pastel on sanded paper. Both have been sold.