Writers are often advised to write what they know. We
painters make self-portraits and use local light, but even so, we’re most
often painting the mysteries.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-kaSHxa9UELZDFv5IWW5BLWEKl4ecf8ONqrzL5954Rjl3QLMscq29nubw67d5yPyiID894ELRLLLngopyz0ncjwwjGsnXTI7uxk8o5TVmn-z4tN_loUw65OKN7T32uKAsxAcxzVVpxc5/s640/%22Island+&+Treatment+Plant%22-+acrylic+on+paper,+8%22+x+6%22.JPG) |
"Island & Treatment Plant"-acrylic on paper, 8" x 6" |
The misdirection of perception is a resource for the search.
Is that one house or two in the distance? Is that water surrounding skin or
skin capturing water— just what does reflection reflect?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBhXAdGyUGCq0DNh0_GYTThLG3l0gulm1dGKrahyMe_P_O_J5NLDCSqngqMYT1by9mcZFeZ1gQ7RBeArbAyfl3NBuQDlG683ChbL0CQBvWPuuqtJuPBmWXoek-2O8QSC4D3sUZxcak5fG/s640/%22Older+Bathers%22-oil+on+canvas,+54%22+x+48%22.JPG) |
"Older Bathers #1"-oil on canvas, 54" x 48" |
"Older Bathers #2 (first study)"-colored pencil on paper, 10" x 8"
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWl2wLv19Ov83RonYM_ZR0KP9LMIDdnxQIPktAXECWdR2zNO_h1NhqKcG-m9Ag_JeEXl-Rh7eDPIiXvBDGdQJPmxQLCBfqpzO5xPaP1Fj7-yN7PJmm3xaMaqOxLoA1OqqMtWPLP7Y00gJ/s400/%22Older+Bathers+2+%28study+2%29%22+-pencil+on+paper,+5%22+x+4%22.JPG) |
"Older Bathers #2 (second study)"- pencil on paper, 5" x 4" |
As the poet and painter Blake knew, optics are not
enough. What he “saw” were figures
lit from inside, and this became his way into (and out of) observational
painting.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_9MfiuCHx-D9n-mgxqGPBpng7FsLkQPSaU1_qEOoE0xIaUL2I7L6A22kncTSN5-mhnPYZAs4eERt8uHDb9vwWxPCfyl9f2vl7jU0vVrOogvgLYrkbagmFASEklyyuLtquL53D4TWuzRn3/s640/%22After+The+Conversation%22-+colored+pencil+on+paper,+10%22+x+8%22.JPG) |
"After The Conversation"-colored pencil on paper, 10" x8" |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXF1Dvi28o1RzlMhiQ4DZLVFXgeyOl1kKG_r7zqdQPz8HB_xwogi-GfsV-YFeXwKjmndQ1CnMzfvVDvn_PbQ6RRCIQLSNkswxsj3ImHCm4-fmWZgzT1O1jKNjG7JrQP3eDhrywxwA-uUfJ/s640/%22Doreen+With+Her+Cup%22+-colored+pencil+on+paper,+10%22+x+8%22.JPG) |
"Doreen With Her Cup"-colored pencil on paper, 10" x 8" |
There may be
nothing more laudable than getting the hands right, but sometimes misshapen
forms and false color ring true, beyond the limits of skill.
Sometimes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjoeX-VaP7vZyRcOs3eutaINXGHcMzx3bhq5Xd7xoihxA5gfJJJihrBT1D2gH1kPDAwGoEYa5us7Lv-NPsnzX6Sz8PNTQ_zd8azWwKD0zO-kZx69yDMitEnz1sij3sJH4IjwK8IUhwYJT/s640/%22Doreen+In+Mark%27s+Garden%22-acrylic+on+wood,+10%22+x+8%22.JPG) |
"Doreen In Mark's Garden"-acrylic on wood, 10" x 8" |