I really like your paintings and was delighted to see in this writing that you are working with folks on our Oregon coast with housing. Nice to see someone local here. We are farmers in the Willamette valley so not too far away. Painting is such a beautiful distraction for all the difficulties in our lives now.
Hi Leslie! My family spent a decade in the valley before moving to the coast. We now visit it on our vacations! I just subscribed to your Substack and saw the little lambs…a true sign of spring!! Thanks so much for the comment.
The way you weave real-world weight with the wild joy of creation is something else. From housing advocacy to watercolor obsession, it all speaks to the same thing: care, depth, and the drive to make something meaningful. Also, that paint list? A masterpiece in itself. Excited to see what you create next!
Love your spirit! I am a housing advocate as well, add clean water access to that roof! Here in Hawaii absolutely not enough affordable housing. In fact I’m forced to move. Long story. Very sad situation. Our state encourages tourism, trust me they are begged to spend here and the Governor a physician just doesn’t get it at all. In adequate everything! More people moving here. Houses sit empty as bed and breakfasts. While people live in bushes. Really inequalities seen here. I have lived here 25 yrs. My partner since 1969. No affordable housing. Ask the Maui fire victims. Corruption rampant. Much aloha…
It’s shameful. Most people never know. And just never have a medical emergency here. Care not available to 200,000 residents Big Island . We are ignored and neglected. Just incredible. Maui was the tip of the ice berg.
This sounds like a very positive and creative strategy in dealing with all life is throwing at you at the moment. And there is joy in a pencil, or a skein or a watercolour pan😊I had not come across the notion of dot cards till I read your notes, by the way….I presume they are sample sets? Can’t recall if I mentioned a recent find in a Manchester art gallery…some individual tins of lightfast watercolour pans in earth colours made in Cumbria…only 5 or 6 colours produced from locally sourced pigments, and mead is involved, somehow. Look up Florence art centre Egremont if curious, though I appreciate you may be more inclined more to water and trees and sky.
Wow you have had a huge monetary spend up. I would love to buy the A.Gallo, but the cost inc,using postage is prohibitive considering I don’t paint enough these days. I do have an order in for the QOR Earth Colours though. I love your mountains and I love that you have such a commitment to your job. Housing is getting as bad here with rents having gone up tremendously and our State Government having brought in land tax on properties you own but don’t live in, hence they are being sold off rapidly. A great post on paints this week, thank you. 🤗
I have! Fortunately it is pretty much my only vice…and should last me a while. The QOR earth colors are amazing…they are really colorful and move across the paper beautifully! Thanks so much for reading Sally…let me know what you think of the QoR when you get them.
Yay, they arrived today, very quick service as I only ordered them yesterday morning, but then they didn’t have far to come. I’m looking forward to testing them out.
I did the same, taking an opportunity to buy discounted Beams paint, partly because it is a Canadian company. Those of us who live North of the 49th parallel are trying to avoid paying tariffs! Beams is a small first nations company who use natural pigments. They even put the paints on a piece of wood instead of a plastic pallet. I thought this might be gimmicky but my daughter bought me some for Christmas. The intensity is wonderful and they mix beautifully.
Absolutely beautiful--your heart in all the work you do. I'm deeply touched and 100% resonate with your advocacy for those who struggle just to navigate life. The fact that folks now find themselves so afraid really fires me up. I'd say, @K.L. Rockwell, that while expensive, you have at least chosen a HEALTHY way to manage the stress of these times, and you grace the world with such beauty as a result. May you find so much love, kindness, and and support multiplied and flowing back to you as a result of all you do.
Thank you Emmy!! I so appreciate you and love our aligned values. Before I found watercolor I was a knitting fanatic, and if the yarn was soft and colorful I would buy it. My older sister (also an avid knitter) would lecture me constantly on the need to have a pattern before a purchase. But truly I found comfort in the color.
I suppose it's practical to have a pattern first. I've made hats for everyone in my office ...of really good yarn. I had to explain to them that I see a yarn I'd really like to try...to see if I want to launch a bigger project with it, and I'll buy one skein.
Hats usually take just one, so ...everybody got a hat. LIMH!
You're opening my eyes to new products for returning to watercolors. Wow, that goes back decades! I still have my papers, paints, etc. from that era. Seeing these little palettes, though, makes my fingers itchty.
Honestly with what you deal with coupled with what we are all dealing with, I think your paint compulsion is a very sane way of coping. It adds to the versatility of your art—you know it does—and you end up selling more work. People enjoy hearing about your process and seeing your work or even buying it. Do not despair.
I did?! I will have to go back and edit. They are one of my favorites. I have 30 more colors coming from Deep Deep and there are loads of blues. The one I really like in my current set is Starry Night. I told the owners to send me one of their bigger tins because I am pretty sure I am going to get the entire color range from them.
I swatched mine last night and they were really fun. I also added their Potter’s Pink to my set. I also really liked the caps on their tubes…easy to open!!
I truly did not understand swatching until I read “Color In and Color Out” and now it is essential to me. You made swatching a separate art form!! I even stopped hating yarn swatching because you of. 🤭
I really like your paintings and was delighted to see in this writing that you are working with folks on our Oregon coast with housing. Nice to see someone local here. We are farmers in the Willamette valley so not too far away. Painting is such a beautiful distraction for all the difficulties in our lives now.
Hi Leslie! My family spent a decade in the valley before moving to the coast. We now visit it on our vacations! I just subscribed to your Substack and saw the little lambs…a true sign of spring!! Thanks so much for the comment.
When focusing on painting, I find it therapeutic and healing ❤️🩹. Being Compassionate to others and being self compassionate are equally important.
Yep. Even a few years back, I had to calm the fears of friends who thought they might lose something valuable and necessary at any moment.
I have to say, every so often, I talk to my kids about that sort of thing for myself. They keep me calm and focused; "Mom, you can do this."
The best we can do is, as you said; project calmness with no fear; and the assurance that if help is needed, help will come. "You can do this!"
God bless
Yes, we can do this!!
P.S. Colour :)
The way you weave real-world weight with the wild joy of creation is something else. From housing advocacy to watercolor obsession, it all speaks to the same thing: care, depth, and the drive to make something meaningful. Also, that paint list? A masterpiece in itself. Excited to see what you create next!
What a wonderful comment/compliment. Thank you!!
Love your spirit! I am a housing advocate as well, add clean water access to that roof! Here in Hawaii absolutely not enough affordable housing. In fact I’m forced to move. Long story. Very sad situation. Our state encourages tourism, trust me they are begged to spend here and the Governor a physician just doesn’t get it at all. In adequate everything! More people moving here. Houses sit empty as bed and breakfasts. While people live in bushes. Really inequalities seen here. I have lived here 25 yrs. My partner since 1969. No affordable housing. Ask the Maui fire victims. Corruption rampant. Much aloha…
Susan! I have read and heard stories about the housing crisis in Hawaii. It really is heartbreaking.
It’s shameful. Most people never know. And just never have a medical emergency here. Care not available to 200,000 residents Big Island . We are ignored and neglected. Just incredible. Maui was the tip of the ice berg.
😞
This sounds like a very positive and creative strategy in dealing with all life is throwing at you at the moment. And there is joy in a pencil, or a skein or a watercolour pan😊I had not come across the notion of dot cards till I read your notes, by the way….I presume they are sample sets? Can’t recall if I mentioned a recent find in a Manchester art gallery…some individual tins of lightfast watercolour pans in earth colours made in Cumbria…only 5 or 6 colours produced from locally sourced pigments, and mead is involved, somehow. Look up Florence art centre Egremont if curious, though I appreciate you may be more inclined more to water and trees and sky.
I will absolutely check that out. Thanks for the wonderful and kind comment Pip!
Wow you have had a huge monetary spend up. I would love to buy the A.Gallo, but the cost inc,using postage is prohibitive considering I don’t paint enough these days. I do have an order in for the QOR Earth Colours though. I love your mountains and I love that you have such a commitment to your job. Housing is getting as bad here with rents having gone up tremendously and our State Government having brought in land tax on properties you own but don’t live in, hence they are being sold off rapidly. A great post on paints this week, thank you. 🤗
I have! Fortunately it is pretty much my only vice…and should last me a while. The QOR earth colors are amazing…they are really colorful and move across the paper beautifully! Thanks so much for reading Sally…let me know what you think of the QoR when you get them.
Yay, they arrived today, very quick service as I only ordered them yesterday morning, but then they didn’t have far to come. I’m looking forward to testing them out.
I love instant gratification! Our mail service is not so swift … sometimes it takes weeks to get something mailed from in state.
I will for sure 🤗
I did the same, taking an opportunity to buy discounted Beams paint, partly because it is a Canadian company. Those of us who live North of the 49th parallel are trying to avoid paying tariffs! Beams is a small first nations company who use natural pigments. They even put the paints on a piece of wood instead of a plastic pallet. I thought this might be gimmicky but my daughter bought me some for Christmas. The intensity is wonderful and they mix beautifully.
Small indulgences can go a long way.
Keep the faith.
Oh I have seen some Beams demos and might have to check them out! Thanks for the words of encouragement…I appreciate it!
Absolutely beautiful--your heart in all the work you do. I'm deeply touched and 100% resonate with your advocacy for those who struggle just to navigate life. The fact that folks now find themselves so afraid really fires me up. I'd say, @K.L. Rockwell, that while expensive, you have at least chosen a HEALTHY way to manage the stress of these times, and you grace the world with such beauty as a result. May you find so much love, kindness, and and support multiplied and flowing back to you as a result of all you do.
Thank you.
Anna
Anna your encouraging words and support have brought me to tears. Thank you so much. 🤗 🥰 🙏
I do this with yarn. I have a yarn stash that will clothe a small troop of Zombies should it come to that.
I just subscribed to do a very small part to help with your manner if stress relief- because it's beautiful.
We are 'governed' by a group of people with no art of any kind in their soul. Even the 'art' of the deal doesn't seem to be possible for them.
Thank you Emmy!! I so appreciate you and love our aligned values. Before I found watercolor I was a knitting fanatic, and if the yarn was soft and colorful I would buy it. My older sister (also an avid knitter) would lecture me constantly on the need to have a pattern before a purchase. But truly I found comfort in the color.
I suppose it's practical to have a pattern first. I've made hats for everyone in my office ...of really good yarn. I had to explain to them that I see a yarn I'd really like to try...to see if I want to launch a bigger project with it, and I'll buy one skein.
Hats usually take just one, so ...everybody got a hat. LIMH!
Funny!! I love that you do that! Knit and gift is the best.
You're opening my eyes to new products for returning to watercolors. Wow, that goes back decades! I still have my papers, paints, etc. from that era. Seeing these little palettes, though, makes my fingers itchty.
Time to dive back in Sue!! 🤗
I agree.
Honestly with what you deal with coupled with what we are all dealing with, I think your paint compulsion is a very sane way of coping. It adds to the versatility of your art—you know it does—and you end up selling more work. People enjoy hearing about your process and seeing your work or even buying it. Do not despair.
I really appreciate your comment and encouragement Alexandra, thank you!! I also enjoy our paint conversations so much!! 🤗 🥰
Any suggestions on interesting blues from DeepDeep? You forgot your Szmal palettes.
Good catch on Roman Szmal! I even forgot him in the dot cards.
I did?! I will have to go back and edit. They are one of my favorites. I have 30 more colors coming from Deep Deep and there are loads of blues. The one I really like in my current set is Starry Night. I told the owners to send me one of their bigger tins because I am pretty sure I am going to get the entire color range from them.
I snagged some MaimeriBlu on Jackson’s last week! Can’t wait to play.
I swatched mine last night and they were really fun. I also added their Potter’s Pink to my set. I also really liked the caps on their tubes…easy to open!!
my colors are a practice in mindfulness and deep caring. I totally understand you. xoxo
I truly did not understand swatching until I read “Color In and Color Out” and now it is essential to me. You made swatching a separate art form!! I even stopped hating yarn swatching because you of. 🤭
I love this play with colors! Your piece dovetails with my latest post about creativity in troubled times, Cats in Art: watercolor. Great minds😹
Just read your latest post and you are spot on! What a great read.