Painting The Moon

Adding a little shine to the dark days.

One of my favorite subjects to paint is the moon.

I have had a fascination with it for as long as I can remember. It is mysterious, captivating, inspirational. It can be spiritual and scientific. Occasionally, it can be ominous. Always it is beautiful and will hold my attention for hours. Sometimes teh moon takes my breath away. And, it pairs perfectly with a tree, a field, a mountain, a river or an ocean.

I’m not alone. Creative souls across time have paid homage to the moon in countless songs, poems, and paintings… like two of my favorites: Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” or Turner’s “The Fighting Temeraire.”

Like many children, I spent hours sticking little glow-in-the-dark stars and planets to my ceiling, with the moon being the focal point directly above my head at night.

My first moon song memory was from the musical Cats. When I was young my parents took me to a traveling production with the original cast. To this day I still remember Grizabella pelting out the song “Memories” under the glow of a huge on-stage moon.

When I was a little older I fell in love with Audrey Hepburn, I wanted to emulate her. "Moon River" from Breakfast at Tiffany's was my theme song. A song as graceful and romantic as Audrey herself.

I have chased the moon, slept under the moon, and watched the moon rise and set.

I Jazzercized to CCR’s “Bad Moon Rising” and crushed on Bruce Willis in Moonlighting. I listened to the album Dark Side of the Moon (while watching Wizard of Oz) with my college friends.

The moon has accompanied me on dates, and was there when I first held hands with my partner in life (now married for 27 years). One of our favorite songs is “Moonshadow” by Cat Steven’s.

There was a full moon the day our son was born. His favorite book as a child was “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown.

As a family, we watch the Pacific Ocean tides roll in and out, created by the gravity of the moon.

The moon has been a constant companion and accessory to my life. When it is robust I am too. When it is dark I tend to be a little more subdued. It marks the passage of time and represents life and love.

I have a relationship with the moon. It is my muse.

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Shop Update

Probably not a surprise, but I spent a lot of time painting moon themed illustrations and watercolors in November. These and new card selections are now available on my website at www.klrockwell.com

Paintings

Thank you to everyone supporting my creative adventures!

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