Moods & Motions Art Studio
The name moods & motions came to me in my sleep. I had been pondering a name for my new art studio for some time in 1990. I was reaching the stage of professional artist, becoming known, building my first website and selling my art in galleries, therefore I needed a name for my art studio and the business side of art. I lived and painted in the majestic Rocky Mountains, they were my initial inspiration for painting, and I thought mountain should bein it.
One night I awoke with the name, moods & motions of the mountains, in my head, arose, wrote it down and went back to sleep. By morning I had forgotten all about it, until I found the piece of paper I had written it on, Moods & Motions of the Mountains. Yes, that works I though. I have stood in the splendor and been in awe of the Rocky Mountains while living and painting in them, thus acquiring my love for them. I have experienced the moods and the motions of the mountains in every creation I have painted, high up in them surrounded by water and forest. I did however after deliberation, drop the word mountain to include still life, portrait, and abstract paintings in the circle of my work. The name Moods & Motions Art fit my expressive work and has remained intact for my art studio and business ever since.
I will try to explain my thoughts on outdoor painting and how I experience the moods and motions while painting in the landscape, as it is an awesome thing to behold. You start the process by packing your art supplies into the vehicle with a zest of anticipation of the adventure to come. You drive to your destination and there arrange your paraphernalia, pick the right spot for the best view, set up easel and for a few minutes let what you are looking at jell in your mind. Moods and motions happen in the bright light of a sunny day, in the drizzling rain with chills running around, or it can even be on a late autumns day with snowflakes on face and canvas. It is in these moments while out painting that the moods change as the drifting clouds pass by, casting their shadows and as the sun comes and goes, the shadows move and it happens, I call it the dance of motion. The shadows come and go moving across the landscape while you are standing still, quick and slow they go in a beautiful rhapsody.
One night I awoke with the name, moods & motions of the mountains, in my head, arose, wrote it down and went back to sleep. By morning I had forgotten all about it, until I found the piece of paper I had written it on, Moods & Motions of the Mountains. Yes, that works I though. I have stood in the splendor and been in awe of the Rocky Mountains while living and painting in them, thus acquiring my love for them. I have experienced the moods and the motions of the mountains in every creation I have painted, high up in them surrounded by water and forest. I did however after deliberation, drop the word mountain to include still life, portrait, and abstract paintings in the circle of my work. The name Moods & Motions Art fit my expressive work and has remained intact for my art studio and business ever since.
I will try to explain my thoughts on outdoor painting and how I experience the moods and motions while painting in the landscape, as it is an awesome thing to behold. You start the process by packing your art supplies into the vehicle with a zest of anticipation of the adventure to come. You drive to your destination and there arrange your paraphernalia, pick the right spot for the best view, set up easel and for a few minutes let what you are looking at jell in your mind. Moods and motions happen in the bright light of a sunny day, in the drizzling rain with chills running around, or it can even be on a late autumns day with snowflakes on face and canvas. It is in these moments while out painting that the moods change as the drifting clouds pass by, casting their shadows and as the sun comes and goes, the shadows move and it happens, I call it the dance of motion. The shadows come and go moving across the landscape while you are standing still, quick and slow they go in a beautiful rhapsody.
In nature you become one with all, the warmth of the sun, the hum of a bee at the flowers by your feet, a song or call of a bird in the distance, a busy squirrel in a rush scampering about here and there, with a stop to check you out, wondering what you are doing in his backyard. A fly by your ear gives it’s opinion of the paint on the canvas. Hours spent in total concentration, studying the scene in front of you, trying to find the right colour on the palette to match what you are looking at, and while interpreting and consolidating it on the canvas, is when it happens.
You must be still, be the observer and stay in the silence for an extended period of time, then when you are in this state the dance of motion captures you. In the stillness you become one with nature, lost in it, as if in a trance like state and time passes that you are unaware of, the painting process takes over and the painting creates itself and the next thing you know the painting is complete and finished. You stop, realize you have missed lunch, are now hungry and it is beginning to get dark.
This will occur in the stillness of space and time while painting alla prima en plein air. It will happen in the studio, or a busy roadside, but the best is, if you are in total nature, away from the distractions and bustle of everyday life and where you can feel the splendour of the day.
The four seasons give you moods as well, winter days with snow in trees, the pea green of eager spring, the full blush of summer, and then along comes colourful autumn and trumps them all with her show of brilliant foliage and a added softness of air. This of course is my favourite season by far.
It is while you are there in the silence of nature with the constantly changing light, intent on capturing the right colour and shape, it begins to happen and it feels like you are watching the dance of nature in motion and then it overwhelms you as nature slips into your soul and then comes out as happy brush strokes on canvas. You become one with all, the wildlife, the birds and bees, with the trees and wild flowers, and even with the ground you are standing on, you are in awe of the grandeur and everything feels alive and wonderful. It becomes an addictive happy place of bliss.
You must be still, be the observer and stay in the silence for an extended period of time, then when you are in this state the dance of motion captures you. In the stillness you become one with nature, lost in it, as if in a trance like state and time passes that you are unaware of, the painting process takes over and the painting creates itself and the next thing you know the painting is complete and finished. You stop, realize you have missed lunch, are now hungry and it is beginning to get dark.
This will occur in the stillness of space and time while painting alla prima en plein air. It will happen in the studio, or a busy roadside, but the best is, if you are in total nature, away from the distractions and bustle of everyday life and where you can feel the splendour of the day.
The four seasons give you moods as well, winter days with snow in trees, the pea green of eager spring, the full blush of summer, and then along comes colourful autumn and trumps them all with her show of brilliant foliage and a added softness of air. This of course is my favourite season by far.
It is while you are there in the silence of nature with the constantly changing light, intent on capturing the right colour and shape, it begins to happen and it feels like you are watching the dance of nature in motion and then it overwhelms you as nature slips into your soul and then comes out as happy brush strokes on canvas. You become one with all, the wildlife, the birds and bees, with the trees and wild flowers, and even with the ground you are standing on, you are in awe of the grandeur and everything feels alive and wonderful. It becomes an addictive happy place of bliss.