‘Under the Big Sky’ New Work Exhibition
The Avenue Gallery, Victoria BC. Canada – October 11 -22, 2019 Reception 1-3 pm. Saturday the 13th ‘Under the Big Sky’ a series of sky-scape paintings that took me on a trip into my past with the assistance of my favourite song writers and poets. The series became a homage to the literary artists that had an impact on me in my formative years. I found myself humming and even singing songs while out painting under the big sky ( this offering are all plein air studies done off the back of my place in Nanoose Bay ) I became fascinated with what songs or poems the sky studies evoked. At first there seemed to be no connection but as the work developed It became clear that these tunes were effecting and reflecting the work. I couldn’t tell you what came first the image or the song but it didn’t matter as the process took on a life of it’s own…
‘Monday Morning Blues’ – Mississippi John Hurt
I woke up this morning… I woke up this morning… Woke up this morning,
with the monday morning blues. I couldn’t hardly find…
I couldn’t hardly find… I couldn’t hardly find, my monday morning shoes.
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
The Tyger’ – William Blake
Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
Both Sides, Now – Joni Mitchell
I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It’s cloud’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
‘Riders On The Storm’ – The Doors, 1967
Into this house we’re born
Into this world we’re thrown
Like a dog without a bone
An actor out on loan
Riders on the storm
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
‘And Death Shall Have No Dominion’ – Dylan Thomas
And death shall have no dominion.
Dead men naked they shall be one With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
Across The Universe -The Beatles
Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes,
That call me on and on across the universe,
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box they
Tumble blindly as they make their way
Across the universe
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
‘Into The Mystic’ – Van Morrison
We were born before the wind
Also younger than the sun
Ere the bonnie boat was won as we sailed into the mystic
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
‘She’s Like A Rainbow’ – The Rolling Stones, 1967
She comes in colors ev’rywhere;
She combs her hair
She’s like a rainbow
Coming, colors in the air
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
‘Whiter Shade of Pale – Procol Harum
We skipped the light fandango
Turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor
I was feeling kinda seasick
But the crowd called out for more
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
‘Turn! Turn! Turn! – The Byrds
To everything -turn turn turn
There’s a season- turn turn turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven
‘Gimme Shelter’ – The Rolling Stones
Oh, a storm is threat’ning
My very life today
If I don’t get some shelter
Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
‘Tuesday Afternoon’ The Moody Blues
I’m looking at myself reflections of my mind
It’s just the kind of day to leave myself behind
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
‘All Along The Watchtower’ – Bob Dylan ( Jimi Hendrix rendition )
No reason to get excited
The thief he kindly spoke
There are many here among us
Who feel that life is but a joke
But, uh, but you and I, we’ve been through that
And this is not our fate
So let us stop talkin’ falsely now
The hour’s getting late.
‘Monday Monday’ – The Mamas and the Papas
Monday, Monday, can´t trust that day
Monday, Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way
Oh Monday mornin´ you gave me no warnin´ of what was to be
Oh Monday, Monday, how could you leave and not take me
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
‘Spirit In The Sky’ – Norman Greenbaum
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that’s the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin’ up to the spirit in the sky
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
Blow wind blow, wherever you may go
Put on your overcoat, take me into the night
Take me into the night, blow me away
I ride upon a field mouse
I was dancin’ in the slaughterhouse
And it was swing along the beltway
You skid along there all day
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
‘Fire and Rain’ – James Taylor
I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain
I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I’d see you again
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
‘Levon’ – Elton John
Levon’s sells cartoon balloons in town
His family business thrives
Jesus blows up balloons all day
Sits on the porch swing watching them fly
And Jesus, he wants to go to Venus
Leave Levon far behind
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
‘Moondance’ – Van Morrison
Well, it’s a marvelous night for a moondance
With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
’Neath the cover of October skies
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
‘Blue Skies’ Irving Berln, Willie Nelson
Blue skies smilin’ at me
Nothin’ but blue skies do I see
Bluebirds singin’ a song
Nothin’ but blue skies from now on
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
‘Closing Time’ – Leonard Cohen
And it’s once for the devil and once for Christ
But the boss don’t like these dizzy heights
We’re busted in the blinding lights, of closing time.
12 X 12 in. oil on prepared board (plein air study)
‘For What its Worth’ – Buffalo Springfield
There’s something happening here
But what it is ain’t exactly clear
There’s a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware.
‘Stack In Rainstorm’
‘Here Comes The Rain Again’ – The Eurythmics
I want to walk in the open wind
I want to talk like lovers do
I want to dive into your ocean
Is it raining with you
oil on canvas 48in. X 48in.
‘Spirit in The Sky’
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that’s the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin’ up to the spirit in the sky
oil on canvas 48 in X 48 in X 2
