Best of 2017: Artist’s Choice
Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018
2017 had a couple of missed months, a lot of heartache for a lot of people, and while I’m very glad to see the last of it, some good did come out of it! There’s some really standout pieces from the past year that feel like a refinement of earlier themes, and it was harder than usual to find a half-dozen unsold pieces to go in the Floating Gallery for you.
The blog has been quiet this past month, but don’t worry, the cats will be posing for their usual state of the thing in a few days. =^~,~^=
February
Le Chat Gris, 8″x8″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper
This autumnal Animal Spirit glows pearly white and grey in the light of a golden harvest moon, a beautiful arch to its back and not one iota of nonsense in its gaze — but its tail is playful!
March
Gilded Sunset, 8″x8″ watercolor on Arches watercolor paper (sold)
Limned in light, this city silhouette frames the sultry sunset perfectly. It’s glowing in someone else’s home now, but it’s still one of my favorite cities from a year of strange skylines.
April was a missing month this year, a brief rest while your artist was busy recovering from surgery rather than making art or posting to the blog.
May
Prague Rock, 7″x5″ watercolor on Arches cover black paper
This gorgeous painting combines the fussy, gothic details of my Painted Ladies with a the previous city skyline conceit, gilding the towers and cornices in silver starlight and turning the world to shades of soft blue.
Not to mention the pun.
June
Emerald City, 12.2″x9.1″ watercolor on L’Aquarelle Canson Héritage paper
Apparently it was a city sort of year, I didn’t even realize I’d chosen three in a row, oops. This one is so different from the previous two, though, with its brilliant color and the green glow of the city reflecting upward onto the clouds. Plus, there’s flying monkeys.
July
Blue Moon 5, 6″x6″ ink wash and watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper (sold)
There’s a Blue Moon in January which is supposed to be fortuitous for something or other, but not this diving osprey’s future prey.
August
Sunshower, 12″x6″ watercolor on Fluid watercolor paper
Cheerful sparrows, pale winter sunshine, and a sunshower falling below the clouds. This little tree can’t wait for spring to finally give it a second chance!
September
Cataclysm, 7″x5″ watercolor on paper (sold)
If you’re still having apocalypse feelings, here’s a very special goodbye to 2017. I mean, at least we didn’t break the moon?
October also didn’t have a gallery after my father passed away in late September. Miss you, Dad.
November
The Autumn of Ashes, 8″x4″ ink on Fluid watercolor paper
That spooky fall feeling, in a year where everything was terrible. Except it wasn’t, there’s a ghost of beauty around every corner if you can find the energy to look.
December
Negative Space 2, 8″x8″ watercolor on Arches cover buff paper
I admit it was hard to choose between this painting and the next one for best of, but in the end the dates decided me. I love this painting with unabashed adoration, every tiny little drop of silver paint so painstakingly applied to the negative spaces in my zen circle.
Best of 2017
Dreaming Tree, 6″x6″ pen & ink and watercolor on Arches cover black paper (sold)
The new owner of this painting was so happy when they got it that it was worth every line etched into the soft paper with a firm stroke of the pen, every tiny star and every weird photography challenge. Trees and stars and odd, beautiful details along a horizon — it’s everything I do and more.
Which of these beauties is your favorite?
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