Wandering this World, I wonder about the wide open spaces... the valley I live in, painting it, and taking home a small part of it in painting or picture. The blue sky and the blue mountains speak to my soul, and the rocks i see give the world bones. The green worlds that reside here paint the whole world over, that which the American masters popularized in watercolor art they captured. There's always action in the still valleys around me, but I have to sit quieter than them to see the history in the valley's geology and ecology, and slowly I see the geology and life pushing up into cognizance around me. How can we be so concerned with worshipping the creator, and be so busy destroying his creation? 

Consumption Takes; This inspires me to redesign what I do, renew what I use, and regenerate what I value. Maybe that way I can appreciate my community,
but also the world and environment in which i live... and, maybe so I can see what's really in front of me to be annealed and singular and industrious and merchantable...

I work in watercolor because it's water based, cleans up easily, and uses up very little of anything. There’s no fumes and it’s mainly inert. Won’t soak through your skin, and you use only a little tiny amount of pigment. I usually begin with cerulean blue for the sky, typically, and paint it out with a pigment and warm water, and that makes it cheap enough to do with my artists income. I don't make my materials to save money, but I do try to source them from the USA(though that is sometimes a trial). I use synthetic and natural materials. 

Painting always leaves me 'A Something New' that I've spent my time on and can leave nature's beauty left unspoiled. Often we’re picking up litter when we’re finished to leave it cleaner than we found it as in the old adage ‘Leave Only Footprints’. Though, I usually leave the fire rings untouched, but they’re not supposed to be there if it’s not a campground.

My tradition grows out of the American examples. My teacher painted with other transparent watercolor artists and I studied some of the American Masters whom popularized the artform. Most of my work comes from studies of space and geomorphology; and a lot of what we see around us in the wilderness is a product of ecology, including climate. Seemingly, life creates space/time for life to thrive in and around upon. This fascination of mine with conservation and environment has influenced me in both subject, and by my removing human elements and structures. I ask myself 'can I somehow feel and paint the ancient legacy? Is there someway to see our near past and distant future? Other artists have given me technique, while often what I paint is from my own imagination even when out painting in open air. I would like my art to be realistic, but not documentary; where mine is half-real and half imagination lying somewhere between what you see around you and connection to what-could-be. And that is especially the manner I paint in when I'm studio painting.

I also paint because I'm interested in sitting out unbothered by time or money in this Paradise I live in while training my Artist’s Eye. I sometimes paint in front of people so they too may see the transitions of works in progress until finished. And sometimes I paint works in progress (WIP) on IG or FB. Limitations I've always ran into is how do I show action in a still picture. Often in our wing-ding world, something still or quiet doesn't intrigue our interest, so for me to do this is difficult to make my serene landscapes announce or recreate a squirrel burying a nut or bears climbing trees. As well, in my work I need and expect for light to transmit through the work rather than be absorbed or sucked into it. For it to bounce into vibrant color; And for you to walk away somehow more serene because of what this is I've painted through the creation of space/time for one to view my painting with. 

These days my paintings now take longer and even with computer art I’ve made. I have to set up the picture using a computer, render it, and then and only then do I have my picture or painting.

You may find me here or by visiting my facebook page FB@Painting75 to see what I've been up to even though I haven't been around much.

Thanks For Visiting and Happy Trails

-=Victor V.

Alder Artworks

Low Footprint Art For A BigFoot World