Annie Leibovitz
These pastels, handmade by the late painter, Georgia O’Keefe, were colored with ingredients found in the local landscape at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico. Every day on my walk from the casa to the ranch’s dining hall for supper, I see these colors in hills and stones and sky. Every day I am left breathless with the majesty of the natural world.
Casa del Sol
Indulging in true creativity requires empty time and empty space. In those spaces of time, where the land creates a quickening in your heart, writing and drawing and painting leap forth like kenneled dogs, yearning to be set free.
The pinks and oranges and purples stun the senses, appearing quickly, then disappearing; an ethereal show in the sky perfect to paint in pastels and acrylics. I’m always the first one in line at the dining hall, to have supper at 5:30, because the walk back to the Casa is 2 miles. Light changes quickly, creating shadows and colors that flutter like hummingbirds, present for a few moments, then gone. I have to hurry to get home before dark before the whole show packs up and readies itself for the next day’s performance. Nature really is performance art…don’t you agree?
Sometimes I just can’t believe my own eyes. As Mary Oliver said: I am a bride married to amazement. My greatest indulgences are innocent: color, shadow, light, stones, sky, sun, dirt, texture, and all sorts of creatures, both great and small. I have lost myself, dwelling in Them.
Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous!
Nature really is performance art . . . Exquisite images, Monica.
Nature truly is performance art, I agree wholeheartedly, Monica. The colours shown in the rocks of Casa del Sol look amazing!
I had to think about a thought you've expressed here saying that "indulging in true creativity requires empty time and empty space". An intriguing thought I need to ponder over… Thank you.
Bravo! Your art is amazing.
Empty time and empty space, once so precious, become a little scarey for us as we age. It is nice to be reminded of the value. Thanks.
I'm attempting another comment.
Your photos are lovely. I spent time in Abiquiu about 6 years ago and just loved it. Would really love to return to that big sky land.
The sky is so wide, and the sun, even in winter, is so brilliant. A good break from the black & white Alaskan winter landscape. Return! Return!
So many colors! Gorgeous, unique photos.
Thank you, Mary Anne. It is a landscape I return to every year; as precious as my Alaskan home.