Waking Early

2006

22" X 30"

Oil on Panel

SOLD

Journal Entry
14 January 2006

55 degrees at dawn. UGH ! what a winter.

     Wood grain needs to dry before glazing so I’ll work on the center room.
A study of shadows. How does each material absorb/reflect the light differently?
The wood absorbs and so the grain has to be built up and glazed over
as you might oil the wood panel over the years to preserve it
while the painted surfaces reflect the light
so you have to build up the surface (just as you would apply several layers to the real moulding)
and then touch the edges with highlights and accents on top like the sun does.

Have to go out searching for this title
something as intensely proud with meaning as is the rendering.
The core that speaks to the powerful femininity
of the handquilted “grandmother’s cottage by the sea”
and my personal experience of coming to wakefulness in that room.

Revisited the Mary Oliver book of poetry at hand…
“Why I wake early”
“Hello, sun in my face.”
Yes.