The Fall Paintings
With friendship in mind, I would like to start the new year by sharing a series of recent paintings. Sharing my work and artistic experiences feels vital and urgent in this moment set against our overwhelming political sorrows.
This fall, Melanie and I found ways to disperse our anxiety by getting into the woods and fields, chasing sunrises and sunsets. Often, we grabbed a cup of coffee and walked a short distance to our orchard, to witness the sun coming up. Other times, we walked the Grasslands, a project of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, listening for birds and watching the high grasses move in the wind. Their palette of earthy siennas and ochres felt poignant and moved me to want to paint the work seen here. I want these paintings to have direct, juicy brushmarks, and rich earthly colors of fall.
Painting is the catalyst by which I find my way through difficult passages and create meaning in my life, and I wanted to share this experience with you, my circle of friends. As this body of work evolved I wanted to put even more into these paintings and went into my woodshop to make simple handmade frames to complete each piece.
If you are be interested in collecting something in this series, as a gesture of friendship, I will include the frame and shipping free of charge. Send me an email at richardkooymanart@gmail.com and we can work out the payment and shipping logistics
