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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

The Whats and The Wheres

The Headlands
The Headlands
The Headlands
I love the pacific coast.  I mean that with every stitch of my soul.  I have water in my veins and simply can't imagine a life without rivers and seas and lakes all converging.  Sunday evening I grabbed my camera and strolled out through the Mendocino Headlands.  This particular section of coast is devastatingly beautiful, hard and merciless in storms, elegantly rugged, and breathtaking enough to bring one to their knees.  Pelicans dot the sky like sheet music and quail are tame enough to scold your footsteps.
It's Magical with a capitol M.
* * *


Monday morning I pulled over on a high cliff where wild arugula clung perilously one hundred feet above the rocky surf.  It was so... big.  The sky, the sea, the mountains rising sharply behind, the enveloping scent of eucalyptus and salt.  I wanted to photograph it for you, to try and explain what it feels like to stand on the very edge of the West and feel the infinite possibilities of breath but when I looked at the images later, they fell short.  Kind of like trying to paint the full spectrum of a rainbow with a single tube of blue paint.  You need to see it for yourself.  I say this to plant the seed in your mind; write it on your bucket list: visit the wilds of Northern California.

* * *

 These dirty hands are my personal stamp of artistry, and pages upon pages of drawings tribute to the richness of the land.  And chroma, oh the scope and mind-blowing possibilities of chroma.  I am the kid in the candy shop.  The one who did get that whiskey neat after all.
I should mention that this past weekend was officially a "research, development, collection and education" weekend.  For that I have you wonderful friends to thank; this spring and summer has been my time to invest in myself.   By that I mean taking business funds, ALL thanks to your gorgeous support, and reinvesting them in education and tool expansion.  There is no way this would have been possible without you.  And I want you to know I am endlessly grateful and that I will squander color, never hoard it.  You have my promise.
~ Umber ~

13 comments:

Allisunny S. said...

I miss you. Creating next to you was sheer joy and watching you blend and sift and paint and smile was like therapy: little bits of me came flying back this weekend partially from your buoyant gravity!

Thank you.

LOVE.
A

MrsLittleJeans said...

I very much indeed share with you the love of water....only if I could have my toe tips in water all the time : )

and I did smell the eucalyptus too...thank you K...xoxo

Libellula Jewelry™ said...

Thank you for sharing such beautiful photos. :)

prairiegirl said...

I sense renewal and contentment. Pure magic drawn on pages, enameled beauties and dirty hands to prove it. The ocean air and sand and water are a big part of who you are. You're so ALIVE! Are you sure you're not a mermaid? And your little quail friend on the rock...thanks for sharing your time with us.

Beth said...

I know what you mean about photos that don't quite capture what you see and experience- but I believe that your photos and words must come so close. It's all so lovely. And everytime I see one of your bunnies with their long lovely ears they leap right out at me and stir something in my soul. Truly.

Farm and Field said...

It is a pleasure to support your continual growth and education! Thank you for sharing your photos.

Nichole said...

gorgeous, almost devastatingly so. and those sketches on your notebook are so lovely! i can't imagine the wonders you'd dreamt up in your notebook that we never see.

lindy said...

I love the Mendicino area. Spectacular beauty! There is nothing like the Pacific Coast.
Lovely lovely photos of what I am sure was an awesome weekend!

lynsey said...

Gorgeous images, I just love your posts so much

Cat said...

this post actually brought tears to my eyes...silly I know
I love Medocino...
I love the coast..she gives me life
my coast is a little more rugged, but equally as magical
I will meet you down there, if you meet me up here ; )
I feel the joy and gratitude here Miss Dove
your heart is full and bursting at the seams
can't wait to see what this all brings♥

love and light

Unknown said...

Do you have any idea how inspiring you are and how much I've come to relish reading your posts? Well you are! And I do :)

p.s. there is a slight possibility we'll be driving through Humboldt county in oh... just a few days.. on the 2nd or third. And if that possibility manifests, would you maybe wanna go for a walk in the woods with me and take our sketchbooks too? I'd sorta LOVE that.

UmberDove said...

I love reading all your words.

I really do.

M+ said...

Very beautiful post!
Love your new banner.
Love the colours you're creating...
Happy weekend!