Tuesday, December 22, 2009



Wheel Lines in Snow

Watercolor on archival paper, 6" x 6"
$125 plus $6 shipping in U.S.
SOLD

I love how a blanket of snow clarifies things visually. Shapes and contrasts become beautifully graphic and crisp. I've studied the irrigation wheel lines for years, but this is my first painting of them. If these lines weren't secured to the ground with steel posts, the winter winds would blow them across the field, twisting the pipe into a mess of spaghetti.

I am overwhelmed by all of you who have written or called in response to the loss of my mother. I'm deeply moved and grateful for your expressions of kindness and support...thank you!

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

wonderful composition and the colours brimming with cold. now how do these wheels work if they are held down by iron bars? r

David Page Coffin said...

Gorgeous, spare, elegant, not a misplaced nor an extraneous stroke, elegiac… Wow.

Ann Buckner said...

Wow, wonderful painting.

Pierre Raby said...

I love this piece Don!

Laurel Daniel said...

This is beautiful - I can just feel the coldness and love the shapes. So, so sorry to hear about your mom... what a wonderful legacy she left in her suppport of your art! She had to be so proud of you.

Patrice said...

This is really a stunning image; it's as if you were drawing in/on the winter air and the lines just froze there - into this composition.

The wheels themselves remind me of May Ray and Duchamp sculptures. They seem more about art to me than function! But then - that's an artist's brain for you.

marc roder said...

Man is that clean and spare. A perfect little painting, what a well observed gem!

Don Gray said...

Hi Rahina--thanks.

The lines are only used in spring/summer. In the winter they are staked down, because we get some fierce winds then.

Don Gray said...

David--what a fine compliment you honor me with--thank you!

Don Gray said...

Thank you, Ann.

Don Gray said...

Pierre--thanks, my friend.

Don Gray said...

Hi Laurel--thanks so much for your supportive words.

Don Gray said...

What an interesting comment, Patrice--thank you. I like the reference to Man Ray/Duchamp, and the "found art" aesthetic. I've always thought there was more than a little art in these strange snakes on wheels!

Don Gray said...

Hey Marc--good to hear from you and thanks a lot. Merry Christmas!

Dar Presto said...

So beautiful, Don! I keep coming back to look at it.

SamArtDog said...

This is extraordinary, Don. Yes, that's precisely the word. I also loved the words Patrice used. You fill us all.

martha miller said...

fabulous!

Diane Hoeptner said...

Crispy Beautiful, Don!!

Don Gray said...

Many thanks, Dar!

m collier said...

Beautiful painting. Hapyy Holidays.

Don Gray said...

Thanks Sam, what a nice thing to say.

Don Gray said...

Martha, thank you. Happy Holidays!

Don Gray said...

Thanks a lot, Diane!

Don Gray said...

I appreciate it, M. Happy Holidays to you as well!

Dean Grey said...

Don!

This looks soooooo visually interesting!

I don't think I've seen wheels poking out of the snow like this before!

A rare treat!

-Dean

Don Gray said...

Hi Dean--thanks for those generous words!