looking at landscapes
paints and water on the page
my masterpieces- Aviva Saidel
August 11, 2017
Petaluma California
“We trekked through tall grass and found our platform. Watched the rowers slice by, focused on the ripples, leaves, graffiti. A yellow-shafted flicker feather stood out on the dark dirt. We found out later that it’s a symbol of good luck and healing—striking us as a perfect interpretation of our morning.”
July 14, 2020
in person remote Horner Park
“I found that when water is put onto the paper first, then the color can disperse freely and take it’s own path.”
July 13, 2018
Lincoln Park
Leslie met me in the back garden area of my apartment, and I had hoped the space would be clean, manicured, and peaceful. It had been such a space all summer. Contractors, however, had just begun a large refinishing project on the building two days prior. Construction materials were strewn about, and my precious garden was already turning down in preparation for autumn.
I was anxious.
We cleared dirt off the picnic tables and repositioned them so we could work side by side. We sat down, chatted about watercolor materials, and then got to work and shared intimate and quiet thoughts continuously. Leslie built up two or three brilliantly, colored watercolors. I lost track of the brilliant colors and found an image of grays.
As time elapsed, I was restored and whole.
Leslie met me in the back garden area of my apartment, and I had hoped the space would be clean, manicured, and peaceful. It had been such a space all summer. Contractors, however, had just begun a large refinishing project on the building two days prior. Construction materials were strewn about, and my precious garden was already turning down in preparation for autumn.
I was anxious.
We cleared dirt off the picnic tables and repositioned them so we could work side by side. We sat down, chatted about watercolor materials, and then got to work and shared intimate and quiet thoughts continuously. Leslie built up two or three brilliantly, colored watercolors. I lost track of the brilliant colors and found an image of grays.
As time elapsed, I was restored and whole.
August 13, 2019
Hyde Park
How wonderful to spend the morning contemplating the beauty of a tree, even if I couldn’t capture its beauty. It was beautiful just to sit and stare at it and the way the light was filtering through its leaves.
September 5, 2020
Humboldt Park
An Afternoon at the Beach: Pink puffy clouds, soft wind, a grassy knoll and crashing waves. A splendid afternoon with my cousin at the beach.
March 5, 2020
Boca Raton Beach
Green and Yellow Waves
Sunlight
Yellow-Green
Edges
Blue-Green
Shadows
Yellow-green
Yellow
Yellow-green
Sunlight
April 20, 2018
Garfield Park Conservatory
in the thick warm air
wet color with you and I
a thousand greens here.
February 28, 2020
Garfield Park Conservatory
September 29, 2021
Humboldt Park
It was the most beautiful Summer day. The kind of summer day where time seems to slow down. I was thinking about how you perceive things that are alive, when juxtaposed with death. Painting with Leslie that day felt like praying. Made me think about this Mary Oliver poem.
July 23, 2019
Humboldt Park
for Leslie
my lucky brain
is stretching
popping the knots
extending
neural branches
easily
while painting
leafy patterns
and blooms
the riot of variety
in the greenhouse
is almost overwhelming
sitting in one place
it takes hours
to open our eyes
conversation flows
like watercolor
in hues of our own
choosing
planted spirits
teach us to see
and to be
January 20, 2020
Garfield Park Conservatory
