Waving across the River
Waving across the River

FLOOD: River

Responding to drought in Texas, I chose to draw abundant water. Spread out later like a storyboard, the drawings became a narrative in five chapters: from first Rivers, to Villages in harmony with the river, to Cities, and then Storm - the age we live in now - and finally Deluge, our future disinheritance. A selection of the drawings became a book and an art exhibition, both titled FLOOD River Village City Storm Deluge. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Tributaries
Tributaries

FLOOD: River

I had a rowboat as a child I rowed on a lake all summer. Out alone on the water I found a place of freedom and tranquility. Rowboats started to appear in the Flood drawings, and only later did I figure out what they might symbolize. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2013.

Village
Village

FLOOD: Village

Drawn in a sister's home in an ecovillage in Belfast, Maine.

The quiet, centered pattern of the houses is based on the communal spirit of that village, and on a pattern of barnacles on rocks. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2013.

Observer on the Beach
Observer on the Beach

FLOOD: Village

Reminiscent of Suzanne's cliff on the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco.

After I finished the drawing, I realized that it includes a symbol of the artist/observer on the beach. She is also in the rowboats, the houses, and walking on the trails between the trees. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Summer on the River
Summer on the River

Flood: Village

W M J and L are the initials of my husband, myself, and our daughters. Here, we each have our own attached house. This drawing is a memory/dream of summer days near lakes and oceans. We visit in boats, and in chairs we sun, read, watch, draw, and party. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Four Tree Apartment Houses
Four Tree Apartment Houses

FLOOD: Village

I just made this up. It includes three symbols new for me in the Flood drawings: house = family; chair = artist/observer of the seen and unseen; and rowboat – like the one I had as a child = freedom, action, autonomy. In these drawings, house, chair, and boat appear unbidden, recurring symbols of my life. (Their meaning was evident only later when I looked back to analyze my intuitive work.) I like the windows in the trees, and Cynthia's house on Flea Island in the distance. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Pool - Towers
Pool - Towers

FLOOD: City

The white towers of San Francisco rising above the fog first inspired the Flood series of drawings. This is an exuberant play on that idea! This unusual vantage point came easily to me since I taught perspective drawing for years. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2013.

Cliff Dwellers
Cliff Dwellers

FLOOD: City

Inspired by the islands of Boston Harbor I saw in the distance as a child – greatly modified into a fantasy! Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Market Day on the River
Market Day on the River

FLOOD: City

Inspired by the floating markets of Southeast Asia, and by San Antonio's River Walk which we had just visited. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Storm from the Sea
Storm from the Sea

FLOOD: Storm

This is how we live now in the Age of Storm. An Italian coastal village. An innocent bicyclist. The lines of rain drops are inspired by the wallpaper in a Van Gogh portrait. Look carefully: waves are starting to lap at the bottom of the main street as the storm first arrives. The decorative drawing of houses and clouds belie the violent nature of the coming storm. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2013.

Lunch on the Terrace Interrupted
Lunch on the Terrace Interrupted

FLOOD: Storm

With thanks to works by Bonnard and O'Keefe in the Phillips Collection, Washington D.C.: a leaf from O’Keefe, a terrace from Bonnard, now inundated! Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Progress
Progress

FLOOD: Storm

We live in a runaway world of rising real estate prices and taxes, a world of teardowns, gigantism, and "creative destruction." Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Swept Away
Swept Away

FLOOD: Deluge

No preliminary drawing. (None of the Flood drawings have preliminary drawing.) Deluge is a possible future for us and our warming world. We see it approaching swiftly every day in the news. (Now as I rewrite this in 2018, Deluge has arrived.) Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Cold Water Rising
Cold Water Rising

FLOOD: Deluge

Inspired by Yellow Mountain in southern China. I turned mist and cloud into terrifying deluge. Professional markers, image inverted and altered in Photoshop, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Dead Trees Fires Flowering
Dead Trees Fires Flowering

FLOOD: Deluge

I think these strange images are subliminal memories of drought, fire, and dead trees of the great Texas drought of 2011 when nearby Bastrop burned. Professional markers, image inverted and altered in Photoshop, 14” x 11”, 2013.

Deluge Destroying the Mountain City
Deluge Destroying the Mountain City

FLOOD: Deluge

I drew this violent, prophetic image after hearing of destructive mudslides in California. Drought, forest fires, and deluge lead to this. Professional markers, image inverted and altered in Photoshop, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Safe Harbor
Safe Harbor

FLOOD: Deluge

I grew up south of Boston on Quincy Bay, and visited the safe harbors of Gray Gables and Barlow's Landing on Cape Cod, and the refuge for lobster boats of Pleasant Point Gut in Maine. In this foreboding drawing of deluge and tsunami, a safe harbor is hard to find. Professional markers, image inverted and altered in Photoshop, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Waving across the River
Tributaries
Village
Observer on the Beach
Summer on the River
Four Tree Apartment Houses
Pool - Towers
Cliff Dwellers
Market Day on the River
Storm from the Sea
Lunch on the Terrace Interrupted
Progress
Swept Away
Cold Water Rising
Dead Trees Fires Flowering
Deluge Destroying the Mountain City
Safe Harbor
Waving across the River

FLOOD: River

Responding to drought in Texas, I chose to draw abundant water. Spread out later like a storyboard, the drawings became a narrative in five chapters: from first Rivers, to Villages in harmony with the river, to Cities, and then Storm - the age we live in now - and finally Deluge, our future disinheritance. A selection of the drawings became a book and an art exhibition, both titled FLOOD River Village City Storm Deluge. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Tributaries

FLOOD: River

I had a rowboat as a child I rowed on a lake all summer. Out alone on the water I found a place of freedom and tranquility. Rowboats started to appear in the Flood drawings, and only later did I figure out what they might symbolize. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2013.

Village

FLOOD: Village

Drawn in a sister's home in an ecovillage in Belfast, Maine.

The quiet, centered pattern of the houses is based on the communal spirit of that village, and on a pattern of barnacles on rocks. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2013.

Observer on the Beach

FLOOD: Village

Reminiscent of Suzanne's cliff on the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco.

After I finished the drawing, I realized that it includes a symbol of the artist/observer on the beach. She is also in the rowboats, the houses, and walking on the trails between the trees. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Summer on the River

Flood: Village

W M J and L are the initials of my husband, myself, and our daughters. Here, we each have our own attached house. This drawing is a memory/dream of summer days near lakes and oceans. We visit in boats, and in chairs we sun, read, watch, draw, and party. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Four Tree Apartment Houses

FLOOD: Village

I just made this up. It includes three symbols new for me in the Flood drawings: house = family; chair = artist/observer of the seen and unseen; and rowboat – like the one I had as a child = freedom, action, autonomy. In these drawings, house, chair, and boat appear unbidden, recurring symbols of my life. (Their meaning was evident only later when I looked back to analyze my intuitive work.) I like the windows in the trees, and Cynthia's house on Flea Island in the distance. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Pool - Towers

FLOOD: City

The white towers of San Francisco rising above the fog first inspired the Flood series of drawings. This is an exuberant play on that idea! This unusual vantage point came easily to me since I taught perspective drawing for years. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2013.

Cliff Dwellers

FLOOD: City

Inspired by the islands of Boston Harbor I saw in the distance as a child – greatly modified into a fantasy! Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Market Day on the River

FLOOD: City

Inspired by the floating markets of Southeast Asia, and by San Antonio's River Walk which we had just visited. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Storm from the Sea

FLOOD: Storm

This is how we live now in the Age of Storm. An Italian coastal village. An innocent bicyclist. The lines of rain drops are inspired by the wallpaper in a Van Gogh portrait. Look carefully: waves are starting to lap at the bottom of the main street as the storm first arrives. The decorative drawing of houses and clouds belie the violent nature of the coming storm. Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2013.

Lunch on the Terrace Interrupted

FLOOD: Storm

With thanks to works by Bonnard and O'Keefe in the Phillips Collection, Washington D.C.: a leaf from O’Keefe, a terrace from Bonnard, now inundated! Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Progress

FLOOD: Storm

We live in a runaway world of rising real estate prices and taxes, a world of teardowns, gigantism, and "creative destruction." Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Swept Away

FLOOD: Deluge

No preliminary drawing. (None of the Flood drawings have preliminary drawing.) Deluge is a possible future for us and our warming world. We see it approaching swiftly every day in the news. (Now as I rewrite this in 2018, Deluge has arrived.) Professional markers, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Cold Water Rising

FLOOD: Deluge

Inspired by Yellow Mountain in southern China. I turned mist and cloud into terrifying deluge. Professional markers, image inverted and altered in Photoshop, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Dead Trees Fires Flowering

FLOOD: Deluge

I think these strange images are subliminal memories of drought, fire, and dead trees of the great Texas drought of 2011 when nearby Bastrop burned. Professional markers, image inverted and altered in Photoshop, 14” x 11”, 2013.

Deluge Destroying the Mountain City

FLOOD: Deluge

I drew this violent, prophetic image after hearing of destructive mudslides in California. Drought, forest fires, and deluge lead to this. Professional markers, image inverted and altered in Photoshop, 14” x 11”, 2014.

Safe Harbor

FLOOD: Deluge

I grew up south of Boston on Quincy Bay, and visited the safe harbors of Gray Gables and Barlow's Landing on Cape Cod, and the refuge for lobster boats of Pleasant Point Gut in Maine. In this foreboding drawing of deluge and tsunami, a safe harbor is hard to find. Professional markers, image inverted and altered in Photoshop, 14” x 11”, 2014.

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