Marsh Storm

 This painting started as a typical painting of marsh grass, water with a "high sky" showing a building thunderhead.  And maybe there was nothing wrong with the work as I finished it.  Or perhaps, it is better to understand that I thought I had finished it but I didn't really like what I had done.  So, with little or no enthusiasm, I simply set it aside. 

A few days later, something compelled me to put the painting back on my work table.  I'm really not sure why I did it because I didn't have anything in mind except for my dislike about what I had previously done.  But as I studied my work, I decided to do something completely crazy.  Because I had no deep emotional attachment to it, I determined that I would wet the paper with clean water and then "beat" it with a variety of brushes.  But even as I was attacking the paper, I don't think I had an outcome in mind.  And after a short time, I quit because my arms were growing tired from the effort of the beating I had given.  It was an accident, but I stopped at the right time.  For suddenly, as the paper began to dry, I did become excited about what was emerging.  And with just a little more work, 

"Marsh Storm" was complete.  For me, it has the feel of the wind and rain as they move across the marsh.

"Marsh Storm", the original is a watercolor

on 22 x 15  140# cold press paper and is copyrighted by Gerry

Grimes, the artist.  He retains all rights regarding copies and/or

reproductions regardless of the ownership of the original by

others.  The original has been sold.