Place, as in plein air.  Because I believe in reincarnation i.e. that not only one's body is recycled by nature but one's soul is recycled on the wheel of karma to learn the lessons one needs to grow as a being, that place is where one is launched/reborn or to start again.  I feel that place must be memorized so that one's soul/spirit can begin again.  I record that place by painting en plein air.  I am memorizing/memorializing the Sanpoil Valley as that place.  Curiously I must have a lot to learn because most all of my life for many moves has been along the 48th parralell of the U.S. Perhaps I was with David Thompson.  (look up who died with him along the 48th parallel when he was surveying the 49th paralell.

"Sleeping Salmon Mountain", 12x24, acrylic, Available, email; gcaudell@msn.com

"Winter, Sanpoil Valley", 30x40, oil, SOLD

 The cold and snow continues in the the mountains of eastern washington.  Painting en pleinair is a challenge but one perseveres hoping for the warm spring days to come.  The birds are anxious and have delayed nest building and the bees are hunkered down hoping for trees to bloom and provide badly needed pollen to sustain themselves and grow their brood to replace all the workers that didn't make it to spring.  C'mon girls hang in there!

 Raven and Coot, 6"x14", acrylic 

Raven and Coot

Tsimshian

Myths and Legends of Alaska, Katherine Berry Judson

A LONG time ago, Raven wanted all the birds to look well, so he painted them.  Raven painted Coot last.  Then Coot began to paint Raven, who wanted many bright colors.  So Coot painted Raven with bright colors with one hand, but in the other hand he hid charcoal.  When Raven looked away, Coot quickly blackened all the bright colors with charcoal.  Then Raven was angry and he chased Coot.  But Coot ran too quickly, so Raven threw white mud at him, white mud which spattered over Coot.  Therefore Coot had white spots on his head and back.  But Coot flew away and left Raven all black.