Mystic Fire

Mystic Fire

Acrylic on paper – 18 x 24 inches.

For the past few weeks waves of fire have roared and raged across California, leaving blackened earth and desperation behind. Every day the red sun simmers in an amber haze; every other day ashes sift down on us like showers of grey snowflakes. It’s not possible to ignore the frightening power of wildfires, but in this painting I wanted to show a different kind of fire –no less frightening — a mystical fire. Many people, especially the literal-minded, are unaware that such fire exists. But it sometimes comes to visit those whose ears and eyes are open . We are the trees. It burns all of us differently, I imagine. To me it is cold, like an icicle, like a windy night in January. It’s a fire of grief and joy, and it burns like a white sun.

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Nevada Wind

Nevada –  Oil on canvas – 24 x 36 inches.
On an empty road in northern Nevada one morning, I saw freight cars parked under a vast expanse of the most beautiful sky you could imagine. I stopped the truck and walked around in the sagebrush for a while. There wasn’t a train in sight. No epiphanies, visions or revelations either. Only a rasping sound of wind.
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Columbines: Pages From a Sketchbook

Columbines: Sketchbook pages – pencil, watercolor – 8.5 x 11 inches.

There are many ways to cope with anxiety and stress, not all of them good for your health. My favorites are: playing with a dog, walking anywhere — but especially in green places — and drawing. (Oops, I almost forgot to mention red wine and dark chocolate.)

You don’t need much for drawing: some paper, a pencil, and maybe a few colors. Flowers are terrific subjects because you really have to slow down to pay attention to them. The best part is that you don’t have to even finish the drawing. Just paying attention and striving for accuracy does wonders for releasing you from whatever hell you find yourself in.

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More images on my website:johnmichaelkeating.com Source: https://instagr.am/p/CECteFthXJW/