Wind Turbines for Invitational Show at GAC.

William Bukowski

Minnesota landscape

(in progress) oil on linen canvases

The subject of this 3 paintings set is the wind turbine in the modern Minnesota landscape.  I was asked to participate in an exhibition at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota.  The show will take place this fall and there will be a program on wind energy during the semester.   The college has plans of building a wind turbine for part of their energy needs.

I set out to find some wind turbines and found some near Butterfield, Minnesota.   My first reaction was that the aliens have landed.  There is something really odd and interesting about giant wind mills on the Minnesota farm.   I decided that one view wasn't enough so I changed the perspective one each, but tried to keep them connected.  

The peak has passed.

Sibley Park

2009 

William Bukowski

oil on linen

(in progress)

Once again, painting

gardens can be a metaphor for life.  At first you are waiting eagerly for the growth  of the new beds and buds.  Then everything comes together, and blossoms in its glory and you enjoy the peak of summer.   

And eventually you realize that no matter what, the peak will pass and slowly the flowers will die.  For a few days you wouldn't notice.  Some of the flowers are quite healthy, but you know what is coming.

  I hope to finish at least two more from life before the end.

The cool summer has been great for painting.

The set up at Sibley has been very convenient.  I can have my easel and table on the new paving stone path.  It is cold when I start and hot when I finish.  The light changes as I switch between three different canvases.  My sessions usually go from 8:30- 12:30.  I treasure each day as the summer slips by.....

Today I finished the middle painting, so I will adjust tomorrow.

Painting in a flurry of brushstrokes.

My paint brush is on speed dial.  I have been trying to paint as fast as I can when the combination of light and flowers is peaking.  Every day things grow and die but the emphasis is on growth.  Each painting gets at least an hour as the light is perfect and then I switch paintings.

The garden is a metaphor for life and like the flowers, it doesn't last long.  I found out my Aunt Lorraine died today.  It seemed like only yesterday she was sending us coconut treats from Florida (we were kids and loved that candy).

The Garden is peaking.

The garden is peaking  and the weather has been fantastic.  Every day things change slightly or in some cases -things change radically(in terms of growth).  Rocks are hidden, new flowers emerge and the challenge is on...     it all ends too soon.

My main worry now is running out of canvas, out of paint and most of all, out of time.

A Perfect Day.

The last two days were finally perfect conditions to paint.  There is an intensity of light and you can almost see the plants growing.  It is 

with a little bit of panic that I try to paint the experience.  I almost hate to quit painting because I know it won't last.  

Nature is impatient.

These days I am painting at two different sites.  One is the garden at Sibley Park and the garden is peaking right now!  The energy, color and sense of growth is visible.  I have a slight panic set in as I try to capture this experience before its gone for another year.

 The other site is Minneopa State Park.  I have been working on waterfalls.  In just a few days, the water has been reduced to a trickle!  Both landscapes are changing daily!  Nature doesn't wait for me to finish paintings.  Now if I could only get a few more sunny mornings.