:: Both sides now ::

     Rows and floes of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I’ve looked at clouds that way
     But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way
     I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It’s cloud illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all
     Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I’ve looked at love that way
     But now it’s just another show
You leave ’em laughing when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know
Don’t give yourself away
     I’ve looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know love at all
     Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say “I love you” right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I’ve looked at life that way
     But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I’ve changed
Well something’s lost, but something’s gained
In living every day
     I’ve looked at life from both sides now 
From win and lose and still somehow 
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all
     I’ve looked at life from both sides now 
From up and down and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all
–Joni Mitchell

Today I went to the Parc de la Visitation to paint with a group of painters… and I did not find them. I looked all over, I walked through the whole park, to no avail. No matter, as I found myself a spot and painted away, with no results. I tried painting behind the Maison Meunière on top of the rapids the old stone buildings, but my eyes were not keen on the subject and I overdid it. As I was coming back home, the clouds were simply amazing so I looked and looked at them intently, took a picture as reference and got home to paint this. When I was gazing at them I started thinking that if I put the strong colours in first, and then added white on top that it might work? There are two places that I put in some white top quarter and bottom of the clouds… Let me know what you think.

Paper: Handbook Sketchbook 7″ x 10″
Colours: Titanium White, Q. Gold, B. Sienna, French Ultramarine