The grisaille underpainting of Thomas and Jesus, et all is finally to a point where I feel ready to begin applying glazes of color. After 6 years of work I thought I should take some decent photos of the whole thing before the next phase. Thank you for watching.
Walking Man, Jonah, and the Ancient Ocean, oil painting on a poplar panel by Jack Baumgartner, 14.5″ x 22″, 2017
Upper panel, Walking Man striding through the arch
Lower panel, Jonah, swimming, yields to the sea monster
detail of the upper panel, with barn owl, Burr oak and cliffs.
Upper panel detail with symbolic structures
Lower panel detail of Jonah
The completion of a painting generally means a decision to stop working on it, otherwise the cycle would never end. This painting, which was begun in October of 2009 reached that generally unheralded milestone of “completion” this fall, 6 years later. Technically, the work is not entirely done, as I have yet to build the frame for it, which, especially for my panel paintings, represent a significant part of the presentation and outer composition. I hope share some of the meaning behind this painting at some future date.
Jonah has been coming up a lot lately. I thought I would share a photo of this big painting which I have been working on over the past 5 years.
Jonah and the Cave of the Erth
This grisaille (grayscale underpainting) of the interaction of Thomas and Jesus and the gathered disciples and their community, has been slowly developing over the past three years, the drawing took about two years before that. I feel like the end of this particular phase is finally in sight on the distant horizon. I look forward to seeing the structure fully unfold and ultimately to the beginning the glazing of colors.
the lesser saints
weave their quiet
agile stories
amongst the lives
of greater lights
holy, the lesser saints
the color
upon their brows
they do not cry out
they do not turn
hearts raised like rafters
heavenward
forever orbiting
tireless in quest
the sphere of your glory
to enter and remain
bring newer life
from ancient tribes
all in anticipation
groaning in the yearning
their own eternal ribbon voice
those who have ears…
let them hear
holy, the lesser saints
bring your longing
bring your capacity
for fullness
in the life of the soil
countless prophets
behold and know
see and have understanding
awaken, members of wholeness
you are provision
you are appointed
little lights, you are His
lesser saints
holding up mountains
echoes of distant voice
priests of the eternal present
fierce and strange
are the quiet ones
in silent witness
givers of the heart of God
receiving and giving from the heart of God
celebrating mystery in plain-ness
in infinite variety and order
teach the spiritual truths of rest and labor
sweat and awe
all from silent knees and horns
in the unending world, glory will be known forever
Workshop, Studio & Land
A slew of recent additions to our Etsy storefront are pictured below. There are prints, bowls, handmade goat milk soap with free shipping and a few paintings, even. Please click on the green BaumWerk sign immediately below to visit the store. Thank you!
The School of the Transfer of Energy 