Ohanapecosh River, a river rich with minerals flowing. Staining it, Coloring it. A cool Cobalt Teal Blue. Water like ice, pure and bright.
“How do I know that?”
Been there, so many times. Will you join me again?……

Abstract River Painting – Cobalt Teal
I’ve walked along the paths. Hiked the slippery moss covered rocks upstream. Dangled my toes into the slushy ice waters and squealed. I was younger. I might do again, if I was there!
I love……. painting from where I have been.
From the depths of my soul. My memories surface.
This, gives Life and Spark and Breath to my art.
And for me, will always trump the cold hard precision of ‘exact perfection.’
For even if… the painting itself is imperfect (ie Wabi Sabi);
The Breath breathed into the painting reflects back.
I feel then, the life beating within. Heart and soul.
And, that remains – one of my most important painting goals.
The River
Ohanapecosh! Oh – hannah- p’cosh.
That’s how we say it.
Its fun. Try it!
This is a tributary of the very large Cowlitz River in Lewis county, Washington state.
The Cowlitz, is itself a major tributary to the massive river system, the Columbia River.
Ohanapecosh River lies on the southeast side of Mount Rainier, in a deeply forested, untamed National Park.
Right in the epicenter of where I grew up, hiking, fishing, exploring the mountain’s mysteries.
Lewis County, Washington.
Can You Feel It !?
a land of a thousand greens
of ferns that dwarf a man
of bones and time
and mist and moss
a land of plunging falls
echoing down a thousand feet
magic haunts these forests
mysteries lay beneath the waters deep
where mastery is an illusion
and greens
reign supreme
a land of giants
and moss, mists and greens
Yes.
I know, this land.
Beautifully done!
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hi Annali! thanks for that kind comment, much appreciated…esp as it was a painting with the poem!!! cheers!
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This painting…………… pure GENIUS! I wish I had the words to praise it appropriately.
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Jodi, you just did!
thanks a million for such a wonderful, heart warming comment 🙂 I’m so glad you enjoyed this Jodi! cheers, Debi
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beautiful! and wistful, kind of touched me because of my love for the woods, the river and nature. Love your poem, I am telling you…you are “the quiet bubbling spring in a zen forest” this proves it yet again! 🙂
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what a lovely description….
I’m really, really pleased that you enjoyed the verse I wrote for this painting. I like the art, but I think I like the verse even more, somehow. 🙂 debi-zen
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😉
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Really love your poem, I was definitely feeling it. Wonderful abstract Debi.
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hi Beth, many kind thanks! I’m so pleased that you enjoyed Both the art and the verse. 🙂 cheers, Debi
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I see life and wonder. Very telling in words, paint and colour. A stunning piece.
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thank you so much Susan! what an awesome comment 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed this post! cheers, Debi
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Such beauty in words and paints! ❤
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thank you so much Teresa!! I’m happy you liked the art and the verse… fan tastic! Thanks, Debi
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wonderful words and wonderful painting, dear Debi. It really is moving and finally some teal blue again, hehe. Cheers Mitza
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CTB nearly leapt out into my hands!! it was ‘desperate’ I tell you, Mitza, telling me it was ‘so lonely!’ LOL well, here it is once again. (really, its just a little show pony)
so, Thank you so much Mitza for a lovely comment! deeply appreciated, as Always. 🙂 cheers, Debi
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Have a nice day, dear Debi, cheers Mitza
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🙂
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Just wonderful!
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hi Nico, thank you! It seems I had to add the poem today to make the post ‘flow just right!’
cheers, Debi
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It works!
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Wow, Debi. Yes, I can Feel It! Thank you. Boy, heart and soul and tons of memories all embedded in your lovely painting and verse, with magical CBT ….. Just beautiful. I would like to ask the size and what medium(s) you included, if you don’t mind sharing. This is really something. When I get “there”, if I ever do, I’d like to produce work that sings and whispers the way this does. I see this on a wall with that lovely verse in script beside it. Thanks, 3d. Thank you Indeed. 💜
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Sharing the information is why I am here 🙂
and a big thank you! ((LL)) its watercolor. on a sealed, gessoed masonite board. coated with impasto medium – let dry. then drip, pour, apply the paints…. in a Limited Palette.
I Love using both Molding paste and Impasto medium with Watercolor!!
I might do a reblog of 2-3 older posts of them. maybe…
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:)))))) Thank you!
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🙂 3d
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WOW! Very Nice Debi! I love the textured and the especially the Teal!. 😉
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so glad you like this!!! it does have a lot of texture 🙂 cheers, Debi
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It looks like it has texture.Must be the way you blended the colours together so well. 😉
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the underlying surface was masonite board with impasto medium slathered on to texturize… then I let it dry, before applying my wc paints. Impasto is normally for acrylics, I know, but, I have so much fun ‘experimenting’ and this has been a Fun and fav. technique for quite a while now 🙂
cheers, Debi
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You had me at CBT! But your words are so wonderful too!! Love this post, Debi! Gorgeous painting! 😍
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thank you Charlie!! I have more planned ….. but for July 🙂 thanks again
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Awesome! Can’t wait to see what you’ve cooked up! 😉
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keeping it secret…. don’t want a “Fly” in the ointment. LOL 🙂 ps, that was a lovely looking fly, as flies go!
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haha! Thanks so much, Debi!
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lol
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The Pacific North West is in your soul. To think that we could have been neighbours 🙂 A wonderful painting with wonderful words.
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many thanks Andrew. It is.
I find that each summer I do miss the Pac NW, esp. living in Perth now. I do not, miss the 300 days of rain! LOL Mainly, when July rolls around…..
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It’s gloriously hot at the moment. BC at its best 🙂
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that is Perfect! 🙂
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I feel the emotions run through this piece Debi… The cobalt tb grabs you and takes you for a ride. Lovely work and words.
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thank you for reading this Deb!! glad you liked both aspects to the post 🙂 cheers, Debi
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Wow, I’ve never been to this part of Mount. Rainier. I will have to go see it> Thank you!
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we used to go for long drives and hikes up in that country… good memories! thank you so much, glad you enjoyed this 🙂 cheers, Debi
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