From the rotten, upturned roots. | 45.034509/-93.171322

2022

27" x 21"     soil, acrylic binder, canvas  

November 1, 2022

Temperature: 67°

Humidity: 29%

No wind. Sunset. Geese are honking on the lake. Gathered sample.

November 2

~40 minutes.

Began grinding sample. Color is surprisingly dark and gray. Particles are fine and break apart easily, but there are also longer roots which are more difficult to process. There is a distinct musty woodiness to the scent.

There are some fine, thin, sparkly particles mixed into the sample. It is unclear what they are; they resemble glass, plastic, or iridescent sand.

November 3

~20 minutes.

Visually, the sample seems to consist of roughly 2/3 silt and other fine particles and 1/3 sand and plant material.

More shiny particles spotted.

November 4

1 hour, 5 minutes.

November 8

1 hour, 20 minutes.

First stone encountered in the sample. Small, less than a centimeter across. Interior was reddish-brown. Broke easily.

Two more small stones found. Gray and brown interiors.

November 9

35 minutes.

All soil ground down from sample. There is not enough to complete a painting.

November 10

Walked back to sample location, gathered a few more tablespoons of soil. Laid out to dry. The weather was overcast, cold, and windy.

November 13

40 minutes.

Complete.

TOTAL GRINDING TIME: ~4.6 hours.

November 15

Applied sample to canvas. It resisted adhering to the canvas at first but eventually did. Particles all seem fine and uniform. The smell of the mud was earthy and musty.

November 16

Dry and complete.