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River Stones and whales - Paintings
Featured In Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, Arvada, CO
Price $6,800
In Stock Now
Shipping: 7-10 days
Price $1,000 Shipping in the US, ask the creator about international shipping.
Estimated Arrival: August 7, 2026
unless in the state of Colorado this framed painting will be crated by a professional art mover, Craters & Freighters, located in Denver, Colorado. Aprox. cost 1k and I will get an exact cost closer to the time and check what my FedEx account would charge.
Handmade
Woman Owned
Made In USA
| Dimensions | Weight |
|---|---|
62H x 62W x 3D in 157.48H x 157.48W x 7.62D cm | 7.44 kg 16.4 lb |
I am fascinated by metaphor. Whales invite us to explore deeper aspects of consciousness—our emotions, intuition, and inner wisdom. River stones represent our innermost will and initiative; while the stone itself does not cause change, it helps us recognize and accept it.
The color palette for this work—Payne’s gray, bronze, and white—originated during a residency at Anderson Ranch near Aspen, Colorado. Under the guidance of artist Linda Geary, we were challenged to create twenty paintings in a single day. In focusing on process rather than color theory, I subconsciously chose these three hues:
Blue (Payne’s gray): calm strength, wisdom, trust, creativity
Gold (bronze): inner and outer light
White: peace and presence
Together, these colors balance thought, emotion, and intuition—an ongoing theme in my work.
River Stones & Whales began intuitively, guided by the act of painting itself. I often start large canvases with gestural sweeps using tools like drywall trowels and silkscreen squeegees. After the first expressive layer, I step back, letting time and reflection guide my next moves. Over days or even months, forms begin to emerge. In this painting, those forms became river stones and two whales, with nods to water’s movement and pathways.
The circle within the composition connects this work to my ongoing sculpture project, The Circle Conversation. A horizon line and vertical movement evoke both landscape and emotion—anchoring the viewer between earth and sky, stillness and motion.
Exhibition History:
Art of the State 2025,
Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Juried Exhibition | January 16 – March 30, 2025
Film
Featured in the award winning documentary short "Walking in Paint"
Directed by W.W. Webb (Denver, CO)
Texas Short Film Festival – Best Documentary Short finalist
The film also became a finalist for Best Documentary honors at the other two festivals.
Walking in Paint trailer: https://vimeo.com/1070928119?fl=tl&fe=ec
Walking in Paint 18 min. video: https://vimeo.com/1065320572/c287e1d01c?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
Follow Instagram: @courtneycottonetal
© 2024 Courtney Cotton. All Rights Reserved.
The color palette for this work—Payne’s gray, bronze, and white—originated during a residency at Anderson Ranch near Aspen, Colorado. Under the guidance of artist Linda Geary, we were challenged to create twenty paintings in a single day. In focusing on process rather than color theory, I subconsciously chose these three hues:
Blue (Payne’s gray): calm strength, wisdom, trust, creativity
Gold (bronze): inner and outer light
White: peace and presence
Together, these colors balance thought, emotion, and intuition—an ongoing theme in my work.
River Stones & Whales began intuitively, guided by the act of painting itself. I often start large canvases with gestural sweeps using tools like drywall trowels and silkscreen squeegees. After the first expressive layer, I step back, letting time and reflection guide my next moves. Over days or even months, forms begin to emerge. In this painting, those forms became river stones and two whales, with nods to water’s movement and pathways.
The circle within the composition connects this work to my ongoing sculpture project, The Circle Conversation. A horizon line and vertical movement evoke both landscape and emotion—anchoring the viewer between earth and sky, stillness and motion.
Exhibition History:
Art of the State 2025,
Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities
Juried Exhibition | January 16 – March 30, 2025
Film
Featured in the award winning documentary short "Walking in Paint"
Directed by W.W. Webb (Denver, CO)
Texas Short Film Festival – Best Documentary Short finalist
The film also became a finalist for Best Documentary honors at the other two festivals.
Walking in Paint trailer: https://vimeo.com/1070928119?fl=tl&fe=ec
Walking in Paint 18 min. video: https://vimeo.com/1065320572/c287e1d01c?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci
Follow Instagram: @courtneycottonetal
© 2024 Courtney Cotton. All Rights Reserved.
Category: oil and acrylic painting
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Item River Stones and whales
Created by Courtney Cotton
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