Ordinary Days of Beauty

With all of our vacations and travels cancelled this year we have been spending time alone at home.  I believe we all need little breaks from work - days that we stop and breathe, stepping away from computers and social media, even if its just one day. This fall my husband had to take 'use or lose' vacation days--and due to COVID we spent them at home.  In these odd times with restaurants closed and not many places to go, we decided to spend our ordinary day, a Monday, at the park. 

The weather cooperated and we spent the afternoon in the sunshine. I packed a picnic lunch and then I set up my painting gear while my hubby set up his hammock. My husband would read/nap and I would paint. It was sunny cool and lovely. Since it was a school day, it was not crowded - we had wonderful quiet lake space to ourselves.

For many artists, myself included, painting is reflective, calming and meditative -- that is so very true particularly when the weather cooperates for plein air. Once I get all my plein air gear set up and get the paints laid out, I feel a calm zen take over. 

What I loved in this composition is the lone yellow tree--the one bright among the greens. The yellow reflection in the water was so very colorful and appealing, it caught my eye right away. I also loved that I could add depth to the painting with the dark trees in the background and the water which recedes behind the peninsula. 

As you know, lately I have been doing timed paintings. I set my one hour timer for this 8x10 painting.  I am happy with the results of this one hour painting. When outside and in my calm zone, I can really "see" the colors and shapes. Here, the focal point is easy--hello colorful yellow tree. The rest of the trees and water are the supporting players. Sky and trees and water reflections are not boring subjects yet. 

This was a beautiful tech-free day full of quality time with my husband and my easel--I am thankful for every moment in these ordinary days of beauty.

 

Introspection and Creative Challenges

 

Three One Hour Sunset Paintings

Lately my art friends and I have been sharing our art via Zoom meetings. In the last meeting, I proudly shared a larger painting that I had worked on over multiple days. I worked on this particular painting in the studio and was happy with the outcome-- the tree reflections, clouds in the sky,  trees on the shore-- I felt I captured it all.  Might this particular painting be show worthy? Imagine my surprise when my fellow artists Oohed and Ahhed-- but not over my studio painting but over a one hour plein air painting. This signaled that I had some introspection to do -- are my more painterly and less planned paintings are more appealing? Perhaps I need to focus more on those? One hour verses the 10+ hours of work leaves me questioning myself. Where should I dedicate my time and effort?  

I decided to put away my studio paintings and instead focus on one hour studies. I set my phone timer once I am set up (paint out, brushes ready, canvas on easel) and the countdown begins! I try to put down the paint quickly--laying out masses of color, typically darks first. And then I work into the masses and try to build up to the details. If I want a few minutes more I set another 10 minutes; although, often I let the painting end when the timer goes off. 

What I like about the small paintings is that they are not time consuming. I like to see how far I can get in an hour. How much paint and composition I can get down on the canvas? There is no second guessing when you only have an hour to paint. I think I will continue these little quick studies for a bit.  Someday I will have to get back to studio painting and larger painting--that is in the back of my mind. 

I painted the three sunsets over three different days. I chose the sunsets as they are photos of the same place the same night within a few minutes of each other. I really love how the color brightens in the last painting. Sometimes it is nice to get to know a subject and for me lately it's all about sunsets.