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Saturday, October 12, 2013

Fall Back, Fall Forward

FALL BACK



Woods on Fire, 2011, Acrylic on Gallery Stretched Canvas, Work in Progress, 36" x 36"







Fall, 2010, Water soluable marker on Strathmore Drawing paper. 






Fall 2011, Pastel on Strathmore Drawing, 



Fall, 2010, 9" x 9", Water soluable markers, on Reeves




Fall 2012, Acrylic on Gallery stretched Canvas, 20" x  20," Detroyed. I don't know why.




Fall, 2012, Acrylic on Gallery Stretched Canvas, 20" x 20" (unit three of Four Seasons)


FALL FORWARD

My first steps back towards the studio were taken out the door with my camera.  I slipped into my Pumas, put the camera around my neck and grabbed the cane. Fall was out there flashing it's colors. It would be a good come back subject, not too demanding, a subject I could doing sitting. Likeness would not be an issue of concern.

New Fall reference photo. Better on 20" x 20" stretched, than 12" x 12" 
The back patio was a mess of moss green turning black. Next Sring power washing would be first chore on the list. The new cushion on the chaise that Ellis said was really in bad shape didn't look that bad to me. He had washed it and propped it upright to dry on the cement. I brushed it off and set it up on the chaise to let the air circulate. It would be dry enough to store by the weekend. I had missed doing these little chores. It was nice being off the couch and outside puttering. 

Surveying what lay between me and the woods, my photographic jaunt wasn't going to be easy. There was a small lake to cross where my neighbor had let his hose drain into the grass and a hill to climb to get around  the sun. Maybe I was making a mistake? The knee was good, but not yet the knee it could be.   But I had a mission. I wanted a paintable shot of all the pinks, golds, lavenders and yellow greens I saw from my window. Color is the subject when I think Fall.

I only stumbled once getting around the drainage ditch. It was enough to put me on my guard. The commercial where the lady is lying on the floor yelling help me, I've fallen and can't get up ran through my mind. That's all I needed was to have Ellis come home and find me lying out in the yard; I'd never hear the end of it.  Carefully, I made my way to the top of the drainage ditch. I was right. The spot gave me a nice view of the trees in their Autumn dress plus a glimpse of the wetlands leading to the lake, a good shot with depth of field.  I snapped away. 

By one, I had a photo that could be expounded upon. I had custom sized it to six by six inches to fit the six by six canvases I had in stock. But when I got downstairs and pulled one out, I changed my mind. It reminded me of bathroom tile. I needed twelve by twelve at least. I'm a fan of the Hudson Valley painters, but where they emphasized the grand expanses of countryside by minimalizing the forgrounds. I prefer a larger format and a up close and personal look at all the movement out there.  A miniature canvas was out. I needed to take a trip to the art supply store. That will be today for a twenty by twenty stretched. Tomorrow, I'll set up the easel so I can sit--yes, I said sit. If I wait around till I can stand, I'll be too old to lift the brush. This brilliant idea of mine sure has been dragging on.



22 comments:

  1. Not sure if I left the page before my message came through, but here it is again. I am considering getting back to paint trees etc. and you might convince me, cause I love the abstract feel you got, very nice indeed.

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    1. Trees are lovely sculptures. I passed a spectacular one today. A glorious specimen you want to lie under and look up at the spreading branches. Burning bright red, it was spectacular.

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  2. Linda, your photo is a beauty! It will make a superb painting. And I am SO GLAD to read you got outside today!!!

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    1. That was my first jaunt into rough terrain; I have been out to dine, the hairdresser's and, of course, my PT sessions. I think I took a chance, but must have felt up to it or I wouldn't have gone. Knee's good.

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  3. That reference photo is a great result of your expedition outside!

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    1. It may be good enough in it's present form? After I picked up a canvas,I thought maybe I have to go on other photographic outings?

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  4. yes......that is an amazing photo. Looks like you've always enjoyed the fall---these paintings are wonderful!

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    1. It's just grasses and trees, the stuff of lines, but thanks. I like all the seasons. Each has it's own endearing and annoying characteristics. I do get bored when the weather around me, the atmosphere, is always the same. I adore muckluks as much as flip-flops, the looks of cool weather, the looks of hot weather. Diversity isn't boring. It keeps you on your toes.

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  5. Don't fall forward! I admire your tenacity and talent. I always loved your outdoor works. Great way to get back to painting!

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    1. Yes. Landscapes are a great way to get back into painting. They are not very demanding. They are an excellent subject to get the paint flowing again.

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  6. Winter is coming so before... the leaves appear "stuck" on the green of spring arrived two months later ... still there in the hills grape harvest ... only the creeper is red, as if suddenly a only hand had changed all the green in red lacquered!
    So look the colors of autumn, watching photos of past years ... Nice to see your environment, the seasons become familiar, even in other parts of the world. Have a nice sitting painting, Painting is always nice and I know that you'll find the right gesture, even from sitting.

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    1. Haven't been able to find the time. How unprofessional is that! Instead I've been doing more photography of the changing colors. I got to the supply store to pick up my favorite size and they were out. So I bought another size which I didn't think suited my the photo here. Now is the time to be out and about hunting reference photos, enjoying the Autumn Sun and strolling without the pain in the knee that held me back these last years. What a pleasure not to be walking on bone! Painting can wait for the snows. For now, I want to enjoy whatever good weather we have. What's nice about landscapes is how meticulous drawing, brushstrokes, color faux ps are nothing to worry about. Landscapes are freeing.

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  7. Glorious photo, which will be a glorious painting. A rich reward for venturing out. And inspiring....why am I sitting in my cupboard? It is a fabulous day today, just perfect for painting.
    Love your past work, thanks so much for showing, they do look magnificent all together!

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    1. I went out bought the canvas and then did not carry on. I want more from this subject. I'm not sure what. So I went out with the camera again. Pretty is not how I feel about the woods. To me, the wooded landscape is a metaphor for life's journey--mix of clear passages and thick barriers and obstacles, an obstacle course. Sometimes, the course is clear, sometimes obscured by finery that hides the reality. I need to develop my perception. --almost called you this morning, but your cupboard was dark.

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  8. Love the photo, can see lots of possibility within it.

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    1. It's okay, but I'm still looking. I'm taking advantage of the beautiful fall weather as long as it lasts and exercising my knee with camera in hand. It's such a delight that I made the right choice to have the knee fixed; I'm out enjoying it.

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  9. Wow, what a rich collection of visual autumn history! Fall 2010, (Water soluable marker on Strathmore Drawing paper) and Fall 2012 (the unfortunate destroyed Acrylic) are my favorites. Looking fwd to see what you will do with this new picture.

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    1. Fall does attract our attention each fall. The destroyed painting was okay, but the paint-by-the-numbers feel to it was annoying. It was too tight, not the kind of feel I wanted. The painting that went over it, Fall from the Four Seasons unit painting, is more satisfying; it had more movement. As seen here, the unit painting looks took primary colors. in reality there's more going on.

      So far, I haven't started a painting from that reference. I'm still out there hunting for Fall. The weather has been too lovely to be shut in painting--after having been shut in with my recuperating knee longer than I anticipated.

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  10. When I read about your trip outdoors and the word FALL and the other meaning FALL. The one where, "I cant get up" completely took over and quite upset me at the thought of it. Ellis wouldn't be the only one yammering at you. Tenacity and brains must go together so I was pleased to continue reading to find you were verrrry careful. Love this colorful post and seeing the trail of 2010 -2012 images.
    bathroom tile painter - thats me!

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    1. I wish I had your patience for painting small jewels. I think I would, if I was willing to sit. So far, I'm not. Miniature sizes don't work well for me standing in front of an easel built for bigger formats. I would even have to hold the brush differently. I have to move when I paint.

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  11. Absolutely love these works in all the different media! Stunning!!!

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    1. Thanks Helen. I started back to find my art with markers on paper and acrylics on canvas. Ended up four years later, favoring landscapes in acrylics and portraits in oils. I like the way the two genres work together--one demanding, the other free.

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