Making time to appreciate the small things
First Snowdrops, 6x8", watercolour still life. Click the image for more info and availability.
Every spring when the snow drops come up I rejoice to see them. As their green shoots break ground I am delighted to see them, a welcome break from the bleak greys and browns of late winter.
As the snowdrops come in to bloom I always feel an urge to paint them, to celebrate the arrival of spring, of new growth and the more pleasant days to come. But snow-drops are as fleeting as the snow they are named for. Both can fade away very quickly in warm spring sunshine.
I found these snowdrop buried deep within a blackberry bramble in a neglected part of my garden. I'm making an effort to get outside every day as we wait all this out. One of the projects I've undertaken is to clean up that portion of my garden and that is how I found the snowdrops. As they were right there before me I made a point to pick a few and brought them in to paint right away.
This year, especially, I need a promise of better days to come. When I paint, my cares and concerns melt away before the determination to get down on my panel the essence of what I am looking at. I was able to step out of the now and into eternal spring as I worked on these flowers.
Snowdrop Study, 6x6" oil painting. Click image for more information.
I've been finding solace in painting. But for that to work, I have had to be working on small manageable pieces. Here are three recent small pieces that have lifted my spirits lately:
Maine Harbour Study, 8x10", studio oil. Click image for more info.
This is a study for a larger piece that rests unfinished in my studio, waiting patiently for me. (Maybe this week)
Collecting Sunshine, 9x12", plein air watercolour. Click image for more info.
Live from the sugar bush... remember I promised you a video? Well, I've been working on it, but it's not ready yet. There's also the issue of data bandwidth. Getting the video on YouTube will mean a trip to town, which I am trying to limit. At least I have a spot with "drive-up" wifi, lol. Don't even have to leave my car.
(I need to go to town for wifi because, even though where I live is almost perfect, we have no infrastructure for high speed internet. The bandwidth here is extremely limited. Add to that two teenagers and a stay at home order, well... I've got to go to town to upload anything larger than a photo.)
Mersey River Fishing, 9x12", studio watercolour. Click image for more information.
I've written before that Keji is one of my favourite summer places. I've always enjoyed camping and this is one of the best local places to go. Lakes, woods and rivers and wide open natural spaces.
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Be well, stay safe and stay healthy.