Home from the Pasture

I scouted all over the property before finally deciding on this vantage.  Calm breezes, warm temps in the 60's and the fabulous light made this a perfect plein air day!  With about an hour before sunset, I set up my easel and got to work. I love the way that golden light streaked across the pasture, bouncing off the tufts of tall grass.  I paint the colors en masse, pulling the brushstrokes about to indicate grasses, rather than painting every blade.  The effect is much more natural, as the eye sees when looking at the whole landscape.  It is so restorative to be one with nature, doing what I was born to do. Painting number 1827 in 1827 days.

Creekside on Cleveland Trail

The Cleveland Trail and Lake is such a wonderful place to surround yourself with nature!  With an asphalt walking trail, you can get close to the water in multiple locations, without even getting into the tall grass.  A real plus for me, since today I came directly from a gallery meeting in my "good" clothes complete with heals I would not normally paint in!  I picked up the boys from school first, and told them that I just needed to get a small painting done before we could go to the cookie shop!  They had fun - finding an ant hill, having sword fights with long blades of grass, and picking clover blooms and putting them in my paint box!  They had plenty of space to run, which is just what they needed after a day at school!  I will be coming back here often to paint.  I love the very natural setting of this park, more natural than manicured by far.  This painting is the 1339th painting in 1339 days.