Play Date

Play Date is the name of one of this week’s gouache paintings. I had several other names for this painting before settling on Play Date. I will share that information and the scoop on a new contemporary painter “crush” I have in today’s post. But first, I will welcome new readers and share the purpose of this post and blog.

Small Spaces Special Places

Welcome new readers! Each year, I select a theme for my weekly paintings. This year’s is “Small Spaces Special Places.” Why? I have been surprised, even delighted, with the small spaces in our house that have captured my eye.

Also, there are the special places I see on my daily dog walks. Each morning, rain or shine, I love getting outdoors and looking for things to paint. Sometimes, we venture on the road and I share paintings of special places from these trips, too.

If you think you will enjoy a weekly dose of color, sign up here for this weekly blog. Let’s get to this week’s topic!

Besides Play Date

One of the other names for this painting could be “To Do” list. Why? I guess because I loved looking at the leaves in order, seeing little check boxes next to them. And, voila, instead of a play date, these leaves are a visual check list. But that idea didn’t last.

When I see leaves on the ground this time of year. I often wonder why. It’s possible that wind caught a branch and tossed the leaves on the ground. But two of these leaves had already turned from green to brown. Sure I could research all of this. That’s not really the point of my question though. I think it’s the serendipity of finding these leaves on the ground that appeals to me right now. So there’s the non-explanation for that.

And, so I imagined these leaves as little rebellious characters. They have shirked their shading responsibilities and are free for a play date. Sure hope they have fun.

Experimenting

As I head into my seventh straight year of painting, I find that I am thinking about the material of paint, application of it and the word ‘painterly.’ My eyes are drawn to paintings that reveal an image of something but also show brush strokes; the material at work.

I find that I want to show viewers realistic images but I also want the viewer to know that the image takes tens, hundreds even thousands of brush strokes. Therefore I have started to work on more than one painting this week. The goal here is to have paintings to show during the week while I take my time on other paintings. I have wanted to do this for ages. But have never actually done it till now.

This seems consistent with other activities in my life. Like what? Like reading! I usually have at least two books going on at once. Two books is especially helpful when one of them is so enticing I don’t want it to end. I extend it’s reading “life” by reading something else too.

Lastest Painter “Crush”

In the past weeks, I have shared the work of Willem Bastiaan Tholen. He definitely inspired the painting below with his painting here.

This painting, entitled “Clouds”, is a view from the studio and of our backyard. I love seeing the clouds change and disappear. I especially love seeing the contrast between the clouds and the edge of the trees. There are more paintings like this to come I’m sure. I am grateful to have seen Tholen’s painting. It helped me think about what I’m seeing, right outside my door, in a different light.

But now I have a new painter whose work inspires me. This painter is living and is super open about the struggles she has as she creates beautiful and painterly work. Her name is Helen Davison Bradley and here’s a link to her new work. I love that I can see the paint and her brush strokes in every painting. I love how she simplifies shapes and yet communicates landscapes. I am excited to think about this as I work on paintings for the next little while.

What about you

What are you thinking about gentle reader? As I think about brush strokes, are you pondering something new or different in your work or life in general? Please do tell in the comments below. Oh and by the way, the paintings here are for sale. Here’s the link for Play Date (pictured below) Here’s a link for “Clouds” painting above too.

Thank you as always for reading along here today!