Let’s stop and give thanks for all our blessings.  I have had a wonderful summer, spending time with family and friends, painting, gardening, and loving those grand kids!

I was a bit disappointed in the fall colors, but they did show a little.  I was looking out today at the sky and thought of the many colors I could add to a painting.  I saw purples, reds, blue, grey, and white.  The brown leaves could have red tones as well as gold tones.  So, yes, I can see beyond the photo’s and create my own color scheme.  I am thankful that I have seen glorious fall colors, and sun drenched trees and I can paint my trees any color I choose!

My friend Patsy and I  tried our hands at plein air a few weeks ago.  It was a challenge, but I was very satisfied with my first piece.  I am anxious to do more of this painting out of doors, from life and not from a photo.  It forces you to look deep and to see more than a quick glance.  The sunlight is constantly changing  and altering the shadows and colors so you only have a limited amount of time to capture a vision.  I did a quick sketch (with Transparent Oxide Red oil paint), and then placed in my local (main) colors, then I began to fill in the areas of trees, grasses, fences, etc with a little more detail.   I painted a scene with hills, a barn, and fields in the late summer sky.  The fields had a lot of gold where the crops had recently been harvested.  It was a greying day so we sat just inside my friend’s carport to avoid a downpour.  Because I could…I painted blue skies with a few clouds.  In reality the skies were grey when I started.  As if I had willed it so, the skies cleared, and the clouds really did appear. 

I finished and framed the 8×10 oil in a dark wood frame.  It will likely remain with me to reminisce my first plein air piece. 

I’ll post a photo as soon as I can.  I am on the road now, exploring new places.  Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Tags: Fall, farm scenes, oils, plein air, Thanksgiving
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