Head on down the highway

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Monday, July 30, 2012

Canyon Colors

"Canyon Colors" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

"Creation is only the projection into form of that
which already exists.”
— Shrimad Bhagavatam

This is another view of the river from below the dam. After I painted yesterday's "Yellow Fellows" I thought I'd take a stab at the canyon walls downstream. It was very late in the afternoon and the light was fading, but I could still can see the amazing color in the rock formations. Don't believe the seemingly dull photo of Dave in the river fishing, the photo lies. Once you put on your imagination goggles and open your heart, the mountain reveals its true self and bears its soul to you in return.

Thank you for stopping by and viewing my work.

nancy

To view all of my available paintings in my gallery click here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nancy-parsons-122

* Sold pieces are marked with a red dot.

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Yellow Fellows

"Yellow Fellows" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

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“The mountains, rivers, earth, grasses, trees, and forests are always emanating a subtle, precious light, day and night, always emanating a subtle, precious sound, demonstrating and expounding to all people the unsurpassed ultimate truth.”
— Yuan-Sou

Here is another spot where we spent the day fishing, and for me, painting. I fell in love with the overflowing Easter basket of goodies—stretching down the middle of the river—rearranging water's path. The bright green grasses dotted with clumps of bold yellow wildflowers, swaying and dancing to the rhythm of the wind, immediately snagged at my heart-eye.

My photos frustrate me to no end—accentuated by my lack of skill and a good camera—appearing lifeless, frozen in time, capturing only a watered down partial truth which flattens, dilutes and distances the reality of what I am seeing and sensing. I wish you could have entered this sacred sanctuary with me to witness the energy moving through this part of canyon below the dam.

For me this painting whispers a truth this spot along the river longed to share. Although the photo of my painting is blurry, I received what I was fishing for.

Thank you for feeling my painting today.

nancy

To view all of my available paintings in my gallery click here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nancy-parsons-122

* Sold pieces are marked with a red dot.

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Friday, July 27, 2012

Trout Fishing

"Rio Chama" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

"And when white moths were on the wing.

And moth-like stars were flickering out,

I dropped the berry in a stream

And caught a little silver trout."

— William Butler Yeats,
The Song of Wandering Aengus

We did some more exploring yesterday around the Chama area, by late afternoon we ended up at this local fishing spot on the Rio Chama, downstream a few miles from our campsite.

I loved painting this quiet scene from the bank above the river by a rickety old bridge. Tiny chipmunks scurried all around my easel munching on dry river grasses, deer grazed on the tender green grasses lining the banks, and a flock of geese soared in precise V-formation in the overcast sky. The only audible sound was the current of the river tripping over rocks in its course, which sounded like a symphony to me. Dave waded through the waters with line and hook for hours and never had a bite. I on the other hand caught a trout!

Thank you for coursing my waters today.

nancy

To view all of my available paintings in my gallery click here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nancy-parsons-122

* Sold pieces are marked with a red dot.

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Between Two Worlds

"Between Two Worlds" 11x17" oil on stretched canvas

"Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs."

— Henry Ford

I spent another afternoon at Heron Lake on a hill above the marina. Dave was somewhere down the steep bank wading and casting his fly hoping to snag a fish. As soon as I had my easel set up, puddles of paint squeezed from the tubes, and had picked up a paint brush it started to rain, thunder and lightening. I stood there for 30 minutes huddled under my umbrella, but ended up soaking wet. The rain continued, so I finally moved my gear inside the entrance to the park restroom nearby. YUCK!!!...This was not a pleasant place to hang out with flies, but I was in no position to be picky. After an hour, the clouds finally parted and the sun began to start drying out my wet clothes. I finally finished my painting late in the day. This photo is not the best.

I don't know why the light in New Mexico is so different? For me the colors just seem to crystallize into facets of colors screaming at the top of their lungs. To paint it, you just have to break the job down into smaller pieces. I simply see the bits of color, mix paint to match, and place the small dabs where I see them. It's similar to working a jigsaw puzzle. Once you step back and view, it all somehow magically comes together. Fun, fun, fun!

Thanks for viewing my picture puzzle painting.

nancy

To view all of my available paintings in my gallery click here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nancy-parsons-122

* Sold pieces are marked with a red dot.

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Heron Lake

"Lake Heron Horizons 9x12" oil on canvas panel

"To be awake is to be alive."

— Henry David Thoreau

We spent all afternoon yesterday at Heron Lake in the State Park...sure could have passed for Walden's Pond. Dave fly fished and I painted the landscape. Heron Lake is a silent lake—no motorboats allowed—sailboats, kayak and canoes are the only ticket to boating on this pristine paradise. All afternoon there were dark threatening storm clouds marching in constant processions across the sky overhead. I managed to finish just as the thunder percussion section began pounding drum rolls and the lightening slashed in brilliant symbols across the mountains. It was a beautiful day spent alone in the silence of majestic wonder and awe.

We're heading back to the lake today. There are some high rock canyons that line another stretch of the lake, so you'll be seeing more paintings of Heron Lake very soon.

I really had fun painting this one and like the way the larger 9x12" piece turned out.

Thanks for pausing to reflect here today.

nancy

To view all of my available paintings in my gallery click here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nancy-parsons-122

* Sold pieces are marked with a red dot.

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Rivers and No Rivers

"River Walk Diners" 12x9" Oil on canvas panel

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"Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known."

— Winnie the Pooh, teddy bear

Here is another painting of the River Walk in San Antonio. This one took me three days to complete with so much detail. I've had quite a few folks interested in the previous River Walk painting I posted, so thought I'd do another.

The river here in Chama is very low at our campsite. We are hoping to find a better site to fish and paint in the local vicinity today. We were told last night that there have been bears—as in not teddy bears— coming through the site. EEKS!...and I always have to get up in the middle of the night and walk to the facilities. You can bet I'll be watching my back.

Thanks for floating by today.

nancy

To view all of my available paintings in my gallery click here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nancy-parsons-122

* Sold pieces are marked with a red dot.

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Monday, July 23, 2012

SOLD -Santa Fe High

"Santa Fe High" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

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"A desert is a place without expectation."

— Nadine Gordimer, novelist

The mountains in this high desert sanctuary whispered my name this morning. I arose at dawn to celebrate another day in Santa Fe, a Spanish name meaning "Holy Faith." Santa Toledo! There is much to sing praises about in this sacred place.

I painted plein air this morning, just a few feet from our camp site. Try to imagine waking up to this breathtaking sight every morning. The mountains surround us on three sides which feels like a big blue hug. This has to be the closest thing to heaven, we have even had a family of cottontail bunny hopping around our camper.

We leave today for northern NM on the Chama River, so stay tuned for more adventures.

Thanks for joining me today in the desert.
nancy

To view all of my available paintings in my gallery click here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nancy-parsons-122 * Sold pieces are marked with a red dot.

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Friday, July 20, 2012

River Reeds

"River Reeds" 6x6" oil on gessobord

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"Forests, lakes, and rivers, clouds and winds, stars and flowers, stupendous glaciers and crystal snowflakes - every form of animate or inanimate existence, leaves its impress upon the soul of man.

— Orison Swett Marde

This river speaks to me, so I painted it again only larger this time. For some reason, lately I have been drawn to bends in roads and rivers. I love the idea of not knowing what lies ahead. At times, our path may narrow and trickle down leading us into quiet, serene expanses of time. Spaces where life comes to a crawl, we gaze speechless at a microcosm of life on the river's sandy bottom. Like peering through a microscope at a parallel world alive with tadpoles, minnows, tiny insects floating along carefree where water ripples and dances over rocks that divide into pools, reflecting all that is.

Sometimes our path widens around the next curve and sweeps us away on rolling rapids of swollen currents which toss us about. At times we have to grab for the tall reeds or low lying branches. Life becomes a blur of faces and events rushing by—a circus of acts performed in three rings—like an endless ride on a merry-go-round, we cry to get off.

I am enjoying the trickle down path we are on right now and know the best is yet to be right around the next bend.

Thank you for letting me muse today.
nancy

To view all of my available paintings in my gallery click here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nancy-parsons-122 * Sold pieces are marked with a red dot.

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Mighty Mini

"Mighty Mini 3.5x2.5" Oil canvas paper

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"An artist is always alone - if he is an artist.
No, what the artist needs is loneliness."
— Henry Miller

"On the road again, going places that we've been before"...Yep, we've headed back on down the highway...and "looking for adventure." We arrived in Santa Fe yesterday, greeted by this dynamic sky hovering above the mountains.

I had a rough start the day before we left having a molar extracted. I was so woozy trying to pack, I forgot all kinds of things. So, while Dave is out trying to find —a few basic supplies like—a coffee pot, eating utensils, food and toilet paper, I've been sitting alone in the camper painting this mini—2.5x3.5", slightly bigger than a business card— painting above. I've never painted so small, but wanted to enter the Daily PaintWorks, "Paint It Small Challenge." Sorry I don't have my scanner, so I will be photographing my work while on the road which means they will be blurry.

I did want to say thank you to all of you who have sent me such lovely and heartfelt congratulations on being chosen DPW's Spotlight Artist of the Week. I appreciate so much, all of your thoughts which give me great encouragement. I've never been interviewed before, so this was really fun.

Thank you for viewing my painting from out west today.
nancy

To view all of my available paintings in my gallery click here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nancy-parsons-122 * Sold pieces are marked with a red dot.

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Friday, July 13, 2012

DAILY PAINTWORKS News: DPW Spotlight Interview: Nancy Parsons

DAILY PAINTWORKS News: DPW Spotlight Interview: Nancy Parsons: Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Nancy Parson's paint...

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Around the Bend

"Around the Bend" 6x6" oil on canvas panel.
Painted from a photo by my friend, Angela Fletcher

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"The future influences the present just as much as the past."

— Friedrich Nietzsche

Our futures are all just around that next bend in the road. This painting reminds me of all the hills and valleys I've crossed and climbed to get to this very spot on the road. Although the climbing seems to get harder and harder, the journey gets more and more interesting. I can't wait to see what's coming next.

And, speaking of next we'll be Heading on Down the Highway next week for four glorious weeks of camping in total peace and solitude, living simply and musing in the wild. I'll be able to paint and blog every day, while my husband writes poetry and fly fishes. I am so excited I can hardly stand it!!! This year we'll be heading up to northwest New Mexico and then into Colorado with our Ma and Pa Kettle pop-up camper, which we lovingly refer to as our "retirement package."

Abraham Lincoln said, "The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time." I can't believe it's been two years since I started this blog on day one of our last trip in 2010. Today's post/painting is number 240! I never would have dreamed having a blog would have become such a fun and enjoyable part of my life. I have been especially blessed to have had over 33,883 visitors on this site from every corner of the world.

Life sure is an exciting and daring adventure. Thanks for joining me on my journey! See you around that next bend.

nancy

To view all of my available paintings in my gallery click here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nancy-parsons-122 * Sold pieces are marked with a red dot.

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Oneness

"Oneness" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

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"Quantum physics thus reveals a basic oneness of the universe."

— Erwin Schrodinger

In this Daily PaintWorks challenge, the instructions were to look at the photo below and choose one word that describes the feeling you get and to render that feeling in a painting.

I chose the word "Oneness" because although every element in this scene on the surface may appear unique and unrelated—be it land, tree, mountain, water, sky, or figure—quantum physics tells us all life, energy, matter are all connected.

“The quantum field is the web that connects all life, energy, matter and existence into a single system. Everything we experience has a single interconnected source.”

Read more about Where Science and Buddhism Meet: Emptiness, Oneness and Nature of Reality - Part 2 [Video] on:
http://buddhist-meditation-techniques.com/where-science-and-buddhism-meet-emptiness-oneness-and-nature-of-reality-part-2-video/?utm_source=INK&utm_medium=copy&utm_campaign=share&

In order to capture this feeling in my painting, I first primed the canvas with a unifying wash of red. I decided to make gray the predominate color since gray is a mixture of all three primary colors red, blue and yellow. Then I used the gray in different values and combined small amounts of it with the other colors used in the painting. I also tried to keep the brush strokes as uniform as possible. I wanted all the different elements to reflect a commonality. Like pieces of a puzzle they all needed to fit together and connect atop the tinted background.

There is an underlying silence and unity at work here can you hear it?

Thanks for viewing my/our entry!
nancy

To view all of my available paintings in my gallery click here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nancy-parsons-122 * Sold pieces are marked with a red dot.

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Thursday, July 5, 2012

No Where To Run, No Where To Hide

"No Where To Run, No Where To Hide" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

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"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home."

— Twyla Tharp

I just love painting objects peeking through other objects. You can see all sorts of distortions including the colors through the multiple layers of overlapping objects. Look at that very cool blue reflection that appeared inside the rose colored glass from the taller glass behind.

Actually these gem toned glasses weren't glass at all, but rather made of plastic. They are more opaque than glass so, it was harder to see the softer muted reflections. However, cross my heart, they really were there.

I painted this still life outside in full sunlight which made the colors and shadows bounce everywhere. Isn't it a happy painting? I should have named this one Mardi Gras. It looks like a parade with confetti floating in the air!

Thanks for viewing my work!
nancy

To view all of my available paintings in my gallery click here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nancy-parsons-122 * Sold pieces are marked with a red dot.

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Hide Me, I'm Scared

"Hide Me I'm Scared" 6x6" oil on gessobord

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"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves

at the same time."

— Thomas Merton

In this not-so-still life, painted in plein air, my heliophobic orb tried his best to avoid the sun's scorching rays. He quickly ducked behind the glass and bucket, where he hung out all afternoon on the shady side of the table totally unaware of his transparent cover. By the end of the day, despite massive coatings of SPF 50, he suffered a brutal Sunkist ... just look at that rind! What a shame ... now he's sure to peel! Stay tuned as the saga continues.

Thank you for peaking in to view my painting and for listening to this juicy tale of woe!

nancy

To view all of my available paintings in my gallery click here http://www.dailypaintworks.com/Artists/nancy-parsons-122 * Sold pieces are marked with a red dot.
My blog: www.headondownthehighway.blogspot.com

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Monday, July 2, 2012

SOLD -Feed the Birds Cheetos?

"Feed the Birds Cheetos?" 8x8" Oil on gessobord

SOLD

"But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls."

— Khalil Gibran

I snapped this amazing photo of my granddaughter last week while at the beach as she was enticing seagulls with her Cheetos Puffs. I hope she didn't turn them all into junk-food junkies.

I wasn't sure I'd be able to capture—or, for that matter, even paint—all those birds in such a feathery-frenzy-of-flurry motion. But I am happy with the way it came out. Rather than trying to paint all the birds in full detail, I opted to paint only the largest bird with the most detail and then just loosely indicated the rest of the flock. This helped maintain the impressionist quality I love so much, allow the birds to recede in the composition and not compete too much with the foreground figure.

* Sorry this painting sold to my daughter before I was able to post.

Thank you for dropping in to view my painting!
nancy

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Down By The Bay

Down By The Bay 10x8" Oil on gessobord

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"All rivers, even the most dazzling, those that catch the sun in their course, all rivers go down to the ocean and drown. And life awaits man as the sea awaits the river."

~Simone Schwarz-Bart

In case you've been wondering where I have disappeared to for the past couple of weeks, we've been camping on Lake Conroe, and then spent six days on Galveston Island. I painted most every day, but was unable to post without any Wi-Fi service. Drats! Oh well, at least I have some new work ready to post this week.

This painting was a killer! I painted it plein air in 100 degree weather while battling countless armies of the hungriest bay-area mosquitoes I've ever encountered. As the sacrificial lamb, I am still covered with bites, but what the heck...somebody had to do it. ; )

Here's a photo of my granddaughter Hayley feeding the gulls with scraps of bread. This was out on the deck of the house where we were staying. It was a perfect spot located on the canals and overlooking the coastal bay. The surrounding sights were an estuary of delights. The warm sea grasses dotted the water's banks and surface in bright green patches dotted with an array of scavengers including: heron, egrets, gulls and pelicans swooping down for a catch.

Thank you for floating by to view my painting.
nancy