Trail Ponder

"Trail Ponder" 6x6" oil on gessobord

"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us." 

— Henry David Thoreau

This is a painting of Lee—one of my six amazing sisters—seen hiking in Montana a number of years ago. I've been holding onto this photo wanting to paint it, but the lighting was so dark I wasn't sure I could pull it off. Photos always make the darkest areas appear unnaturally dark, so I had to accommodate. 

I love today’s quote reminding me how we are all walking day-by-day on paths through wild untamed and unfamiliar woods carrying our bags. The past we have somehow survived, while the future we ponder and sometimes worry over what lies around the next bend. But for right now, at this very moment, we are comforted by the distant hoot of an owl, the caw of a crow from somewhere unseen in the tree overhead, and the sounds of water licking cold stones smooth along reed filled banks. Here, the dabbled light casts translucent blue and violet patterns like fine tatted lace on moss covered trunks and limbs. While there, blinding beams of sun slash without mercy through rocks and boulders in its path; leaves on branches shimmer on wafts of musty dank breezes. While underfoot, the sound of crunching twigs and dry grasses march in perfect time to each beat of a gladdened heart. All that surrounds is holding and hugging this sacred presence of “now.” Grab it quick before it to disappears into past!

 

Thanks for meandering in today.

© 2013 nancy parsons

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Early Bloomers

"Early Bloomers" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

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"One that would have the fruit must climb the tree."

— Thomas Fuller

...Or, have a friend willing to climb a tree. My swimming buddy Angela sent me a photo she snapped of these early bloomers. I loved the photograph and cropped in on this one section to paint.  

Does anyone know what kind of a tree this is? My guess is a tulip tree? What a display these total over achievers put on! They're always the first kids on the block to come out to play. 

The oak trees are budding out now, but I'm still waiting for my redbud and azaleas to break free of their wintery caskets. I am sure, like a game of Kick the Can, it won't be long now before "everybody comes in free."
 
Thanks for catching my sneak preview of spring.
nancy

© 2013 nancy parsons

_____________________________________________________
To see more of my art or to contact me: 
Gallery  •  Blog  • NEW Website • E-mail  • Graphic Design Studio

SOLD -White's Not White

"Bathing Beauty" 10x8" oil on gessobord

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"The snow goose need not bathe to make itself white. Neither need you do anything but be yourself." — Lao Tzu

Seriously? Did people really ever get clean bathing like this?  

Painting anything white is a real challenge for me. For the robe in this painting, if you zoom in closely, you'll see I used a wide variety of thin pastel colors including green, violet, pink, blue and yellow first. The hardest part is holding off using any white paint until the very end. Once I have all the subtle values in place, the last thing I do is hit the tiny bits of highlights that appear here and there with thick pure white. Abrakadabra presto chango! Like magic the robe instantly reads white even though there is very little white present. It is so interesting how the eye reads all that color as white.

Although this robed subject is not a dirty snow goose, it does show how you can paint objects that look white by using very little white paint and have them still read as white.  
 
Thanks for peeking in today. 
nancy

© 2013 nancy parsons

_____________________________________________________
To see more of my art or to contact me: 
Gallery  •  Blog  • NEW Website • E-mail  • Graphic Design Studio

First Sign of Spring

"First Sign of Spring" 8x10", oil on gessobord

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"There are always flowers for those who want to see them." 

                                — Henri Matisse 

Who needs a ground hog and its shadow? I can predict when spring is about to break free from the grips of winter. It happens suddenly out of the dark stillness of bare branches, when delicate pink blossoms emerge along pencil-thin twisted boughs by the fence behind my studio.   
 
I clipped a small flowering twig to use in today's more complex still life. I filled the scene with some of my life’s creature comforts including a spot of tea from a silver teapot and spoon, an apple, ceramic baby birds, books and of course candies.  

To give you a bit more insight on the blossoming peach tree; it hasn't always abided in my yard. In fact, this wild and wandering immigrant grew up in the woods behind my house where for many years I had admired it from afar. Then one day, to my total amazement, it popped up on my side of the fence. I assumed a seed either floated in on a strong breeze, or perhaps was carried by a bird or a fairy to take root in my garden. Or, if the truth be told, maybe this lonely tree sensing my deep love and appreciation for its annual beauty, fought and clawed its way underground and the 8 foot pine barrier to enter my fecund oasis where automated watering was all inclusive. The law of attraction? Creative visualization? Oh, the power of love ... and the mind. 

Yoshida Kenko said, "Blossoms are scattered by the wind and the wind cares nothing, but the blossoms of the heart no wind can touch."
 
Happy Valentine's Day!
nancy

© 2013 nancy parsons

_____________________________________________________
To see more of my art or to contact me: 
Gallery  •  Blog  • NEW Website • E-mail  • Graphic Design Studio

Apple Ancestry

"Apple Ancestry" 6x6" oil on gessobord

"Every man is a quotation from all his ancestors."
 — Ralph Waldo Emerson

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. In this still life I incorporated one of my favorite trays, displaying a painting of a bowl of green apples, as a back drop. The bright red honey crisps featured in the forefront are the stars of this generation.  

Linking present to the past, spoon points back in time to ancestors who went before, their lives pared down, steamed and baked, no doubt buried inside a savory flaky crust. But alas, this same fate will not befall these juicy scarlets for they will be reveled raw, one by one and bite by bite, to delight my waiting palate. 

I LOVE apples any size shape or form. It's a good thing I wasn't the ancestor forbidden to eat from the tree in the middle of the garden. Whew! that would have been a tough line to bob. 

Thank you for visiting my little paradise.
nancy

 

© 2013 nancy parsons

_____________________________________________________
To see more of my art or to contact me: 
Gallery  •  Blog  • NEW Website • E-mail  • Graphic Design Studio