SOLD -Puttin' on the Ritz

"Puttin' on the Ritz", 6x6" oil on gessobord

"Why not seize the pleasure at once? How often is happiness destroyed by preparation. Foolish preparation?" — Jane Austen

 

If the hat fits wear it ... but if it doesn't fit wear it anyway! Meet Juliet our youngest almost-three-year-old granddaughter caught on camera as she delights in playing dress up in a huge green hat and blue satin slippers. Painting children is really a challenge, however it does seem to capture Juliet's joyful and playful little spirit in the moment.

Why is it when we are little we can't wait to grow up, and then once we're grown we want to go back? The grass always seems greener everywhere except where we happen to be. Perhaps the secret is to learn to water the grass where we are, and see what interesting things spring up. Or... as an alternative to watering... put up a bird feeder in your backyard and never know what the heck it is that's sprouting up all over your grass. I can personally guarantee that spot of your yard will be greener. 

BTW, speaking of seizing the moment, Dave and I are going to hit the road again in our pop-up camper this summer. We're planning to head for mountains and rivers to fly fish and paint somewhere out west. Yee-ha! I've been itching to paint more landscapes in plein air. I guess I'm still looking for greener pastures?

Thanks for trying on my blog... carpe diem! (translated from Latin, seize the day)
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

E-mail: njparsons@suddenlink.net

My books:  NEW 2012 Daily Planner and Head on Down the Highway A Blog Book

My graphic design business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Outside the Lines

"Outside the Lines" 6x6" oil on gessobord

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Lost in a creative world all her own, Annie gets in touch with her inner artist. I painted this from a photo of my niece as she blissfully included most of her arm as part of her extended canvas. Children are so naturally uninhibited and unaware of boundaries including those thick black lines of coloring books that we were so terrified to cross outside of as children. Who decided that we had to stay within those lines anyway? I think most people got discouraged and gave up on art once the guidelines were imposed on us. We were even graded as to how perfectly we could stay inside the lines. Or for that matter, who told us that trees HAD to be painted green with brown trunks? I've always wondered if children don't see more than we do with our conditioned brains? Perhaps trees really are purple but we ceased to see the purple after someone unknowingly handed us a green crayon and basically told us what we WERE suppose to see, rather than allowing us to see what we were seeing? I wonder what else we once saw and heard that was filtered out? Hmmm... food for thought.

I usually simplify and edit unnecessary information in small paintings, however I included all the surrounding details here to show Annie in her magical world of toys, fun and bright colors. Draped across the back of the chair, Annie's golden fairy princess dress awaits her next adventure. Life was so simple and magical back then...what happened?

Thanks for entering my world of color today.

nancy

My blog: www.headondownthehighway.blogspot.com

E-mail: njparsons@suddenlink.net

My books  NEW 2012 Daily Planner and Head on Down the Highway A Blog Book

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Rainy-Day Sunshine

"Rainy-Day Sunshine" 6x6" oil on canvas panel

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When did we lose the desire to jump into mud puddles in carefree reckless abandonment? This little girl's spirit captured my heart as she delights in the sheer joy of sloshing in mud and water in her pretty pink boots. Totally lost in the moment, she was captured in a photo shared by my friend Angela.

How sad we've lost that same sense of wonder, discovery and magic over so many simple things in life, like: climbing trees, finding pictures in cloud formations, making necklaces out of sweet clover, creating angels in the first snowfall of winter, or jumping into piles of raked autumn leaves. All of these brought the greatest and most satisfying pleasures. So what happened? Did we just grow up ... or have we just grown down?

Thanks for jumping into my puddle today.

nancy

My blog: www.headondownthehighway.blogspot.com

E-mail: njparsons@suddenlink.net

My books  NEW 2012 Daily Planner and Head on Down the Highway A Blog Book

My graphic design: www.graphicdesigngroup.net