Touch of Spring

"Touch of Spring" 16x20" oil on stretched canvas

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"Green is the prime color of the world, and that from which its loveliness arises."

—Pedro Calderon de la Barca

 

This large 16x20" painting was taken from my friend Angela's photograph on a hike through the woods about a month ago. I always love that magical time of year when you first begin to see soft tender tufts of green emerging on bare branches high in the sky hinting at the promise of spring on the way.

e.e. cummings sums it up so perfectly, "I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural which is infinite, which is yes." 

Thanks for pausing with me for a moment to salute another spring.  nancy 

© 2013 nancy parsons

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To see more of my art or to contact me: 
Online Gallery  • E-mail  • Graphic Design Studio

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

Three-lips

"Three-lips, 6x6" oil on canvas panel

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"When my arms wrap you round I press

My heart upon the loveliness 

That has long faded from the world."

—Yeats

While picking up ingredients for the Easter dinner I was preparing for our family of 20, I decided to purchase some flowers for a centerpiece. I was on a tight budget, but discovered some very ripe pink tulips, crammed into the overflowing slashed-price bucket, stuck against the back wall at Kroger for $2.99 a dozen. They were hidden from view by the more marketable, young buds with firm tight lips who were much richer and vibrant in color then these paling rejects.

Although my mid-life beauties were a bit faded and sagged a little with mouths agape, I decided they were perfect! After all, Eleanor Roosevelt said, "Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art." Now, I am sure she would agree this truth applies to flowers as well.

Unfortunately this bunch was catty and rude, whispering secrets to each other behind my back. These three-lips lasted just long enough for me to finish the dishes and paint them before they took their final bow and were tossed into the trash can. 
Thanks for "tip toe(ing) through my tulips" 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 business: www.graphicdesigngroup.net

Iris Eyes Are Smiling

"Iris Eyes Are Smiling" 6x6" oil on canvas panel 

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When Iris eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring....
When Iris hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
 

Sorry, I just couldn't resist the play on words here. This stunning iris—found resting in the early morning shade beside still waters—was painted from another inspiring photo by eagle-eye Angela. 

Symbolically the iris is associated with faith, wisdom, cherished friendship, hope, valor, my compliments, promise in love and wisdom. Irises were used in Mary gardens as the blade-shaped foliage denotes the sorrows which pierced her heart.

The color purple is a perfect balance of warm red and the calm of blue. In fact, my very astute little niece recently told her mom that "purple was hot and cold." Pretty insightful for a three year old. 

According to squidoo.com, purple embodies a sense of mystic and royal qualities, often well liked by very creative or eccentric types, and the favorite color of adolescent girls. Mentally and physically, purple is uplifting, calming to mind and nerves, offers a sense of spirituality and encourages creativity. So do you think if people thew away their antidepressants and started wearing purple they'd be smarter, feel better, start attending church on a regular basis, and want to paint or take up piano? Hmmm...sounds like a great Jr. high science fair project.

Thanks for strolling into the garden 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

Relentless Desire

"Relentless Desire"(painted from a photograph by Angela Fletcher)
6x6" oil on canvas

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Green is the color of relentless desire denoting growth and new hope, bursting forth, at first, with soft lime whispers of spring energy. John O'Donohue in his book The Invisible Embrace Beauty says, "Gravity cannot hold it down; the call of light is always stronger." The power and will to survive, as witnessed in tender first grasses and plants, find a way to emerge through even the tiniest crevices in concrete. Miracles emerge out of the cold, dark emptiness of winter's tomb, bursting forth in triumphant birth into the light of life. The glory of spring has come again. 

Thanks for viewing my painting.

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

Cana Carnival

"Cana Carnival" 5x7" oil on canvas panel

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Spring in the air! My bright fuchsia-colored azaleas are in full bloom and robins have returned on the waves of warm afternoon temps in the high seventies in this part of Texas. Meanwhile, I've been on high-visual alert for signs of resurrected friends donning billowy bonnets for my garden spring follies.

I actually painted this flamboyant redheaded Cana Lily, sometime ago. She was doing a high-kick can-can like she was expecting Toulouse-Lautrec himself to show up to paint her portrait. I have to admit, she is pretty cute even in the abstract.

 

Thanks for buzzing around my world of color. ; )

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

When, When Little Wren?

"When, When Little Wren?" 6x6" oil on Ampersand board

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When, oh when, little Carolina Wren?...Will warmer weather come again? 

BRR! It was 26 degrees on my thermometer here in Conroe, Texas this morning. I get up at 4:30 a.m. several mornings a week (or is that still the middle of the night?) to swim laps at a local outdoor pool, covered only by an unheated tent. When I returned to my car after this morning's swim, it was so cold, I had to scrape ice off my windshield with a credit card in order to drive home....now that's cold!!! I know I can't complain compared to others in many parts of the world but it's all relevant.

NOTE: No matter what I do, I always end up having to post blurry photographs of my work. So, I am experimenting with scanning my paintings on my flatbed scanner directly to my computer. The quality sure looks a lot better and much more accurate. It's a tricky process since my paintings are always wet, but I took four paper clips and placed one under each corner of the painting, just barely catching the tips of the corners, so nothing would touch the glass except the paper clips. After scanning, I touched up the tiny bits of paper clip that were visible in the final image in Photoshop. Pretty cool, huh?

Thanks for dropping by!

nancy