JUST ME :: and a stack of blank pages

:: Living creatively ::

About me

This is the real secret of life — to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realise it is play. The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That’s all there ever is. I’m here to tell you that the path to peace is right there, when you want to get away. When you are present, you can allow the mind to be as it is without getting entangled in it. If you miss the present moment, you miss your appointment with life. That is very serious!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Variation on a theme

bright | babbling brook | winter closing its cold hand

Following on Donald Maier's post "Plein Air vs Photos", I decided to also try a 'variation on a theme', using two paintings that I did plein air as inspiration for something new. I've never thought of doing the same painting twice, so thanks for the inspiration Donald!

The one below was my first painting of a neighbour's trees, sitting behind the fence on our side of our smallholding.

"A Neighbour's Trees"

The second time I did the painting (below), I asked the owner's permission to paint the trees from inside his property, sitting with my back against the fence. Not a great distance between me and my subject and, as the trees are situated on a little hillock, I was looking up the slope towards the trees. Very similar to my first painting above.

"Rocky Outcrop"

It was a nice warm day, no wind, slight nip in the air, but I got totally engrossed and only packed up when I decided I had fiddled enough. Every time I looked up, there was another little rock I had missed!

In the painting below, done in my studio, I decided to add a stream, as I feel I need some more practice in that field. Water (and clouds!) is always a great challenge for me.

"Cold Winter Stream" pencil sketch and watercolour - Maree© 25th July 2009
9" x 12"

I've been contemplating using oils again, so I will be using some of my watercolours for inspiration before trying my hand at oils plein air.

::
 

4 comments:

  1. Very lovely watercolour sketches - the top one reminds me of an Arthur Rackham illustration, but 'A Rocky Outcrop' is my favourite. I really like Donald Maier's work too - I've never had the self discipline to do the same scene twice!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lovely 'experimenting' Maree. And I too, love the Rocky Outcrop the best.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks Cathy, never heard of Arthur Rackham, so will Google him and have a look.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks Liz. Isn't it always amazing how somebody else chooses the one that's not your own favourite? I liked the outcome of Cold Winter Stream...

    ReplyDelete

Your comments are welcome! And thank you for visiting my blog!