Enjoy the Beauty That Surrounds You
Nothing declares the coming of winter like turning back the clocks. The weather here has been warm, ideal for plein air painting, but I can feel the change coming. I am feeling a sense of urgency now, treasuring these wonderful fall days, painting out three or four days a week. Every day is an adventure, even when returning to familiar places. On Wednesday last week, a tree was full of bright yellow leaves and caught my eye for the start of a 16 x 20 canvas. Returning the next day, half the leaves had fallen and by the third day the tree was bare. The scene had changes so much that I would not have given it a second glance.
This week I spent three days at Chaffee Crossing, near the Nature Center. Chaffee Crossing is the former Ft. Chaffee Army Base, now being developed with housing and industry. I have found a few jeep trails into the undeveloped fields and woods. There are areas of wild grasses shimmering in the morning light with lavender, pink, rust and gold. The trees change each day.
At a T crossing I found a view of the old Ft. Chaffee water tank, a huge checkerboard of gold and white nestled in the trees. That was day one's inspiration. As I packed up, I noticed the scene behind me, day two. Then, thinking that I was finished in this area, I was surprised to see the road that I had come down, beautifully lit in the late morning. I returned the next morning to capture that scene.
My next chance to paint outdoors will be next Thursday. I will have to start all over again, checking the view of Massard Creek from Gringo's parking lot, the fields at Chaffee Crossing and opening my heart to new ideas. I feel like I am storing up nuggets for the long winter ahead. Perhaps one or more of these small works will inspire a large studio piece, maybe not. Painting is an adventure.
I will post these new works as soon as they are dry enough to handle and photograph. Hope you will visit them at my web site on the Small Works page, just a glimpse of Arkansas, the Natural State.
