In the open air

This morning I sat looking north out my window, at the neighbor's green shed, at the dry peach colored ground and painted a couple small studies. After lunch on a whim I cleaned my travel palette, added fresh watercolor, and prepared some paper. Then at a little after two o'clock I set out on foot with paint, brushes, jar of water, and foldy chair in hand. Down by the creek next to the trails I sat and painted two studies of the water zig-zagging up to red twigs and a shadowy bridge. Lots of bikers and walkers were on the path above me and two young boys visited, wondering what on earth I was doing there. Later a yip yap dog barked at me but his person kept him at bay.

If the calendar didn't say February first I would have declared it was spring break. It was good to get outside and break from my routine.

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ps. Plus I recently finished this letterpress print, check it out! :)

Comments

[Rach]

LOVE these little paintings. And I really like the phrase "his person kept him at bay"

[Heather Smith Jones]

Thanks Rach! It was fun. Did you find creativity today?

[jenna]

these are quite lovely. i adore the jewel tones. feels like spring here too, a warm thunderstorm out my window now.

[Kathleen]

Those are beautiful and I love their size! It's still too cold for fingers (mine at least) to be in the open air here. What a lovely afternoon whim you had.

[Heather Smith Jones]

Thanks Jenna. A thunderstorm definitely sounds like spring, enjoy!

Kathleen, normally it is very cold here this time of year, so I had to take advantage of the warmth! :)

[erin]

so beautiful! and how wonderful to be outside!!

[Sandra]

These are lovely. I love the soft shapes, the way the colors carry your eye, and the feeling of them. Were these made with a particular brand of paints?

[Heather Smith Jones]

Sandra, thank you for visiting and for your comment. And to respond to your question, I use a variety of paint brands.

[Asiye]

they are amazing! its fun to break ones routine and totally inspiring and rejuvenating. feel just reading about it gave me engery!

[gracia]

A change in routine, a new way of seeing, watching the world and finding inspiration... yes, sometimes it is best to take it outside and see.

Happy working, happy playing, and here's to more such works,
G xo

[Emily]

I love how you captured the feeling of the moment in shapes and colors. I feel that when I'm out painting I can get too hung up on the details and I take so much time sketching that I end up losing the light. I'm working on being loser in my process.