Linville Gorge Revisited

 

Linville Gorge Revisited 

8" x 10" oil on board

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For me, there is no greater feeling of peace than the one I get from staring into an endless range of mountains. Just like a wide ocean view, staring into the mountains or any open vista (as opposed to staring at a phone or computer screen or being trapped in a city) expands your field of vision, which is supposed to reduce stress. I can confirm that it works. There's also something about the contrast between the ground-level, zoomed in, view that you get from hiking through a gorge (as in Linville Gorge), hemmed in by rhododendron and the noise of tumbling rapids and then scrambling to the top of the ridge to view not only where you just were, but as far as the atmosphere will let you in any direction. 

This is the second time I've attempted this painting and while I think it's better than the first, it still has a ways to go. Still working on that sense of peace. 

Garlic on Blue Napkin

 

Garlic on Blue Napkin

5" x 7" oil on board

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Another one painted alongside Camlin.  She's good for about twenty minutes and then it's chatter time.  I like the way the napkin turned out, but I wish the garlic was a little warmer. I had primed the board, which means making a thin mixture of color with mineral spirits and rubbing it on the board, and it turned out to be the exact color of the cutting board I used for the still life.  So, I didn't actually paint the tan parts, and I kind of like the effect. 

Peaches on Blue Napkin

Peaches on Blue Napkin

8" x 8" oil on board

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Today's lesson was one that I have to repeat to myself over and over throughout all aspects of my life:  DON'T FREAK OUT!

Not only does freaking out not make things better, it usually makes them worse.  Such simple advice, yet so hard to follow...

I thought there was no way this one was going to make the cut. I almost freaked out and wiped it. As usual, glad I didn't.

Trumpet Vine - Highland County

 

Trumpet Vine - Highland County

6" x 6" oil on board

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I'm proud of this one considering the conditions under which it was painted. Trying to sneak in an hour of painting while the kids were splashing in the baby pool on the other side of the house. It started off cloudy and breezy but became sunny and bakingly still. Then a storm blew up so it got cloudy again and then my easel blew over in the grass.  It never rained but the wind kept up, so I went around to a less windy side of the house to try and finish the painting without looking at the scene (I do that a lot when conditions change and I don't want to muddy up my painting by trying to make it match the changes). But the less windy side of the house was where the kids were playing.  And then I realized I was looking toward the kitchen where my brother-in-law was making faces at me through the window.  You get the picture.  So I quit while I was ahead.  Highland County and this farm property, in particular, might be my favorite place on earth. Trumpet vine is kind of like daylillies, except that it's a native plant.  It's super invasive and everywhere, but I think it's pretty, especially when it's growing along a fence with a mountain in the background. 

Daylily

 

Daylily

8" x 10" oil on board

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Yes, I like daylilies.  They're super-invasive and they're everywhere, but they are a symbol of summer, and they remind me of the river house where I spent my summers, growing up. And did you know they're edible?  Yep, all parts of the daylily can be eaten. 

I had the towel ready to wipe this one, but I decided to do some finger painting first.  The final version is totally different from when I put down the brush.  Do I love it? Not sure...but it's kind of interesting.