Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Roadside Weeds


Roadside Weeds
Originally uploaded by linfrye
Daily Practice
Imagined Landscape

Passing by the roadsides these days is a journey into a forgotten season. Seedpods, spent grasses, cones, nuts, dried leaves all abound in tones of burnt sienna to umber to chocolate to sepia. Against burnished fields, morning hoarfrost, rare snow, or even sand, these bits of fall's bounty absolutely delight me.

Lately, my eyes have become extremely red, burned and strained, and so last night's practice was playful -- an imagined scene of roadsides I've been viewing from my many roadtrips. I'm also learning to play with a pallet knife -- and that has been a lot of fun, too.

I must admit I prefer having a scene, photo or object in front of me to paint ... but I suppose this exercise will stretch my imagination and memory.....

Meanwhile, while you're out driving or walking, enjoy this 'forgotten' season ... close up examinations of those seedpods will find them almost as spectacular as when they were filled with colorful petals.

10 comments:

Patti G. said...

Verrrrrry pretty Lin and take care of those red eyes! <3
Hugs,Patti

Anonymous said...

Oh I love it -- the starkness of that season when things are beginning to slow down and rest for the winter. I always enjoyed finding milk pods when I was a kid (and still do) and watching them dry and open and let loose their seeds on the wind!

Your colors and shading are excellent and the fence posts are just perfect!
Hugs,
Lorraine

Teri said...

This is so beautiful and truly autumn!

caseytoussaint said...

Lovely, Lin!

squawmama said...

Lin.... I just love roadside weeds as you call them... They to me are so very peaceful... I am always taking photos of them when we are traveling... Love your painting today... Have a wonderful day...

(((HUGS)))
Donna

Barbara said...

This is wonderful! I can't believe how you found a bunch of weeds and painted them and now they sing!

Teresa said...

Oh I really like this! Now THIS is looking much more like my kind of season! Woo Hoo! Here's hoping for a White Christmas in Carolina this year! (Put thermal underwear on your Christmas Wish List, Lin! LOL!)

Ivona Hrvatin said...

This is very suggestive... (perhaps just a little bit too symmetric?)... I LOVE your simple snow-grass motives, Lin... I still remember that little grass in the snow you published on WetCanvas time ago, it made a strong impression on me...
How wonderful, you can describe nature beauty with names of watercolor tones... I red on some art sites that slowly a painter sees the world and it's colors differently ...
And you seem comfortable working from imagination if I judge from the results as well.(Whenever I try a strongly abstract painting comes out ;))

Take good care! Big hug!

Joan said...

Lovely fenceposts and wires with the roadside treasures growing behind them. So nice to see this!!!

Alison said...

The clouds look like they're really moving along.