Thursday, October 21, 2010

Oxford Barn in the Fall


Oxford Barn in the Fall
Originally uploaded by linfrye
Daily Practice
Journal Size

Though our nighttime temperatures are below 50F and often in the low 40s, our daytime temps are still quite warm -- mid 70s to, over the next few days, in the 80s! So our foliage is still predominently yellow and gold.

This old barn sits about 10 miles from my home among several other barns, grasses and implements that cover most of ground. I tried to simplify this scene for a quick painting after a long day.

Despite the overcast skies, the trip to the JC Raulston Arboretum was wonderful -- colors of flowers, trees and berries were richly saturated in the low-light, and the threat of rain kept most folks somewhere else. We found a TON of still blooming flowers including, would you believe, the most incredible sulphur orange cosmos that dazzled us against the deep dark of the evergreens it was planted against. Camellias, roses, cascades of pink lespedezia, yellowing leaves of sycamore, tulip poplar, redbud, berries of American beauty berry, Japanese Pagoda trees, rose hips and more -- just beautiful in the grey light.

After lunch we headed to the NC Museum of Art and began our walk around their woodland park to view the sculptures and native plants ... we walked about 1/'4 of the way down the trail when the heavens finally opened and we dashed indoors. We returned to campus around 4:00 to catch up on mail and phone calls and head to evening classes.

Today we take the Plant a Row for the Hungry volunteers to the State fair to view the gardens and observe the vegetables displayed in all their finest. We'll return to campus all inspired to grow more produce next year!

Hope your day is terrific!

4 comments:

jsicignano2.blogspot.com said...

Hi Lin,

What a wonderful time you must be having. It shows in the beautiful painting. I love the sky and in fact this painting is excellent. Okay it's time for me to start my day. I'm thinking of the pumpkin my grandchildren gave me on Sunday.

Happy painting to you.
Joan

Teri said...

Such a beautiful pastoral, peaceful scene. Love it.

Joan said...

Love the autumn colors in this barn scene!!! Lovely! But that sunflower below is just AWESOMR! I can't believe how well you paint in the car!!! I'll have to try that.

Have a wonderful day!

Lorraine said...

I tried to comment on this yesterday and it wouldn't "take." I love the way you've painted the old barn, especially that rusty roof, against the softness of the trees and those little brown grasses are perfection.

Our fall colors are still ebbing and flowing and I saw a tree yesterday that was mostly green but the part that faced the sun was red -- gorgeous.

Hugs,
Lorraine