to me!
7" x 9"
Arches 140#CP
Today is one of those milestone birthdays and we've spent the weekend celebrating. A wonderful dinner out on Friday, birthday party with friends on Saturday and a lovely dinner with my son, grands and in-laws yesterday ... all delicious, fun, wonderful, heart-warming - and all helping make this 'getting older' business much easier and far more pleasant! LOL
The weather too has been incredibly glorious! Fall blue skies, bright sunshine, slight breeze, and a sky show of clouds that makes "looking up" both a metaphor and a reality. We've seen hay bales, fields turned golden yellow with rudbeckias and goldenrod, spots of crimson among the sumac and dogwoods, new apples in the grocery stores, the promise of festivals and fairs over the next few weeks, and the whisper of change on the wind.
It's been one of those weekends filled with all of my favorite things -- and a gift beyond measure.
I am truly grateful and send a warm, heart-felt thank you to my friends and family here for their love and support and encouragement. Blessings.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Rose Hips - Happy Birthday
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Bittersweet Berries in Gold
7 1/2" x 11"
Arches 140#CP
While visiting my mom, I would often take a short walk along the woodland roadsides that border my sister's road. I am always enthralled by the treasures I find in these 'wild' areas. This year, the bittersweet had already set seed and the berries were mustard in color - a deeper brown/yellow than the leaves I've painted. I plucked a bit of branch to bring inside to paint. After a few hours, though, the golden husks of the berries had shattered, exposing the most glorious orange/red seeds ... and creating the subject ripe for painting.
As the days went by, I found more 'shattered' husks as more of the golden bittersweet turned crimson with seed and brightened the roadside foliage. Leaves were beginning to turn color in earnest, and I was enjoying the orange, gold and russet of the sassafras as well as the bright red of sumac.
Here at home the sycamore and tulip poplar have already turned a rich mustard/gold and in some cases, earth-brown as they fall fast from the trees.
I really do love this season, and it won't be long before I'll have enough under my feet for crunching!
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Dahlia Collection Bayard Cutting Arboretum, LI, NY
While visiting my sisters and mom this past 10 days, I had the wonderful opportunity to spend an afternoon with my dear friends Susan T. (www.flickr.com/photos/52358552@N06/) and Joan T. (www.flickr.com/photos/23074176@N08/) at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum (www.bayardcuttingarboretum.com/).
The day couldn't have been more gorgeous - blue skies, mild temps, sunshine -- and a garden filled with blooms! We visited the area near the community gardens where the Dahlia collection was housed and in full glory. We sat among the vegetables and sunflowers and painted plein air together. It has been so long since I've done any plein air work -- such fun, and to chat and enjoy the scenery, flowers, and weather with good friends - was just a bit of heaven!
The time, of course, went far too fast -- but I hope to see these gals again soon.
Thank you again, Susan and Joan for a most delightful afternoon!
Please see
http://www.flickr.com/photos/linfrye
for dozens of photos from this trip including plein air sketch.
Saturday, September 21, 2013
Orange Leaves of Fall
12" x 16"
Arches 140#CP
WELCOME TO FALL!!
The weather in New York has been incredibly fall-like --- warm, pleasant days, blue skies, and cool crisp evenings.
Leaf color is changing slowly here - but already the berries are formed and turning colors, seedpods are drying and the reds of sumac are showing themselves. I picked some bittersweet for our table- yellowed berried and golden leaves. By morning, the pods had opened to reveal bright red capsules.
Mom has had a good week and it's been a joy to spend time with her doing the things my sisters do daily for her care. I had a couple of days to visit with my sisters - and that too was marvelous.
The time, though, always flies, and it will be good to get home again and resume my life there. With loved ones scattered across the country, though, it often feels like bits of my heart are left here and there and only truly united when all of us can all be together.
Used to be when I was younger and more foolish, I wished for things ... but now, older and I hope more wise, I wish for TIME -- the only thing we can't save, borrow, or hang onto.
It truly makes that saying 'Live each day to its fullest' even more urgent.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Colorful Falls
Arches 140#CP
Summer temps have returned, but my mind is already geared for fall and for playing a bit with new color combinations.
This painting is an interpretation of the waterfall (cascade) that I photographed when I was visiting Doris in the spring.
www.flickr.com/photos/linfrye/8984863108/
You can see how I cropped the photo and simplified the subject ... and changed the greens to more colorful paints. It was a lot of fun!! and not as 'bright' as it appears on some monitors. The pinks and purples are more subtle in real life.
I'll be on and off line for a while as I care for my mom ...
Friday, September 06, 2013
White Roses
6" x 6"
Arches 140#CP
The high heat of the summer is less intense these days as we make our way toward fall. Bright greens have dimmed and the yellows and purples that tend to mark the onset of autumn can be found in wild flowers and in garden beds.
Mums are finding their way to retail shelves along with bright pansies. And for my garden, the last of the roses are bidding the summer adieu.
This small splash and splatter was a demo for one of my classes .. I like the use of turquoise in it - to me, at least this year, it seems to fit the seasonal color shift.
Have a great weekend.
Monday, September 02, 2013
Bittersweet Berries - Welcome September!
12" x 16"
Arches 140#CP
According to local weather forecasters, today is the 'meteorological' start of fall. To my eyes, the season, at least in my part of North Carolina, has been gradually showing herself in the hints of yellowing leaves, the appearance of fall yellow flowers - Helianthus and Coreopsis varieties), the browning of the sedges, the start of another haying season.
The muscadines are ripe now on the wild vines, the berries of the hollies and sumac are finally red, and the beauty berries are starting to turn their autumn purple.
The season has started and I plan to enjoy each subtle change and color.
I haven't found bittersweet berries nearby yet, so I painted these from a photo taken last year while visiting my sisters. I love their reds and golds and how they seem to herald the season.
Have a most marvelous week!