MY PARADISE
is the theme this week at Illustration Friday. Last week it took me so long to get it together that I missed joining in the fun, and I can see there is a danger for me with this theme as well. But for different reasons! Last week I didn't instantly get in the Cars groove because I have about zero interest in anything automotive. (I did eventually complete the assignment though!) This week I have almost too many thoughts and ideas on the subject.
I can see myself over-thinking this all the way till next Friday...so I am just going to enter a painting I did a few years ago called In the Chestnut Grove. I started the painting while on an artist's residency. I got to stay in a small secluded house/studio on the grounds of a wealthy estate, and do whatever I wanted. Which of course, for me was read, draw and paint 24/7. I also cooked myself lovely little meals and took leisurely swims in the estate swimming pool. It was literally heaven on earth. My family and a few friends came out from time to time to pose for me and partake of my temporary good fortune. This is my friend Katie and her little daughter H who were amazingly obliging about posing. I did another painting of Katie that I think was more successful than this one...but it's darker. I think this attempt, despite its flaws, caught a tiny glimpse of a mother's paradise: a golden afternoon in a beautiful grove of trees with one's beloved child...
In the Chestnut Grove, oil on canvas, 16 x 20 inches, 2005
38 comments:
That's beautiful :)
cabanadigital.com
Thanks for visiting and your kind words!
Great texture in your piece. You've definitely captured "paradise"...
wow, that is truly paradise.. beautiful painting.
hola, me encanto tu rabajo,muy bella ilustracion, la atmosfera que logras dice mucho
saludos
This is lovely and it has an air of mystery about it as well as the tranquility it evokes.
Beautifully painted! I love the atmosphere!
beautiful painting, dreamy and serene:)
lovely image
This is a wonderful paradise. The soft light is amazing. I love the composition.
I found myself overthinking Paradise. So I used just a simple collage. Your paintings as always lovely!
despite it's flaws? oh i must be pretty ditzy as i'm just sitting in that tree...basking in this dappled light, and i can feel the mass of that tree, right under me.
this is really nice, nb! :))
Yes. I finally discovered your other blog, Nancy. I somehow got lost in the attempt to find this. I was reading the GenreCookShop blog, but remained clueless on how to link back over here. Anyway before I forget, I wanted to mention that the Jewish Pudding cake you had posted over there looked scrumpious. So what was really inside of it? Yellow cake smothered with whip cream? I know I am pushing it, but is it possible that your husband's Aunt Beth would be able to share the recipe? ;) If not forget that I asked.
Moving along that is a cool painting with nice set of warm colors and interesting composition. I am surprised you had the children in the background remained still to pose for you - amazing.
However there is one issue that distracts me when I am trying to read your painting. My eyes don't know where to focus in the painting. The foreground (mainly the tree) is competing with the boy (since each area was done with the same amount of effort/detail/etc). Depending on what you're wishing to achieve you could a) apply more detail on the tree and partial grass or b) leave the tree alone and bring the boy up a little bit more to have an even more believable-looking painting. In addition the second tree from the front has lovely hues with nice saturation, but were all those spots being hit with light? Anyway for me again the second tree (understanding that yes your observing from life) is actual unnecesary. The tree in the foreground already establishes the necessary distance for the perspective, but the second for is taking space. Bleh. I must stop myself. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the painting. Thanks for sharing :)
Sorry if I came off as fairly rude with the critique.
I look forward to your future paintings!
Very beautiful and relaxing atmosphere. Very nice.
Beautiful!! very peaceful and charming utopic indeed!
Fantastic piece, the lighting alone makes this one very memorable. Plus, I like the story behind it.
what a treat!
You made me smile.....I had the same response to this topic and the cars one too!
Beautiful painting.
I like the way your eyes weave around the woodland to see the subjects in the sunlight... they both appear framed.... :)
I totally relate with your feelings about this and last week's IF topics. Too many ideas for this week (ending up with an old painting) and very little for "cars" (for which in the end I did nothing at all). Congrats for your paradise - painting and description, they could surely be my paradise too! An thanks for your visit and nice words about mine!
So very beautiful
Magnificent painting, Nancy! Certainly an ideal paradise!
emila yusof
http://www.emilayusof.com
Magical! I love how the mom and child are in different frames of the branches. Wonderful painting!
the painting is very beautiful..It does feel like paradise..
Love the mysterious quality of this one. Reminds me of playing outside with my child, lost in the beauty of it all. Love your cartoons also. Adding you to my inspiration list. Much peace to you.
Beautiful, serene painting, Nancy Bea. I love the colors and the texture, very dreamy and perfect for this week's theme.
What a great experience you had at the time this painting was done, you are very, very talented.
Thanks so much for your lovely comments on my blog:-)
this is deliciously beautiful. I love oil paint...it is so luminous and rich. And a lovely idea of paradise.
Your work is so beautiful!
Beautiful, Nancy. The chestnut trees are gorgeous and the distant mother and daughter is sweet and poignant. I love it.
Thanks for visiting. I like the atmospheric quality in this painting and the great sense of depth. (I couldn't do "Cars" either...)
Lovely painting, very evocative, also just loved your still life you posted the other week, well done.
Another beautiful painting!
I love the mother and daughter set in the distance and the trees give such a serene atmosphere...
Actually that's something I found in most of your paintings (at least since I've been visiting your blog!), they are all very peacefull :))
What a beautiful, serene painting. I love the composition!
Atmosphere.....what a wonderfull atmosphere!
I love it!
Cata.
really nice composition, there is a lot of movement. really very nice.
Very beautiful piece. The composition is great. I love those trees!
Great lighting and composition! I always love your work, someday I've got to try oils again. I too had a the same response to cars, I know I'm male and I'm suppose to care more about them but I dont! Your a trooper to do it anyway...and I love the Little Guys response.
Great lighting and composition! I always love your work, someday I've got to try oils again. I too had a the same response to cars, I know I'm male and I'm suppose to care more about them but I dont! Your a trooper to do it anyway...and I love the Little Guys response.
Wow! this is gorgeous...i can't believe I did not see it last week. Very nice.
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