Simple Things

Haven’t you found it’s the simple things that bring joy these days? Whether it’s a walk or a face to face visit outdoors with a friend, these simple things are the best. Aren’t they?

Welcome dear reader! This week I’ll also share a painting in history that I chose as an inspiration for my own painting. And, if you live in or near the Carolinas, I’ll be describing a fantastic and little known get away. Before I continue, I will welcome new readers and describe the purpose of this post and blog.

Small Spaces Special Places

Each year, I select a theme for my weekly paintings. This year’s is “Small Spaces Special Places.” One of the reason for this theme is I have been surprised, even delighted, with the small spaces in our house that have captured my eye.

Then, there are the special places I see on my daily dog walks here in Raleigh. You would be amazed at the glimpses of beautiful moments I see. Each morning, rain or shine, I love getting outdoors and looking for special places to paint.

There are also times when we venture out on the road in our teardrop camper and I’ll draw or paint quick ideas. This past weekend, we had a much needed road trip to a campsite in South Carolina. So there you have it, the straight story about this post and blog. If you know someone who you think might enjoy a weekly dose of color, please encourage them to sign up here for this weekly blog. Now it’s time for me to share a bit of art history and inspiration with you.

Inspiration

Have you got a favorite Monet painting? I confess I would have a hard time choosing just one as a favorite. But for this week’s painting, I studied this painting called “The Four Trees” on view at the Met in New York by Monet. Why? Read on below.

First, I love how abstract this painting feels. Of course, you can tell there are trees but Monet breaks about every rule you learn in art school in this painting. Like what? Like having an even number of objects (the four trees) in the composition. But wait, when I look at the trees and the land then I guess that’s 5 shapes, right? So …maybe he didn’t use just 4 trees for this composition.

Monet also chose YELLOW as the color for the trees in the background. Check out any landscape book or course. The landscape painting expert will tell you that the atmosphere (the sky) tends to make objects that recede into the distance of a landscape more blue. But not in this painting. Gahhh!

Lastly, there is a feeling in this painting that is alluring but distant, warm and cool. How did Monet do this? Hmmm…I need to read more about Monet. But! I do know he paid the lumber company scheduled to cut these trees to hold off. Then he studied and painted these trees at various times of day. He was painting in a boat on a river in France. Lucky dog! But I digress.

Little Pee Dee

This past weekend, we did not venture to the River Epte in France. But we did drive down the road to the Little Pee Dee State Park in Dillon South Carolina. We brought our teardrop camper named Lola, road warriors kitty and dog. See our camper isn’t really for us, it’s for our pets. Ha!

It was cold as h-e-double-toothpick. Here’s Mr Himself cooking breakfast and coffee on Sunday morning when it was 28F.

This gem of a state park is just across the South Carolina border. That means it’s only about a 2-3 hour drive from Raleigh, NC.

Our campsite had a wonderful view of the lake. There were birds galore including Pileated Woodpeckers and a Barred Owl that serenaded us. And, the forest surrounding the lake has a trail and a forest floor that is covered in pine needles!

Unpretentious and beautiful

The walk through the woods in this place is magical. Why? It’s so quiet, that when you hear wind, it almost feels as if you’re near waves. There are beautiful old and new pine trees. And, there are fallen trees off the path with amazing lichen, moss and beautiful ferns growing out of them. Everywhere you turn, there is something beautiful to see.

Initially I had a hard time narrowing down which part of this sweet park to paint. After several compositional studies in pencil, I decided to start with one of the photos I had taken. But that idea didn’t pan out.

So I meandered off into my imagination. All the while I was thinking about Monet’s color palette and that fantastic yellow in the background. Here’s what finally happened.

I am excited that this 5×5 inch painting communicates – I think – the serenity I felt while we were on this trip. The yellow and orange-ish trees in the background look more like fall colors then I intended. But I enjoyed thinking how to incorporate them into the painting. If you have to have this painting – yay – it’s for sale for $150 plus shipping. You can contact me here to purchase.

Good People

Not sure about you, but I sure do feel grateful for the good people in our lives. We met some friends on this trip who have known us for years. And, in spite of that (ha!), they love us and want to spend time with us. In these incredibly difficult times, it is such a delight to be able to go for a walk outdoors with people who might know you better than you know yourself.

We also met several new people on this trip. This tends to happen at campgrounds where people are friendly and love to share their stories. And, oh my, this trip we heard some outrageously ridiculous as well as incredibly heart-breaking stories. Mostly what I experienced is a sense that we all have so much more in common than we realize. And, in the midst of such a difficult time, I hope we can connect and help and offer comfort more now.

What about you dear reader? What are the simple things that are bringing you joy right now? Have these things changed since the onset of the pandemic? Please share your thoughts in the comments below and thank you for reading today!