The Beginning and The End
Depending upon your point of view, this either the beginning or the end of an era. Right? We’re on the other side of the election but we don’t quite have confirmation on results yet. It can feel as if we’re on the edge of something brand new or well…not! Before I continue, I’ll share about the purpose of this blog and post for new readers here today (welcome!).
Favorite Things
In early 2020, I pledged to paint a painting each week and blog about it. The name of this weekly series of paintings is Favorite Things. Why? Well, because I choose objects, typically food, that I love to eat. But, I paint it first and then, if it’s still edible, I’ll eat it! This means each week I write about a painting and the process. You are welcome to follow along as I share the ups and downs of this studio and painting life I lead. To do so, simply sign up here. You’ll receive a lively and colorful blog post each week and get a first look at my latest painting or drawing. Sometimes I’ll share a painting by a contemporary artist or an artist in history, too. Let’s move onward to this week’s painting, shall we?
Not Food
Whoops! Last week I wrote that I didn’t paint food. Guess what? This week I didn’t paint food either. I did paint some things that I collect on a pretty regular basis: found objects. In fact, this magnificent magnolia leaf and two of it’s bright red seeds were scattered on the ground near our house. I love how the magnolia tree’s leaves feel (leathery)! And, I love the way they change colors: from forest green to warm buttery brown and yellow.
Maybe I should add a second category to this Favorite Things project? Perhaps in addition to favorite things such as fruit and vegetables, I could have a “found objects on morning walks” category. What do you think?
Why Beginning and End
You probably noticed right away that a fallen leaf on the ground represents the end of a life cycle. And, the red seeds are the beginning of new trees. I, however, didn’t even realize this until after I had started this painting. I love the juxtaposition of these two things. It seems this is a metaphor for so many events this year. The only thing that’s missing, of course, is the ‘middle.’ And, since we’re smack dab in the middle of a pandemic, I decided to leave that out of this week’s painting. Seems like a good idea, right?
Awe Walks
On the morning that I found this leaf and it’s nearby tree’s seeds, I had no idea I was on an “Awe Walk.” But according to this article from the New York Times, that is exactly what I was doing. The article suggests that if you slow down on your walks and examine what you see carefully, you can improve your well-being.
All I can say is “Thank goodness!” Why? Because depending on how much caffeine I consume before my morning dog walk, I meander along and stop and look at the colorful leaves, pick them up and continue. It’s kind of a landlubber’s version of picking up shells on the beach. Except you’re not at the beach and you’re picking up leaves not shells.
The good news is I have an abundance of items for painting. The bad news is I have an abundance of items for painting. The leaves have been so vibrant and colorful this fall that I collect them and bring them into the studio. But, as luck would have it, I can only paint one painting at a time. So, I confess there are days when I have to pitch the leaves I have picked up. At least our backyard compost bin is getting some good leaf material to offset the fruit and veggie left overs we stash there?
Confession
I confess, dear reader, that I feel a bit “blotto” (worn out, overwhelmed, fatigued) with all the election news and other information floating out in the world right now. So, I actually could have named this week’s painting “Escape Hatch” because I don’t even think about the current state of the world when I am painting. It’s an absolutely blissful experience for me to head into the studio each day and get to work. I am grateful and hope some of these feelings convey in this week’s painting.
You
How about you? How are you coping with this year’s adventures? Do you have an escape hatch? I hope you do. If so, please share in the comments below.
8 Comments
Alexandra
November 5, 2020Lovely painting, Julie! I enjoyed seeing the golden yellows of the leaf contrasted with the blue green of the background and that little pop of red next to it. Also, enjoyed reading your discussion of how the leaf and seed are a metaphor for beginnings and endings. Well said!
And, yes, I can relate to the feeling of being worn out by the news. My escape hatch is a combination of painting, walking, yoga, cooking/baking, and watching Netflix! Thank goodness for these – and other similar – activities that feed the senses and remind us of beauty and enjoyment in the world.
Julie Holmes
November 5, 2020Hi Alexandra,
Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed the golden yellows in this leaf painting. I hope that gold warms up your world as much as it did mine.
Your ‘escape hatch’ strategies sound excellent. Combine them with your drawing and painting adventures and it seems you have a wonderful way to navigate through all this madness. Thank goodness! So wonderful to hear from you here, Alexandra! Take care
Kristina Philipson
November 5, 2020Hi Julie!
Can I cut and paste the response above (from Alexandra)? I feel the same way.
I go hiking each weekend and have found NH’s forests to be a wonderful source of natural beauty, awe and peace. The Fall colors have been spectacular.
I hope we will soon return to less tumultuous times. In the meantime, keep on painting Julie! And thanks for your weekly gift.
Julie Holmes
November 5, 2020Hi Kristina,
Cut and paste away there! I am glad you feel similarly to Alexandra. It speaks to your creative and resourceful soul!
There is nothing better than fall colors in New England! So it’s great to hear that you are hiking the forests in NH.
I pinky swear promise to keep painting. It makes me happy to think that you consider these weekly paintings a gift. Take care and thank you so much for reading and commenting here, Kristina!
Beth Dyer Clary
November 5, 2020I just love the colors in this painting, Julie. The background color is a surprise and joyful. The beautiful connection between beginnings and endings shown through a fallen leaf and a seed was insightful and pause-worthy moment. I’m reading a book called Life Everlasting that shows how everything is cyclical and feeds off of each other as a life-giving force. This painting reminded me of that.
Fun to have you expand beyond food!
Julie Holmes
November 5, 2020Hi Beth,
I am glad to hear that you love the colors in this painting. As much as I like to think the combination took some planning, it didn’t. I couldn’t resist painting the leaf and seeds together and the surface was a towel on the desk I have. So there you have it. Serendipity!
The book you’re reading sounds so relevant to this post! I may need to check it out myself. Thanks so much for sharing it and commenting here. Yes, the trees, leaves and landscapes seem to be calling to me to draw and paint. We’ll see where it leads me.
In the meantime, it’s wonderful to read your impressions and experiences here! I really appreciate it so much! Take care, Beth!
Cherie
November 5, 2020I love love love the painting and the explanation for it ! At some point reading your blog I was weeping , ( may have been the Awe walk) or the fact that you write as well as you paint !
Julie Holmes
November 5, 2020Wow Cherie, thank you so much for your thinking about this painting. And, shazam, I didn’t mean to make you weep but given the current environment and circumstances, I could weep, too. Right?
As for the awe walk, I remember reading that article and thinking “Whew…now if someone sees me out walking in the neighborhood and thinks I’m walking too slowly or randomly wandering around and picking things up off the sidewalk, I have a NYT endorsed activity to endorse it.” HA HA!
Thanks for the comment about my writing, too. My blogging platform has the cheeky editing tool that let’s me know if my sentence and paragraph structure is working. So I actually feel as if I’m cheating a bit when I write. Now if I could only figure out a way to have that same kind of editing tool for painting. Wink wink!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, too, Cherie! It’s a treat to connect with you here.