TRAVELS IN ENGLAND

MAY 13, 2009

We have returned from our trip to England and I have toiled nearly every day since in the garden diligently pulling weeds, transplanting, trimming, edging, digging, re-designing and organizing the removal of three trees that came down in the 24” snowstorm we had a couple of days before we left on our trip! I am pleased to report that our green lawn compares handsomely with the English country side, at least right now. The English weather was partly cloudy with rain or partly sunny with rain – and so easy to forecast! All that rain and warm winter weather keeps that island country amazingly green… and so many shades of green! Emerging deciduous trees gave great depth to the hillsides with their various pale pastel colors. All the flowering trees and shrubs were in full bloom which included the hawthorn hedgerows dividing the farm fields. Awesome! But best of all were the carpet of English blue bells beneath the trees and on the hillsides and the fields of bright yellow rapeseed (see below).

I simply can’t wait to share this beautiful springtime journey of mine with you through some special paintings. Keep watching!

We also had a great time as you can see by this photo of me (on the left) with Sandy and Lynne.

Of course, I haven’t been in the studio since we left for England (approaching 4 weeks now!) so I’ve nothing new to show you. This fallow time though becomes important as my internal creative engine gets stimulated and my brain does lots of virtual painting while I busily attend to my travel. Finally, today I took a brief look into the studio and immediately saw exactly what I need to do to improve 3 paintings of mine waiting there! 

I keep thinking about the last Studio Walk where one guest commented that the painting I was demonstrating was so much ‘better’ than the photo. These comments give me great joy – having you, my dear collectors, remark positively on the results of my efforts to improve on a simple photograph by enhancing its three dimensionality and “tarting it up” (a good English term) with good light, color, value and composition.

In my last blog posts, I wrote, “I always choose to paint something that is directly understandable – no confusion for the viewer as to what is going on or what something is or where it goes etc. As I contemplate the process of the painting, I think about how I will make it come to life, provide a place for the viewer to ‘go’ into the painting thereby allowing you to join me in the journey and convey to the you a sense of peace, tranquility and hope. And so I paint to keep myself centered, to keep growing artistically and intellectually and to give you pleasure.” (Italics added). I think these words pretty much sum up my focus as I return to the studio.

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Until the next time

Ciao!

Ginger