Friday, June 26, 2009

Bull-less Field or Melon Moment

10x10 pastel and watercolor on Uart
It's really hard to make the feeling of softness in the grasses. Layers and layers of color with a very warm underpainting was my plan. hmmmmmm.

This field is down at the end of a road that ends at the river. Lowell sent me out there to go to his sister Kay's farm. I met them on Thursday. When I went to the farm I was instructed to walk through the fields to the river. Her husband said not to worry about the bull in the fields. He will just look. Then when I asked, "What if he gets curious?" He replied, "Good, you have running shoes on. Go to the river, bulls don't swim." Now, knowing my recent luck with wild animal sightings I decided I might do better in a Bull-less field.
Everyone here is so nice and helpful. It really is a great place to paint; nice people, beautiful fields and rivers!

6 comments:

Jala Pfaff said...

Oh, how funny. When I started reading about the potential bull, I thought, No, Loriann, don't do it!!! Seeing as how there was a turtle, then a bear...

Donna T said...

Really, Loriann, no one expects an artist to have to deal with all of these dangerous animals! I love what you did with this field and am so happy that there's at least one other person who appreciates a field for just being a field. It's a big expanse of ever-changing color!

Brian McGurgan said...

Glad you managed without having to make a run for the river, Loriann. Plein air painting is challenging enough without those kinds of hazards. I was doing a watercolor once years ago outdoors sitting cross-legged on the ground with my watercolor block in the grass when a mouse came out and stood in the middle of my painting, looking all around at it. He stayed for a few moments and then scampered off. Much better than a bull, bear, or snapping turtle. On another occasion an overly enthusiastic pet dog came bounding over to me and jumped all over my pastel box, scattering my pastels all over. I was less pleased about that...

loriann signori said...

Jala, I must have been hearing your voice in my head...because normally I would have gone straight ahead!

Donna, It's all part of the job, right. I can hear too that you are a field appreciator. Do you know any good fields up your way that i should visit?

Brian, We plein air painters should just get together and share our "war stories" at the plein air convention! I am sorry to hear about the pastel box. What ever happens just don't mess with the box!!!!!!!!! I guard it with my life, don't you?

Melinda said...

I'm so glad that you chose this location. This work is simply spectacular. I love the sky contrasted with the field and think this is successful on every level.

There is something...color choice, atmosphere, something that reminds me of New Mexico. Fantastic.

loriann signori said...

Thanks Melinda. I didn't think about the similarities between NM and the Shenandoah but I can see it now. Thanks for your comment.