We started out our adventure by visiting the local university bookstore to shore up her drawing supplies. A quick bowl of soup to hold us for the afternoon was the next stop. From there we loaded our art materials and went in search of an agreed upon view, driving through the countryside down quiet roads and busy highways.
Sadly the lighting was not ideal. Clouds with the rare bit of filtered sunlight made everything look pale and like all the color had been sucked away! The fields were a bland brown, oak trees dark silhouettes, even the occasional fall color was pale, muddy yellow. Nothing sparked us, even though we saw plenty of possibilities for a future sunny day.
We stopped along a river at one point, walked down to the water, and tried to feel inspired by the few dark colorless reflections from the tree line on the opposite shore---the highlight was skipping rocks, and seeing some possible subject matter in the still water caught between the rocky beach and the river bank--but again the shadows were negligent, 2 dimensional, and lifeless!
As we walked back up to our car I heard the oddest sound coming from the dry maple leaves piled along the side of the boat ramp… *plick, plick….plick….. it was as if they were alive, and trying to shift! Then we realized what was making the sound---rain! Not just a short-lived small shower, it started to pour!! That cemented it for us---poor lighting, & rain so we headed back to town hoping to possibly sketch inside a cozy coffee house, looking out at downtown buildings. We checked out a couple of locations, but again just didn’t catch the spark.
During this whole time, although our search was in vain, we visited, talked, reminisced, and completely enjoyed the process!
Finally we settled in my dining room with a pile of Anaheim peppers and a pumpkin for inspiration and succeeded in fulfilling our goal to create art. We were warm with the wood stove blazing, comfortably listening to great music, concentrating quietly at times, then chatting amicably at other times---once again enjoying the process with one another. Artistically connected.
4 comments:
You're so lucky to have someone that you can share both exciting and everyday life moments with and who appreciates your sense of art. It sounds (and looks!) like you made lots of lemonade out of your lemons that day.
You are such a good writer! I really felt like I was along on your day out, looking for inspiration but most of all enjoying hanging with a good friend. The fact that you ended up at home reminds me of this beautiful ancient poem, written by a holy woman:
I was passionate.
Filled with longing I searched far and wide.
But the day that the Truthful One found me,
I was at home.
-Lal Ded, XIVth century
Wow this is a beautiful piece! I hope on you next get together the sun shines for you two!
Beautiful...Beautiful...Beautiful!!
I really just don't have the words to describe it. You are unique, I am so absolutely glad I found you out of all the bloggers on the planet...I just LOVE your talent. Keep us posted with more!! Have a great night -Karla Oh and I totally ditto what Nancy said...I felt like I was reading a book when I read your post...Wow...
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