Summer Haze

Summer in his hazy heat. Even in late morning, you can feel the air, sticky. The garden, it has its own smell. 

  In the first row, zinnias from seeds collected year before. Their colors draw you in. Their uniqueness keeps you looking. Natural beauty, with some leaves as big as the flower. An end nibbled on by some visitor.

    My favorite thing on the weekends is to go visit the garden. I feel calm and my shoulders seem to relax. It’s a reflection on my past. 

    Now I have the joy of sharing it with my own children, the continuing of tradition. The importance of dirty hands and feet.

The flowers are my symbol.

My happy place.

Summer Haze

6 x 3

Oil on canvas

2019

A Winters Walk

“All things are melt-able, and replaceable. Not at this moment, but soon enough, we are lambs and we are leaves, and we are stars, and the shining, mysterious pond water itself.” ― Mary Oliver, Winter

Winter is hard and dreary. Daylight too short.

Before I started this painting, I never really appreciated winter, I thought it useless and harsh. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to respect winter, embrace it.

Henry David Thoreau said,

“In winter we lead a more inward life.”

You step out to the cold air, reminder of life’s discomforts. When the sun finally comes and the air is crisp, your soul will be refreshed, your spirits will sing. You will appreciate so much more the sunshine, and like the plants come spring, you’ll grow anew.

I love the stark beauty of a tree in winter. The character not hidden under a bunch of leaves. The landscape mono-toned in a soothing way. If you look hard enough, there is color, subtle

As the body needs sleep, perhaps the soul needs winter. There is a certain stillness that makes you pull inward. Only to reemerge come spring as a more whole self.

A Winter's Walk, 2017

Oil

6x3