Friday, May 28, 2010

"Front Porch" - SOLD

This trip has been good for me because I've realized (here at the end) what I like to paint most outside. I really like small, close-up scenes like this, of things like houses and cars, etc., and not so much the vistas. Even though the vistas are always beautiful to look at, I find them difficult paint. And I'm not inspired by them. I don't think "oh cool, I want to paint that!" But I look at a scene like this and I get excited. And all the time it was right outside the front door!! The light you see in the window is for the table we eat at. And the chair is where I sometimes sit and read while Jacob (son, 5) plays in the creek next to the house.
I will paint once more tomorrow, and then we head back. I am hoping I still fit into the airplane - I must have gained 50 lbs eating all this wonderful German food! I have learned to say, very well, "Ich bin sat," which means, "I am full," but apparently I never say it soon enough.

22 comments:

Mary Rountree Moore said...

It has been fun watching you acclimate to plein air; each day in Germany is better! And it is all wonderful! This last one is just great - and interesting about your discovery of subject matter - I get that too!

Laurie G. Miller said...

I think this painting is really lovely. Your treatment of the light hitting the tree, leaves, and plantings is beautiful.

Since I always sign my paintings on the lower left or lower right, I thought it was very cool that you signed this in the corner of the window!

Safe travels back to the USA!
Laurie

Anonymous said...

Hi Carol, I've vicariously enjoyed your trip through all your neat paintings, but your final coment: "eating all this wonderful German food! I have learned to say, very well, "Ich bin sat," which means, "I am full," but apparently I never say it soon enough"....really made me laugh. That was fun to read
It looks like a beautiful place, and great for your entire family.

Bobbi Heath said...

You've got it here, Carol. I can see the light bouncing off the rock, grass, trees, and such a wonderful shadow (yesterday's shadow was wonderful as well). Sounds like a really fruitful trip.

Jennifer Newcomb Marine said...

Ah, I just love this one, it's beautiful, especially with the warm, little light shining in the window and the bright greens of the grass and plants. It makes me happy to think of Jacob playing in the creek while you read. :-) And I like knowing this is a place the girls have fond memories of too.... Safe travels back. Love to all!

Carolyn Finnell said...

The minute I looked at this, I could tell you really enjoyed painting it. It's fabulous, and how great you recognized why you liked painting it. Now that you know, I expect (hope) we will see many more with this joyous quality.

Lisa Daria said...

Love the light on the lawn, looks like the leaves blowing and the light is moving with them - It's an intimate scene w/lots of suggestion - very nice.

Ulrike Miesen-Schürmann said...

Ah, that's why so many people in Germany have problems with their weight... because there's so much wonderful food. Yes, indeed there is. And a lof of "our mothers" are good at cooking O;-)
About your painting. Yes, I understand you very well that you like sort of scenes a bit more than just landscape. You can be more definite in some ways, as e.g. in the windows and the chair.
Have a good trip back!

Linda Popple said...

This is really a wonderful, intimate painting. The light and shadows of the plants are rendered beautifully. I like that the chair is included - adds to the intimacy.

Safe trip home!!

DSM said...

Fun to see the value diff's as the limbs cross the facade.

mary maxam said...

all these trip paintings are wonderful. really puts me right in the painting

liz wiltzen said...

This is a wonderful painting Carol, terrific sense of light and a super interesting arrangement and abstraction of shapes. Love it!

Mary Valente said...

Funny to read your blog today. My two favorites have been German Suburb and today's. I like you find that when I do plein air (rarely) I am attracted to a composition with a structure in it - whether an old broken down shrimp shed in China Camp or a fence or barn or whatever.. You are so right. Vistas are gorgeous but they just don't translate as beautifully as nature shares them. I guess that's why there are cameras :-) Keep on!

Barbara Pask said...

I like this so much, the light in the window draws you in. This one you should keep. From your description I can tell it will bring back special memories. Hurry and pull it off Ebay, hehe.

Anonymous said...

Love love love the highlighted foreground with the house in shadow! Bravo for your German painting adventures.

Nicole Horn-Fakher said...

Hi Carol,
it's funny to see your paintings from my home country. As always you did it very well. I like the Schwarzwald region a lot even I live in the Ruhrgebiet. Hope you enjoyed the trip.

Viele Grüße
Nicole

Anonymous said...

Beautiful! I love the feeling of depth.

Jaime Baiao said...

belo!!!!

Cynthia said...

right, let the vistas to the cameras.....this is a wonderful piece...great light. ahhhh yes, the grueling international flights...they really are a test of our nerves aren´t they...welcome home....
Liebe Grüße aus Augsburg!!!

SKIZO said...

Great
Work
good
sources
of
Inspiration

Heather Karp said...

When I first saw this painting, I thought "She really loved painting this scene!" I think someone else said that in a post earlier, too. I really enjoy watching you grow in your plein air painting!!!

Wish I was taking your Newburyport workshop...most of my artist friends are! HAVE FUN!!!

dennis said...

I love this stuff