Dogwoods in Atlanta.
How do you describe pure delight and discovery?
Why did I never discover these from when I was here before (1975-1983)?
The dogwoods are scattered throughout the woods that abound in Atlanta.
The blossoms are large - just 4 petals. Delicate. They are held on delicate limbs, with no leaves, so they 'float' through the air. They follow the sun, and the spring sun makes the white such a bright color.
How you you describe looking at lace delicately but abundantly sprinkled throughout the taller trees just regaining their green after the bareness of winter? The white such a contrast to the dark trunks and sparce greenery that becomes a jungle of green with the sultry summer humidity.
The delicate white blossoms appear as if they float on air. Truly magical fairy wings fluttering.
The large petals make it seem as if a cloud of delicate white butterflies has drifted to earth to filter through the forest, and reach out to delight the heart and eye. They appear in unexpected places, suddenly and briefly, to add joy to the day, for they are the art of today. Enjoy! It does the soul so good and adds poetry to the heart that sighs within one's existence.
Spring is hell for hayfever sufferers. The blossoms are incredible. Azaelias are gorgeous, the pollen shows on the cars. This is the apartment group that I live in, and the Dodge Ram 1500 pickup (country cadillac) that I'm driving.
Jillian
http://www.JillianCrider.com
30th October 2011 - update I lost all my images so have just replaced one of them. Sorry.
I've had a couple of galleries express interest in doing an exhibition of my work, so need a 'series', preferably in oils. I love working with oils they are so 'buttery' - you basically work by 'pushing' the paint around the canvas, but it's about a year since I've done an oil, and, even then, only 2 on canvas.
So I diligently sorted through my rose reference photos, as I have so many of them, and roses seem eternal re being a popular subject to purchase. I have SO many rose photos (over 500!) that it took me a long time to look through. It was then 10pm by the time I finished. So, needed to decide - do I start my painting, or not.
Not to start would have defeated my purpose of aiming to start a painting THAT DAY, so I went ahead.
Around 1am the kitten stepped on the plastic drawers where I store my paints and they went all over the floor.
While picking them up I discovered the reason my paints weren't acting the way I thought, as well as drying ultra quick (I thought it was the climate here!) ... I'd been using acrylics!
I really don't like using acrylics! They are my least favourite medium. They take a lot more work than oils. The bonus is that I have a painting that is instantly dry, so can tote it around with me to show everyone, plus I think that some of the effects with the roses in this particular painting would not have been able to be achieved with oils. - "Mauve Madness" - See above.
I plan to start another rose painting today, and as they are white roses, I'm planning on using acrylics. Quite a change for me.
What do you think of them?
Regards,
Jillian
http://www.JillianCrider.com
