New Paintings for a New Season (click to leave comments)

New Paintings for a New Season

The Autumn season has inspired many artists for centuries, and I must admit that as cliche as it is to say, the Fall season is one of the most magical seasons to watch. So I can say that creating new paintings for a new season is always exciting. I just love how Nature transforms itself into a blanket of colors!  The contrast of bright yellows to rust and oranges to reds is breathtaking!

Painting en plein air is irresistible. Setting up my brush and paints as I find arresting landscapes to paint is easy to do along the Blue Ridge Park Way. There are so many  beautiful spots around the Asheville hiking trails, waterfalls and gorgeous vistas, too. I am ready to create new paintings for a new season such as this especially since our lives have been wrapped with the new normal due to this pandemic.

The hike to Rainbow Falls is moderate but it can be challenging for a less seasoned hiker. It can be so rewarding when you reach the peak and see the spectacular grand finale. I gasped at the first sight of its grandeur…the majestic Rainbow Falls. Then as you hike up higher you will find smaller waterfalls cascading down the rocks and foliage around it. My hubby and I just sat there for hours enjoying the sight of this powerful rush of water from this awesome mountain.

I felt joy and was glad as I finished my paintings.  Painting with mixed media again is exciting! I love to express all the different textures, the sounds and the sweet smell of the forest. Moreover, fall evokes and symbolizes the beauty of life’s seasons and transformation. I hope that art can help all of us find a new focus and perspective during these challenging times. May we pause, reflect and find rest in the process as we embrace our own seasons.

View my new works online : https://cynthiallanesartist.com/portfolio-items/plein-air/

https://www.romanticasheville.com/rainbow_falls.htm

New Paintings for a New Season (click to leave comments)2020-10-21T10:46:48-04:00

The Many Colors of Spring

 Color Your Heart

at The French Broad River Connection

I wanted to paint a colorful palette of Asheville’s Blue Ridge parkway.  And express the many colors of spring. Hiking up the Parkway leads to many surprising trails and vistas. One of them is the overlook of the French Broad River. It was nearing the end of winter and new leaves were starting to grow as if welcoming the beginning of spring.  The evergreens were refreshing to see amidst all the bare trees and bare branches. I brought with me my plein air gear and wide brimmed hat and I started to find a good spot to paint. However, to my disappointment it was mostly a gray palette in front of me.

Then I started walking around to find suitable options for an interesting composition. As a result, I  sketched a few thumbnails that gave me ideas on how to proceed with my brush. Because I explored possible options I got my creative mojo back.  And I thought, this is really going to be fun.

I decided to play with colors as I continued to change my composition.  Then I created two sets of color combinations where I could base my final choice.  Discovering new color contrasts and values as I built my new masterpiece was exhilarating!  I closed my eyes and I saw the colors of spring unfold. I saw shades of blues, teal greens, turquoise, and purples, a touch of alizarin crimson, and many shades of gray. The golden yellow and soft oranges at the far end of the horizon that reflected on the water came to life.  I sat there enjoying the wintery scene but happy to break out of the natural world as I allowed my imagination to capture springtime as I visualized it. And now, the many colors of spring have arrived ready to color your heart!

Thank you for visiting my blogpost. Let’s connect. Leave me a comment on the box below. I would love to hear from you!

For details and info about this watercolor painting, visit:

  https://cynthiallanesartist.com/portfolio-items/plein-air/        

” I shut my eyes in order to see “
Paul Gaugin

https://www.romanticasheville.com/french-broad-river.htm
The Many Colors of Spring2020-06-19T17:10:07-04:00

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