Spring Forth
“The first blooms of spring always make my heart sing.” ~ S. Brown
“Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.” ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder
Ah – Spring! A time of feeling like everything is fresh and new and anything is possible! I love nature and, pretty much year-round, being outside makes me happy. That’s what led me to undertake the training to become a Certified Master Naturalist a few years ago. What the heck is that, you ask? It’s a training and certification program offered through Clemson University’s Extension Services.
“A Master Naturalist is a person who has undergone specific training and who regularly volunteers time toward various projects. Typically, Master Naturalists seek to make a difference in helping to maintain the quality of our native ecosystems through training designed to help 'read' the landscape of the state. This includes understanding the underlying geology, specific inhabitants (birds, plants, mammals, etc.), ecology and the impacts of humans on the landscape including how we conserve our amazing natural environments. Once trained, Master Naturalists volunteer in a variety of projects. In essence, the Master Naturalist program aims to turn out volunteer citizen scientists who can positively impact the natural resources of the state.”
If you’re interested in learning more about the program or becoming a Master Naturalist yourself you can read more at https://www.clemson.edu/extension/mn/.
In my case, I find that being a naturalist is a bit like painting in that the more I learn, the more I understand just how much I do NOT know (yet). I still love it though.
So, this time of year, I find myself outside a lot, admiring nature in her springtime glory and taking a lot of photos of the beauty of scenes, plants and (if I can catch the timing just right) birds, turtles, squirrels, etc. Soooo many great things to identify and learn about, so many potential references for paintings! There are definitely some more floral paintings featuring some of these beautiful flowers in my future!
I hope that all this lovely spring weather finds you getting out and enjoying it too!
That’s it for today. I’m off to enjoy more of the beauty of spring and to my studio to do some more painting!
Until next time,
Barbara
New artwork
My two newest pieces are a bit of a departure from my typical realism. They were both done in preparation for a new exhibit around favorite vacation places.
The first is “Mystic Forest”. It is done with oil and cold wax in a loose impressionist or semi-abstract style. It is 9 x 12 inches.
The second is “Reflections of Autumn” based on the beautiful fall colors reflected in Kendall Lake in Camden, South Carolina on a bright day when the lake was clear as glass. It is also done in an impressionistic style but this one is a bit more detailed and rich with a lot of surface texture in the paint. It is also 9 x 12 inches.
Both are reflections of my continual efforts to reach, explore and learn – to try out new techniques and ideas. The best way to learn and grow is to keep testing and experimenting!
If you are interested in either painting, please let me know.
Recently sold
Congratulations and thank you to TC of Palmetto Fine Arts, my newest collector!
In other news...
My two award winning pieces from the Crooked Creek Annual Show will remain on display at Crooked Creek Park with the other award winning pieces until April 19. There are some beautiful pieces in the exhibit to view if you get a chance!
My two newest pieces will be on display at at Sweetwaters Coffee and Tea in downtown Columbia from April 7 – July 7. This is a great venue with tasty beverages and snacks as well. The theme of this show is “Favorite Vacations”.
What’s next?
I am making plans to participate in several fun painting on location exhibitions this summer:
A Spring Valley Garden Tour, April 30 and May 1 from 9:00 am-4:30 pm. Here’s a great chance to get out and be a part of the celebration of spring by seeing some amazing gardens and art!
I plan to participate again this year in the Annual Ag+Art Tour. It was cancelled due to COVID in 2020, but is picking back up again this summer. I don’t have my farm assignment yet so more to come on this next time.
Stay tuned!
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