Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Landscape Diversity

There is one thing in this world that is constant, and that's the many changing landscapes that surround us. Whether we're in the city, or the country, or the deep woods, even the desert- a landscape is around us. It's even inside us, if we know where to look and how to see it. One can travel the same route everyday, but the landscape will never be same each time. Certain scents can be associated with certain landscapes. Amazing insights can be associated with them, too. The changing of the seasons brings spectacular landscapes, often only lasting long enough for a brief glimpse. But the scene remains, nonetheless.

Tributes to landscapes have been permanently recorded throughout history, from the simplistically lifelike cave drawings clear up to the present day landscape artists, each using their own unique style to interpret what their eyes have seen. Here you will see my particular style of landscape. My interpretation. 
Let's take a little walk...

Winter is here. Snow inevitably shows up. It falls on the hills, clumps in the trees, cascades off roofs, only to melt into the streams and rivers. Snow piled up on a barn roof always makes me think of cows snugged down inside, softly breathing in the earthy smell of hay. This landscape happened to end up on a Christmas tree ornament this year.





After getting the snow out of my system, it was time for something a little warmer. And again, it appeared on an ornament.

A young family member saw this ornament and promptly declared that he wanted one. This landscape was a labor of love for a special young lad.

After the holiday 'make it' rush was over, I decided to break my suspension of painting landscapes after a handful of years. Over thirty years ago, I started seriously painting, and landscapes was where I started. Many brushes and canvases were devoured and ruined until finally, landscape painting became a ghostly presence. Now, with more experience from working with other mediums and styles, my 'landscape eye' has sharpened. First off the easel was this 5" by 5" tile (of the peel and stick variety).

Did I watch a lot of Bob Ross? Oh, yes. And before him, William Alexander with his 'happy little clouds'! After much splattering and many muddy canvases, I gave up on the oils. Acrylics and I are much better friends. Even though the learning experience that came with oil painting was excellent, acrylics are much easier to handle. But, that's just me.
Hubby, of course, likes everything I paint, so I did this little tin for him. It's an easily transportable landscape!


Fridge magnets are an attraction, so this tiny painting graces the front of mine.

A friend of mine has recently opened a fabulous new restaurant in town. For the holidays, an eight foot tree stands majestically, supporting ornaments of every shape, size, and color. My contribution adds to the southwest theme of this unique establishment.

Being one who will paint on almost anything, it was time to spiff up the kitchen now that the Christmas decorations were gone. The trim under the cabinets came out fairly well, but there just seemed to be something missing. It needed to be removeable. It also needed to be cheerful. The idea formed and started like this:

The big reveal---- Toaster Art !!

Are your feet sore? Well, let's just sit down and enjoy this quiet little pond. The birch leaves are gently rattling in the warm breeze...

Don't look out the windows! You'll ruin it!!



Toodles.






7 comments:

  1. Hi Kat!
    Wow! Your ornaments are really lovely! I can certainly see why that one family member jumped on that particular ornament! Anyone would be lucky indeed to receive one and have the memory of such a beautiful gift each and every Christmas *winks* Vanna

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  2. PS your toaster looks amazing! Does the heat of the toaster affect the paint at all?

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  3. Hi, Vanna! Many thanks for your beautiful comment! It was wonderful to read! No, the heat hasn't bothered the paint at all. I had tiny magnets on the toaster for Xmas, complete with glitter, and they were okay, so I put a landscape there for the rest of the year. I use a heavy duty gloss sealer, and nothing has ever affected it, and the toaster is only used once in the morning. The amount of heat generated by that once use isn't enough to damage anything, not even the glue holding the magnets on. Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. Hi, Vanna! Many thanks for your beautiful comment! It was wonderful to read! No, the heat hasn't bothered the paint at all. I had tiny magnets on the toaster for Xmas, complete with glitter, and they were okay, so I put a landscape there for the rest of the year. I use a heavy duty gloss sealer, and nothing has ever affected it, and the toaster is only used once in the morning. The amount of heat generated by that once use isn't enough to damage anything, not even the glue holding the magnets on. Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. I've never seen a better looking toaster in all my life! That's one item I wouldn't have considered decorating, but it looks fabulous with your artistic touch.

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