Lunch Break
Hello, friends.
On this thyme-scented, bird-hatching morning, in the words of Thomas Hardy, I’m delighted to get to share with you another blog. The birds are singing, the bees are buzzing, the hens are scratching, and Hugo the cat is content after having finally acquired his breakfast.
This month I’m sharing a painting that evokes the scents and aromas of the farm, the feeling of cool, dusty earth under bare feet, and the warmth of sunshine on your back. The laughter of the harvesters is warm and friendly, as they finally get a reprieve from their hard work in the broiling sun. One can imagine the mosquito bites, the heat of yesterday’s sunburn, the sweat-stained cotton shirt, the oil-stained blue jeans.
I spent several of my formative childhood years in the farming corridor of California. This painting evokes many of the snapshots tucked away in my memory of escaping to Grandfather’s farm: the sizzling heat rising off the pavement, mother’s sunburnt arm in an open car window, racing barefoot through the freshly tilled soil, the corn bursting in its stocks, and the refreshing brush of the damp laundry hung up by Grandma on the perennial clothesline.
In this corner of the painting, I hope you’ll notice the picnic basket. It’s empty. Its contents have been devoured by the hungry men. The cup is no longer full of liquid, but the look on the man’s face tells the story of refreshment. The long-awaited repast has been savored.
I loved creating this character. His jolly, laid-back visage sketches out a personality I would enjoy. He’s just happy to be included in the gang and grateful for the break in the day’s routine. He’s just enjoyed the meal, his stomach is full, and now he is ready for the moment to join his fellow in a good belly laugh.
This fellow in the picture is enjoying his dog. How fun to have his friend bound across the fields to join him for lunch. The bond they share cannot be broken. What a way to refresh the soul for another few hours of toil under the scorching sun.
“We are all cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out.”
My hope is that this month’s blog will stir up your own memories. I know that we are living in a crazy moment in time. Covid has stolen much from us. We are tired of being quarantined, we miss our friends, we yearn for the summer’s holiday. Many of us have had to cancel engagements with friends, have had to keep distance from our loved ones, have missed our freedom to explore.
This is a wonderful time to exhale, to remind ourselves that it’s great just to be alive. Beauty surrounds you. It may not be the beauty that you are craving, but it is still there. I encourage you to look around you. The beauty of nature is in the sky, under your feet, in your own backyard.
Art is really the contemplation of the simple things.
I encourage you to look for inspiration for your creativity in the beauty around you. Have you looked in your grocery basket? Have you looked in the wood for the berries hidden there? Have you taken the time to really enjoy the Farmers Market in your area?
This gorgeous tomato was brought by truck to Fort Bragg and sold to me in the parking lot of a church.
This box of tomatoes has brought us endless pleasure. The tomatoes are just so perfect in every way. Just to cut into the flesh of these beauties is sensational, and the flavor is truly mouth-watering.
I offer this photo to you as inspiration. Especially if you are just learning to draw, the tomato is an excellent subject. It also serves as inspiration for a watercolor. Take time to study the light and shadow, the cool and warm tones of its flesh.
This peach tastes as good as it looks.
It can be challenging to find a yummy peach in a supermarket these days. This peach is amazing. It simply oozes with deliciousness. How lucky I feel to have found a lug of them.
Peaches, too, because of the simple shape, are a wonderful subject for the hesitant artist. You may not be inspired at first, but I challenge you to spend time with your peach! Lol. I assure you that it will not disappoint.
I think that you’re getting the idea by now.
Here are a few of the beautiful things that surround me and lift my spirits:
THE BEAUTIFUL CONEFLOWER
THE SCENT OF LAVENDER
HYDRANGEA IN BLOOM
Maybe you are not blessed with a garden in bloom. Maybe you don’t own an orchard. Maybe you are too pressed to take time to grow a vegetable patch. Then I encourage you to visit your local nursery or Home Depot or simply slow down in the grocery aisle. Try savoring what is around you today.
Thanks so much, friends, for joining me again today. I’m sending you a virtual hug. Thanks so much for your support and for the wonderful comments that have sustained me.
