Thursday, August 26, 2010

Chasing tree shadows


Summer shadow blues
Acrylic on canvas
16 x 20 inches
Barbara Muir © 2010

A little while ago I showed you a painting I did of
a person walking down a sunny street. In that image
a tree shadow made a large abstract shape flooding
across the sidewalk and street. I love the look of
tree shadows, and in this part of the world, you
only get a wide canopy of shade from tree cover
in summer. Maybe that's why these glorious
shadows seem emblematic of the season.

I've been working on this painting for a week or so
now on and off, and I'm getting closer to the desired
effect. I may stay abstract or add a realistic element
to anchor the piece. I'm not sure. Walking home from
a friend's house tonight I couldn't help noticing the
lovely shadows cast by the trees under an almost full
moon. The light was so bright that some trees cast
a shadow carefully illustrating each leaf's dark
twin. Magical.

Have a seeing-the-beauty-in-shadows day.
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4 comments:

  1. Terri BuchholzAugust 27, 2010 at 7:25 PM

    Barbara - I love your effervescent world of bright colors, smiling faces and your own personal radiance. I'm drawn to your blog for an occasional booster of optimism - BUT - I'm am very curious about the lovely Fiona. How is she and is she still in costume for a Renaissance Fair? What happened to her?

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  2. Barbara MuirAugust 27, 2010 at 11:47 PM

    Hi Terri,

    Thanks so much. You have some magnificent portraits on your blog. Super work! The lovely Fiona is healing nicely. Thank you for asking.
    She's still wearing the collar until she's all better, but she is just fine. She wears it like it's a fashion statement.

    Take care,

    Barbara

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  3. Liza HirstAugust 28, 2010 at 11:57 AM

    I was quite surprised when I saw this painting a while ago - and I like it very much. It seems different from your other work, looser and "opener" if that makes sense.
    Looking forward to the finished painting!

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  4. Barbara MuirAugust 28, 2010 at 10:49 PM

    Hi Liza,

    It is a bit of a mystery. I keep thinking of the Canadian painter Gershon Iskowitz looking at it, but I didn't think of him at all until I'd gone this far. I talked with him several times and visited his studio when I was a young girl.

    Well I feel the urge to go abstract sometimes, then I'm pulled back by reality.

    xoxoxoxoxoxBarbara

    ReplyDelete

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