Spring? Is It Here?
Posted By Carrie L. Lewis on March 4, 2010
Wow! Robins last Saturday. Temperatures in the sixties today. Could it possibly be? Is spring here?
Probably not, but it sure is nice. I set a house plant into a sheltered patch of sunlight yesterday and put a few more out today. They sure do seem to enjoy the fresh air and sunlight and I like having a reason to go outside a little more often than usual. If this keeps up, I may have to put on my walking shoes and take a turn or two around the block.
I sure do miss living in the country at times like this. One can walk a mile in the country and smell all kinds of harbingers of spring. The fragrance that rises from plowed fields thawing is about my favorite, but there are others.
I miss the runoff in the ditches, too. City sewers are efficient, but let’s face it. The last thing they have is character. They don’t provide much inspiration either, at least not for me. I much prefer the chortle of water bubbling over or under unmelted snow or ice or weaving its way among grasses and other obstacles. Sigh.
Hm. This is starting to sound an awful lot like spring fever. That sounds about right. I have been thinking about a trip into the Flint Hills the last couple of weeks and every time the sun shines like it’s shining today, that thought grows stronger.
In the next couple of days, I’ll be beginning a series of posts chronicling the painting process for a portrait of a horse named Always in Style. The portrait is a couple of years old, but is one of my best. It was painted in the classical style, but with a twist. I’m looking forward to presenting it as a series and will also be preparing it for presentation as a beginning-to-end demonstration piece later this summer.
I’m also hoping to have a new colored pencil demonstration to share with you in the future. The drawing is already done and will be reviewed today. If the drawing passes muster today, work could begin later this week. If you’re interested in seeing how the classical techniques work with colored pencil, be watching for that.
Other than that, it’s a case of keeping on keeping on with the three portraits and other projects currently in work.
Busy, busy, busy, that’s the word for the day and, most likely, the month.
Sounds like it could be fun!
I am a self-taught artist for the most part. Lots of trial and error in the past forty years! Formal art training consists of a couple of years of high school art, a painting class at a community college, one semester in the Fine Arts program at Abilene Christian University and a couple of local workshops.
I am always looking for ways to better my artistic skills, so I am a permanent student in the School of Trial and Error. I love reading and have been known to spend hours online researching materials and techniques. As a result, I've painted in several different styles, including the direct method (which goes straight for the color) and Classical methods (which involves underpaintings, layering and glazing).
I have exhibited paintings in locations such as Lone Star Park Race Track, Grand Prairie, Texas and Remington Park Race Track, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Since the early 90s, I've worked with the Michigan Harness Horseman's Association, donating custom portraits to their annual benefit auction.
In the course of maintaining a growing art business, I have taught myself web design (a skill that will no doubt prove to be a continual learning experience).
I also enjoy puttering around the yard, chasing trains with my husband, Neal, travel and, of course, looking at horses whenever they appear on my horizon.
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