Snow, Sky: November's farewell

Lately I have been so very scattered and I know it is because I have not 'allowed' myself enough creation time. And by that I don't mean the physical act of making art-as we all know it's the 'before' time to process that fuels the work.

November, Remains of the Day 

mixed media on canvas, 8x8in, 2011, available

But I see light at the end of the tunnel-a winding down with business and personal issues that are getting in the way. So today was my transition day. I went for a long rejuvenating walk-and it started to snow! It was light, gentle, tentative  -and like a cleansing-then the snow melted and left without a trace that it was ever there.

Back in the studio around 5PM, I glanced out the window and was struck by an incredibly turquoise and pink sky. I grabbed a wee canvas and just responded. Change is often sublte but in a matter of hours can be so splendidly different.

Below is an earlier work, a first snow in December 09, but it put me in mind of today's transition.

December

oil on panel

14x14in, 2009

available



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She loved a November Sky

The image below was made as respite from the paintings I am working on for the February show, although I may include it as it relates to the theme.

Initially I wanted to explore the field, as I love the way is sits this time of year. The dormancy and texture put me in mind of a tapestry, and the particles lifted and swept by the wind remind me yet again that nature is never still-minute microcosms playing in the air.

But when I got into the painting the sky seemed to take over and I let it. My Mother, who passed away less than a year ago, loved the yellows in a grey November sky. I remember our November walks and country drives-pulling over to the side of the road to marvel at the simple splendour of a November Sky.

As I’ve mentioned before, I often like to paint on top of older paintings and that’s exactly what I did here as I thought it might add to the texture of the field. There was a lot of red in the under-painting which I think added to the depth in the land portion. I did, however, prime the sky portion with aluminum and am happy I did as the greys and lighter hues retained their clarity more so I think than had I not used it. I did get carried away though-when the painting was very wet I gently dispersed some fine aluminum powder throughout the sky as well as in the field-in hopes of emulating the wee field particles caught in the shifting light. It did work-depending on how the light hits it there is a subtle trick of the eye quality-a bit of movement.

November(She loved a November Sky)

Niagara Escarpment

oil & aluminum on canvas

30x30in, 2011

Unfortunately because of the aluminum’s reflective qualities, it makes it REALLY difficult to photograph. In the actual painting, the tones and value shifts in the sky are closer-the top left more subdued and even and the willow tree on the lower left horizon line much lighter/brighter. I will let the whole painting dry and re-shoot.

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Liah's Tree

This is the other small painting made last week during my plein air hiatus-it was a very grey misty day yet with evocative light meandering in and out.

November, Liah's Tree

oil on canvas

11x14in, 2011

available

plein air & murmuration

The painting below was made last week during a 'plein air hiatus' from the large works going on in the studio...

November

oil on aluminum primed canvas

11x14in, 2011

available

*And I am sure by now most of you have seen the 'Murmuration' video-good to know that nature has gone viral!
I can't get enough of it, so here it is-Rhonda and Katherine V I can't help but think of you....

Murmuration from Sophie Windsor Clive on Vimeo.


http://vimeo.com/31158841

Winter Moons

I was painting in the studio today and time got away from me so didn’t get out for a walk until the sun went down. The fresh air was quite brisk and it was invigorating to be out in it after such a long day. I love how the fields look this time of night-full of mystery! On one side of the field the sky held smokey clouds highlighted in crimson and yellow from the just-departed sun, and on the other side was a full bright moon in a luminous blue haze.

When I got back I made these little paintings on small canvases that were primed with aluminum pigment. I worked with hardly any paint, mostly dry-brushing and wiping out passages to reveal the reflective aluminum. It’s difficult to photograph works on reflective surfaces and one can’t see the nuances in tone but I’m quite pleased. I think that I will work larger on the same surfaces-if I ever finish current  paintings that I have on the go!

 

Winter Moon 2

oil on aluminum primed canvas

6x6in, 2011

available

Winter Moon 1

oil on aluminum primed canvas

6x6in, 2011

available

cycle

'For me November brings a new cycle of inspiration and tends to be one of my most prolific months.  As I write there are already a couple of ‘Novembers’ waiting on the easel in various states of ‘undress’.'

It's funny that these words, written last November, apply to this one. I am still madly working on some larger studio works (not the same ones). But since the weather is behaving this week, I have managed to sneak out for plein air breaks. They still need some fine tuning so in the meantime, an earlier 'November'-and yes, they are the same trees out of my studio window that you have seen in previous posts.

November, Letting go

oil on canvas

24x36in

Sold

A Pretty Good Day So Far

I think one of the main reasons I paint outside is to let the natural world transport me from the responsibilities and worries that life tends to throw our way. And it doesn’t have to be painting- hiking the same path daily with my dogs will continually show me something new-whether it be the milkweed-open right now with fluffy cotton seedlings waiting for the wind, or red sumac standing against cobalt sky-or the sight of deer out of the corner of my eye, standing very still hoping that I won’t see. Nature is pretty f#ing amazing, and lately I have been thinking about how much I have ‘gotten through’ because of it.

This is an older painting, but one of my favourites:

A Pretty Good Day So Far

oil on canvas
8x10in, 2001

last Illusions & Aluminum

November always seemed to me the Norway of the year.
- Emily Dickinson

The leaves were falling on all sides like the last illusions of youth under the tears of irremediable grief. A brood of chattering birds were chasing each other through the shrubberies, and playing games among the branches, like a knot of hiding schoolboys. Every landscape is, as it were, a state of the soul, and whoever penetrates into both is astonished to find how much likeness there is in each detail.
- Henri Frederic Amiel

Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.
William Cullen Bryant

November

oil on aluminum primed canvas

11x14in, 2011

available 

I have been using pure aluminum powder with my encaustic works and today I thought that I would try it as a ground for my oil paintings. I have, in the past, painted straight onto steel but was curious to see how a stretched canvas ground, primed with aluminum pigment, would take the brush and paint. I quite like it so far as application. This was painted fairly thin and I am wondering if, once it settles a bit, any of the reflective qualities of the aluminum will shine through...(in a good way I hope)