Here is my painting number 37:
The photo is somewhat underexposed – the actual painting is a bit lighter with more colour variation in the darks. I have been seeing abstract paintings in my mind whenever I close my eyes. But I did the underpainting for this scene a few days ago (picture below), and it was waiting to be finished.
This painting is based on my earlier painting #26, but this time I widened the composition and painted on a better surface!
Today was a beautiful, crisp and cold sunny winter’s day and I felt glad and grateful to have sacred time alone in the studio with my family safe and close. At sunset the Hakarimata mountains were shades of purple and green and the sky was flecked with red clouds.
This has been my route of fate thus far in my journey. My cup runneth over.
The Routes of Fate
The routes of fate, with my life I take their measure
And reflect on them with one half of my mind.
Days when the green wheat rolls and billows,
When the cuckoo’s call counts out what cannot be lost
And the farmers follow the wind with their ploughs –
With gentle understanding these I have linked together.Gladly I bend under my burden of nettles and dead wood,
The sky is a crystal tambourine which softly your fingers shake,
Lombardy poplars escort me on my way.Your goodness is like old sunshine on twigs that will soon be sprouting.
I am quiet with you.
White doves fly up to your heart.Heinz Pointek (translated by Michael Hamburger in Modern European Poetry)
Thanks to all who commented and liked my last post. I felt quite fond of this painting and it was so rewarding to see such an encouraging response. I hope you have a great day filled with happiness and contentment.
Fruitful Dark 
I like the “broader” canvas for this painting. Of course, I liked the original, smaller version, too. It’s a peaceful scene. I can imagine marsh birds coming home and settling down for the night. You mentioned the Hakarimata mountains and gave a beautiful description. Perhaps we’ll see these colorful mountains in your paintings.
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Thanks Judith, yes for landscapes I always find square canvasses more challenging than more panoramic ones. I think I mentioned before, strong horizontals help give a restful effect, so it helps if you start off with a very horizontal format.
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Thanks for sharing that bit of information. I’d never considered that before, but it certainly does make a lot of sense. Studying the elements of landscape composition is on my growing list of things to do. Every little tip helps. 🙂
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So it is different from normal for there to be this amount of color in your paintings? I have only seen a few of yours and this one seems “lighter” in spirit than some of your others because of the sky I think.
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Thanks DawnMarie. Yes, although the foreground is quite dark, the painting has some lighter tones and less earth tones than some of my others. The photo makes it look a bit darker than it is, and unfortunately the photo is also a bit more on the yellow side. I tried temperature correction but could not really get it to look 100% true to the original.
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It’s nice.
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It is a very peaceful scene, I could camp out there. Hakarimata mountains sound beautiful too, maybe they will be your horizon one day.
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Thanks! Yes indeed, although the H mountains are not impressive in size, they are green and mossy with plenty of breathtaking waterfalls. I took a photo this afternoon and was planning to show it with my post but forgot. Maybe for the better, seeing I have professionals like you that may see it!😉
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Haha I’m so not a professional! Just a hobby for me.
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