Monday, May 24, 2010

Where's Mama?


24" x 18" oil on stretched canvas

We are back in Maggie Valley, N.C. for a couple of weeks opening the house, cleaning, etc. This painting of bunnies and field stones roughed in last season greeted me from the easel when we arrived. Still in a "fur-mode" from painting Mitzi and Daisy, I couldn't wait to squeeze paint and get busy! The trusty palette knife worked to achieve rough, hard texture for the field stones to contrast with the soft furry bunnies. The knife was also used for grasses and wild flower petals. There is color in the areas that appear black in the photo. I have portait commissions underway, but it was fun to relax with this playful painting using larger brushes and the knife!

Where's Mama" was inspired by a poem by James Cox entitled "At the Edge of the Unreasonable Forest"

"...along pathways of yellow and green

encroached by blackening shadows,

the pathways lined with luminous wisps

lifting slowly in the shadows..."

Thanks James!

15 comments:

  1. What a terrific comp. Love the rabbits, the rocks, the colors, and the feeling of depth and "path" thru the rocks that you achieved to get deep into the bg. Can't believe this sat for a year in sketch form. It must have been refreshing to have it waiting for you in this stage this season. New eyes, new energy. Right? And, look how easily and well it was done. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!

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  2. Enjoying the sun, the scent of meadow, color and texture of stones and a little fearful sight bunnies. This is all so obvious from your picture. As if I was there and felt. Oh, I wish spring took forever ... It's a beautiful work of Rosemary.

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  3. great painting Rosemary. I currently have a very small cottontail who is staying pretty close under my deck-front porch. was fun to watch it the other day as he and a local Robin met up with each other in the yard. He acted as though it was pretty serious business.

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  4. Lovely painting, and funny title!

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  5. Rosemary, I think this is just so pretty! I love the rocks and grasses; such great texture and depth! The wildflowers are just perfect and the bunnies? Sigh...

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  6. Ruth, thanks so very much! Am so glad you picked up on the path through the rocks! With the rocks taking so much space in the painting and the colors being so similiar to the bunnies, thought the path to the focal point might keep the eye moving! Appreciate all your comments!

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  7. Thanks so much, JB! So happy you "got into" the painting! I really appreciate your kind comments!

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  8. Thanks Gary! How I envy you all the wildlife around your home and studio! Still thinking about that beaver! The bunnies are fun to watch - so glad you stopped by!

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  9. Sylvaine and Sherry, you two make my day! How I appreciate your support! Thanks from the bottom of my heart!

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  10. Wow! You have been busy since I last visited, Rosemary--with impressive results. Your Bruce and Stephanie portraits are wonderful, and I love the way you capture furry friends. In this piece, the rocks are beautifully rendered (and rocks can be tricky to get right), and the palette is lovely.

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  11. Mary, thanks so much for stopping by and for your comments! People and animals are most often on my easel - the rocks were a stretch. Thanks!

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  12. Such a wonderful sensitive painting Rosemary, I bet it was fun to get back to this one. Nothing more gentle than a bunny, this is sure a sweet composition.

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  13. Thanks Barb! I really appreciate your stopping by and leaving your kind words! Yes, this one was fun!

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  14. Absolutely adorable painting. But, what beautiful colors; and carried into the rocks. Great job, Rosemary.

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  15. Thanks Pat! I just found your comment! You are a super painter of rocks - so this means a lot coming from you!

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