Sunday, May 5, 2013

Shades of Grey

Spring is close, but has not actually made an appearance yet. 

One day it is tantalizingly warm, the next our daffodils are layered in ice and snow.

As hard as it is for human beings to manage these temperature ups and downs, trees and grasses manage the changeover in sublime ways.

Stone cold grey trees merge delicately into silver, then to warming pinks at their twig-tips. Scrubby bushes spike their gnarly branches with clouds of pale flowers. Oceans of sallow grass warm to gold, then green, then a great splatter of wildflowers.

Those few days of uncertain season are my favorites.

©2013Patricia Scarborough 12 x 12 oil  Day Trips Series
 
I'm working on a series of paintings called Day Trips for my July exhibit at The Burkholder Project in Lincoln, Ne.. The point is to focus on the scenes we see near by, within a few miles of home. I used to drive by these old sheds twenty times a week before they were torn down to make way for new construction.  Interestingly, the new spiffy version of this acreage is not nearly as interesting as the old one.
 
As spring makes her full return I'll keep looking for these delightful areas where nature decorates  according to her own palette. 
 
 
 

5 comments:

Karen said...

Ah, Patty, if these days of uncertain seasons are your favorites, then you've been having a sublime "spring"! I am looking forward to seeing your July show; you have an uncanny way of finding the beauty where others might overlook it.

Patty said...

Thanks so much Karen, your comments are very kind. To be honest, I really do love the spring just before the buds pop - those little moments between snow and ice storms, and just before the temps rise into the 90's!

Patty said...

Cathyann, it's always a pleasure to have you stop by.
Let's do our part to upgrade the 50 shades of grey image!!

Tammy S said...

Patty...another wise subject choice. I love viewing our area through your eyes. Could I make a wee request? I would love to see that old barn on hwy 41, just on the west edge of Geneva, painted before they let it totally disintegrate. It was such a stately old building. I'm sure you could paint it in it's current disarray and manage to make it look grand. :-)

Patty said...

Oh Tammy, you're right! What a great old place.
Your wish is my command...