Cardinal Pair

I'm often asked, "How do you decide what to paint?" or "Where do you get your inspiration for paintings?" 

• Sometimes I just paint what someone commissions me to paint, and that's an okay answer. I can do that.
• When I choose an image, I look for the combination of elegance and simplicity.
• I want my paintings to tell a story.  If "a picture is worth a thousand words..."  then surely each of my paintings should bring a hundred or so to mind.
• I usually choose to paint what I know... what is a part of me and my little slice of the world.

Join me for a tour of a favorite little slice of my world...

Here it is... It's my favorite spot.  

What makes it so?  

Well, let's see... Let's begin with that chair in the middle.  There's a table on either side to put a drink or book or computer... convenient. There's a blue heating pad in the chair... just in case it's not quite warm enough outside.  There's a little blue stool in front of the chair... perfect for a 5 foot person who needs a few inches.  

And... there's a feeling of peace... 

It's quiet here, but there are lots of sounds... Depending on the time of day, there are birds of all kinds, peepers, crickets, frogs, and owls.  If there's a little wind, the chimes tinkle...

There's also the little scraping sound of the pieces of tin hanging from the tomato cages... Ha ha... a redneck attempt to keep deer away from the garden... 

Soon there will be flowers in the barrel, tomatoes and cucumbers in the cages around the edges (because deer don't like those), and okra, peppers, onions, and jalapenos inside.

If the sun is shining, maybe it would be better to sit on the little red bench beside the garden.  The hill behind it is actually the bank of the pond. It's got a path around the top and down to the water.

The row of daffodils, irises, tulips, lilies, hyacinth remind might remind you of where you grew up. That's why it's there.

A few other details to notice... 

There's a big pot where I grow herbs beside the bench. 

There's my little "It's been a pleasure reading and writing with you" granite block that my co-teachers gave me when I retired... sniff. 

Then there's our burn pit and a stick to guide the chickens toward their coop when it's time for them to be put up for the night.

Speaking of the girls... Did you know that they kind of purr when they're content?  Yes, they cackle when they lay an egg, but the purr is my favorite.

Welcome to the coops! Sylvia, Fancy, and Dolly sleep in the Sister House. Red Red and Other Red sleep in the Cousin House.

I asked for a birdbath for my birthday last week.... The deer think it was put there for them. 

I asked for a birdhouse for my birthday last year... The squirrels think it was put there for them.

And finally... the birds... the beautiful, beautiful cardinals...

Now back to the view from my chair... and... that scraggly tree right in the center of the view... Ahh... There's a story there!  The builders of our house asked if we wanted them to take it down, but we decided to keep it. And guess what we learned that next spring... and every spring since... It's a dogwood! Next week it will be gorgeous!

If you're ever near, I'd love to have you join me... in my favorite little slice of the world.

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 12" Wrapped Canvas

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