Personal Art Blog

Sharing the lessons I teach at the Artist Guild and the personal discoveries in my art.

Thursday, November 2, 2017

Aspen Colors


Aspen Colors #1
8x6" oil on canvas  SOLD


Aspen Colors #2
8x6 oil on canvas panel  SOLD

Artist Note

It's the Blue Sky 
Gold and Scarlet leaf time.
  I always try to paint an aspen
or cottonwood
every year.
 I did two this year -
experimenting with the different light 
on the same group of trees.

I am quite sad really 
because it reminds 
me that the clocks go back
and I drive home
 from work in the dark!

Does anyone else dislike that?


37 comments:

  1. Love the painting and yes, hate the time change.

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    1. Twins - regarding the time change!
      Love your flowers, Blanche. We think alike about florals too.

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  2. Your trees are stunning, Julie! I dislike the time change thing too. I did like the year (many moons ago) that we kept daylight saving time all year long. I think it was because of the gas shortage or something like that. I hope things are going well with your move. Have a great weekend.

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    1. Thanks, Carol.
      its not just the early dark nights...
      my son lives in Phoenix and they keep daylight saving time. It messes with my mind figuring out when I can call.
      Thanks for sharing about the avocado. It is amazing.

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  3. Beautiful fall colors on these Julie. I hate the time change, but I really dislike the cold more. I love all the nuances of color in these paintings. It's as if you're reminding s of all the colors that were there this summer and are now only hints of color. Happy November.

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    Replies
    1. So the cold is what you do not like, eh ,Sharon?
      I am with you on that too. We do have a freeze period here but it never lasts for more than a couple of months. Sunny most of the time during the day so it makes a big difference.
      Happy November back to you. The fall was a wonderful time to teach leaf rubbing. Seeing all those happy faces was contagious - I really enjoyed your post.

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  4. Me too, I'd much rather the mornings were dark and the evenings light later. I love your little paintings, though. Deceptively simple and beautifully observed. You are so good, Julie!

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    1. It is always a pleasure to read your comments, Trudy, and I appreciate your lovely complement.
      Happy we are in synch regarding lighter evenings.

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  5. Gorgeous painting, Julie.!!!!! Ii love the Fall colors.... I actually like this time of the year... I seem to make more time for painting.... However, I wouldn't like to drive home from work in the dark...

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    1. Thats a good point about more time for painting but I do not paint at night - especially after working all day. That is a wonderful portrait you did but the latest post with Finks Farm is awesome.

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  6. Glorious paintings, Julie. Love those glowing golds and dazzling blues together.

    Yes, the earlier darkness is indeed a drag, but I dread even more that it signals what's ahead -- means masses of snow shovelling are 'round the corner. Fall is so lovely; if only it could stay longer.

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    1. Happy you like it - thanks, Helene. I used a palette knife as well as a brush for the leaves to be able to keep the brilliance.
      Masses of snow, eh...I have lived in a few places where I dealt with that but if it snows here it melts in a morning.

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  7. I love the colors of fall and the near perfect temperatures before it gets too cold. I LOVE DST! The real problem with keeping DST all year is the elementary school children walking to school in the dark. If it were kept year round the schools would need to adjust their start times and that throws off the working parents which throws off businesses that open early. So I vote for no school, and no work! Just play and painting.

    Karen Lizard

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    1. LOL - what a great vote. Play and painting.
      Good point to think about the kids.
      New Mexico butts right up next to Arizona and Mexico and they both do not change. I bet the school hours are adjusted for it.
      Thanks for the visit, Karen.

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  8. Dear Julie - so beautiful friend. The colors of fall that you captured here are like candy to the eyes! No I don't like the time change either. Always confuses my internal clock for a few days :)! Hope all is going well. Hugs.

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    1. My internal clock was sure messed up the last couple of days. I even started supper way too soon today!
      Happy you like the painting, thank you, dear friend.

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  9. Both of these are so vibrant and delightful! The darker areas in the first one give it a bit more mystery, but I love them both. That view of trees could keep me happy for a long time. Just have to know, did the same person buy both? I could easily see them hanging side by side.
    I hate when the clocks change and it gets dark so early. I know it is just a one hour change but it seems like a good chunk of the day is stolen from us.

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    1. Thanks for liking them, Joan. Nope - not the same person,
      its good to know you feel the same way about the early dark sky, I like the way you put it about a chunk of the day...
      That is a beautiful landscape you posted. I love the color harmony.

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  10. Both trees are resplendent with their golden colors and show-stopping white bark. I first saw aspens in Colorado, and I was transfixed at the quaking that the leaves do. They just shimmer. Thanks for bringing that memory back to me.

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    1. Hi Carol, how I wish I could paint that shimmer you described, I have seen it many times.
      How are you doing, my friend? I keep waiting to see some new work. Are you experimenting and waiting until you get it just right?

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  11. the clocks went back last week, hate how early we have to put the lights on now :/

    love bright oranges/yellows in the paintings :D

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    1. Hi Jennifer, I was just watching the video you made. Clever and creative - I asked you some questions - hope you dont mind.

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    2. I never mind when people ask me questions :)

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  12. Excellent! I, too, love painting the fall colors.

    I think everyone hates the time changes. The older I get, the harder it is to adjust....if I ever really adjust. I don't mind the early darkness though. To me it just means cozy, hot soups and cuddling near the fireplace.

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    1. You have a lovely way of painting flowers, Carol.
      (It would be handy if you placed a link to your blog on your Google page)
      You are lucky you do not mind the early darkness. I am happy for you. It just shortens my day because as an early riser I am used to dark mornings... but my evenings are dark now as well.
      Have a great week.

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  13. Fabulous and famous Aspen colors, how I would love to see them in real life !

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    1. Thanks, Jane. I remember your leaves turn in the fall. There was a deep crimson bush I can still see in my mind. next to a gray wall it really had a glow.
      Love those two apples!

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  14. Not sure which I prefer, I tend to fancy the first one, love the 'darks'. such vibrant paintings, lovely-jubbley.

    I know what you mean about the dark evenings/mornings, but Summer starts here in Australia on 3rd December! I will really get caught out by the dark(& cold) when I get back to the UK late December

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    1. It is so good to hear from you John and find that it is your travels keeping you from painting and not another illness. Australia - so different from Jolly Old England. I bet you find it stimulating.
      I remember my chilblains!

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  15. Both examples are lovely and remind me of our high country landscape here.

    I desperately needed the time change. Having the mornings be so dark for so late was totally throwing me off! Last night I went to bed at six and got up at two!
    Libby

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    1. Thanks for giving me a good reason to be more flexible about the dark evenings. Libby likes the change!
      Love your new landscape inspired pieces - they are terrific!

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  16. Yellow trees are so difficult to paint and you’ve done an amazing job.
    I live in Canada so I should enjoy the benefits of the time change most, but I think its crazy. I have 15 clocks to check or change and I always seem to forget one. My car and my outdoor scientific Cross are a real pain because they aren't logical and I don't have instructions. I always have to google them to figure it out. By the time I get them all sorted its time to change them all back again. Big waste of time.

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    1. 15 clocks? Yikes! We have an atomic clock which changes itself just like the cell phone and computers. Very handy. My car is a different matter though. I always forget.
      I enjoyed your post on the season changes very much.

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  17. Beautiful colors Julie.. upbeat for the cold weather! Natures way of keeping us away from depression I guess!

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  18. OlƔ, lindas imagens e lindas cores outonais. AbraƧo.

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  19. It's amazing how a little change in light, changes the painting. They are both so beautiful! I am happy you paint them every year.
    I agree, I hate driving when it is dark but at the same time I prefer the cooler weather.

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I love that you are taking the time to comment and thank you for it. I am sure other readers will enjoy them too. If you cannot comment through this format then email me at juliefordoliver@gmail.com
Cheers,
Julie