Crack
Posted: March 20, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized 14 CommentsIt’s easy to make excuses and stay indoors to paint when there’s still snow on the ground. I’ve gotten used to that during this strange pandemic year. But today I pushed myself out the door, after watching the film “In Plain Air” which is part of the International Festival of Films on Art, available online for the next few weeks. The filmmakers of this short doc follow New Zealand painter Pauline Bellamy from one stunning landscape to another and, no matter the weather, film her painting mountains and lakes and clouds and snow. It was wonderful, and inspiring, to watch her.
I saw this cracked tree earlier this morning while out on a walk with Alice, and after bringing her home and gathering up my gear, I tromped back to this spot and set up my easel in the melting snow. It felt AMAZING to be outside. And then I remembered that today is the first day of spring, in the northern hemisphere. How fitting!
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
That poor tree, but you captured it beautifully!
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yeah, good for you for getting out and doing!
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Enjoyed the tree and your plein air experience. Watched you today on Sketchbook Survival and you were quite wonderful. Thank you.
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Beautiful! And I too watched your Sketchbook Survival Provence demo. So inspiring!
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This is fabulous Shari! Sadly, it reminds me of our beloved old tree that split last August. In hindsight, I wish I had commissioned you to do a portrait of it before it was removed.
It is fabulous to be outside today! Again in hindsight, I should have had pen and paper in hand rather than a beer. 😁
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would love to watch the film you mention but guess it requires membership?
Linda
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What a great coincidence with the first day of spring !! Here in Southern Arizona we only notice the difference when our orange and lemon trees start showering us with their blossoms ! I am from Canada and I do miss the beautiful seasons !👍👍
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Thank you, you are an inspiration.
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Love your story and determination! I am going to look up the film to view. Happy Spring!!! However, I am shivering thinking of you in the cold. Love that it made you feel AMAZING! I am doing Sketchbook Revival 2021. Life was busy today and I’m just about to click on the link. i saw you were one of today’s featured artists and I can’t wait to watch and do what you have shared. I’m sure it will be wonderful!
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What an interesting tree. Love the fresh color you used. and speaking of color, I just started your course on Luminous Color. I need that!
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Stunning!!! The very first thing your painting brought to mind were those wonderful lyrics of Leonard Cohen:
“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in”
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It must be a tree sort of weekend! I was out driving today, found a new-to-me road along a river and some of the old farmhouses have some genuinely amazing giant oak trees. I took some photos and will go back in nicer weather since there is no room to park on the road and I’m hoping to get permission to park on their farm access road to sit out and paint.
That is a very snowy first day of Spring Shari! Trees have so much character as subjects.
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Beautiful! It sure is nice to get outside again…..
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It sure is Mary! But there’s snow coming tomorrow!!
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