Almost October

Last night there was a heavy frost in the valley but not up here on the hill. Still it’s time to prepare for winter. Today I cleaned out the kitchen wood-stove and my husband went up on the roof to brush out the chimney. It’s a dirty, messy job that will be repeated a few times throughout the coming winter and spring. But we love wood heat and the comforting sounds of a crackling fire and simmering tea kettle. My husband has filled the woodshed and soon will be cutting trees for next year.

The vegetable garden is down to beets, squash, the last of the tomatoes and a few green beans. Frankly I’ll be glad to see the end of the green beans. My canning is finished, the pantry is full and the pressure canner is back in the closet until next year.

View from our garden.

Now I have to decide which houseplants come in and which ones I can live without.  

My Meyer's lemon tree will go in my husband's den for the winter. This summer it produced one lemon that my daughter-in-law made into lemon squares for us all to enjoy. This fall the tree has four lemons and we will be watching them grow all winter.

Meyer's lemon tree

New lemons this summer

Last summer's single lemon

I have always had an orange tree. My first one lived for about 20 years and the boys remember that it was their job to carry the tree outside in the spring and bring it back inside for the winter. Every year the tree was bigger and heavier - but then every year the boys were bigger and stronger. It is still a pleasant family memory that brings groans and laughter. After the tree died, they thought that was the end of it, but I bought another one in Florida and the tradition continues....

My orange tree

The days are sunny and cool, the leaves are just beginning to change. With the summer work done, we hope to spend time at camp this fall. There hasn't been much time for painting but I hope to remedy that soon. I’ll be packing my painting gear and my husband is looking forward to bird hunting. And Ginger is always looking for a new adventure.

 

Thanks for visiting with me.  
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com 

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Sept. Virtual Paint-Out

Bryce Canyon is spectacular. The colors and rock formations are surreal. I usually paint two views of our Virtual Painting Trip, but this month I had to paint three.

My initial lay-in using my Kindle photo as my reference source.

Bryce Canyon, Utah 8x10, oil

This painting is available in my Ebay Store.

Thanks for visiting,
Celene

To see all my paintings from our Virtual Paint-Out tours, please click here.

www.CeleneFarris.com 

Hilldale, Utah. September's Virtual Paint Out

This is day #12 of Leslie Saeta's 30/30 Challenge. I haven't painted as much as I wished because life is just too busy here in September. But I have enjoyed combining Leslie's Challenge with my Virtual Paint Out Group.  

Hilldale, Utah 9x12, oil

As you know, our Virtual Paint Out Group travels, via our computers and Google Street Maps to a different destination each month. I try to create two paintings of each new location. This month I might try for three. Utah is very interesting and I am fascinated by the rock formations. Bryce Canyon is spectacular. So we will see what happens this week.

I hope you are enjoying your September. We just finished with a very hot and humid week. Today is beautiful, with just a hint of fall in the air. The gardens are slowing down and the leaves are just beginning to turn here in Maine. Time for apple picking!

Thanks for visiting with me. This painting is available in my Ebay Store or on my website. I hope you've had a chance to check out my Store. I have over 80 items listed!

Ebay Store Link.

Thank you, 

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com 

Croydon, Utah - September's Virtual Paint Out

This month our Virtual Paint Out Group is traveling to Utah.

Croydon, Utah 9x12, oil

This painting is available in my Ebay Store

Thanks for visiting,
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Sept 2015 30/30 Challenge Has Begun

Today is the first day of September and the first day of Leslie Saeta's newest 30/30 Challenge. Thirty paintings in thirty days is impossible for me at this time of the year. I hope to paint and post a few each week. 

I have been exploring the painting style of Tonalism. I have always loved the gentle, moody and atmospheric landscapes created by these artists. In Tonalism, rooted in the French Barbizon movement of the 1800's, "the mood and atmosphere of the scene is more important than the objects themselves. Landscapes are soft, with gentle mid range tones and values and an elegantly simple composition." I've always enjoyed painting moody and atmospheric landscapes so this is an exciting study for me.

Our Virtual Paint Out Group is traveling, via computer and Google Street Maps, to Utah this month.

This 30/30 Challenge will be a mixture of Tonalism and Utah. Maybe I will be able to combine the two.

Morning, 6x8, oil

Thanks for visiting,
Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

My Ebay Store Link

Books and Stuff

For days now I have been cleaning and reorganizing my studio. How did I ever collect so much stuff?

The job has taken longer than it should because of the books. I have a large collection of art books that need to be reduced. I sorted them into three piles – keep, sell and maybes. It’s the maybes that have taken the most time because I have to go through them all, sometimes just flipping through pages, others are put aside to be read again.

Books have always been a very important part of my life. I grew up with a den full of books and a library within walking distance of home. Today we still have a den full of books, plus a large bookcase in my office and, of course, another large bookcase filled with art books in my studio.

The art books to be sold have been listed in my Ebay Store and only a few maybes are left to be added after I check them out.

I am also a collector of still-life stuff – old crocks, vintage copper, brass and silver items. Old figurines, vases and other vintage and worn treasures. Chips, dents and cracks only add to their character. Most are remnants of our antiquing days and trips to flea markets and thrift stores. Some are family heirlooms. These are my painting treasures and have been dusted and replaced on their shelves.

It’s so hard to get rid of anything. Maybe I just need a larger studio, or more shelves.

Here is the link to the book section of my Ebay Store  - just in case you need to add another art book to your collection.

Thanks for visiting with me,

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com

Bees, Hornets and Plein Air Painting

When painting outside, bees and hornets are often attracted to your wet oil paint with painful results. If you get stung, relief is right at hand. I thought I would share this amazing old-time remedy with you.

Yesterday I was stung by a small hornet while painting. Ouch! I immediately found some plantain leaves, crushed them between my fingers and applied them as a poultice to the sting. In less than five minutes the burning pain was completely gone. Today there is only a small red area to remind me - no itching or tenderness.

  

Plantain leaves are easy to find in lawns, fields and along the sides of the road. This humble weed seems to grow everywhere, at least here in the north. The crushed leaves produce a liquid that is good for all insect bites, poison ivy and other skin rashes, minor burns and abrasions. You can also use it in combination with olive oil to make a healing lotion.

Wishing you happy painting adventures.

Celene

www.CeleneFarris.com