the seed is hope


the_seed_is_hope
The Seed is Hope
encaustic on clayboard, 8×8 inches

I put this encaustic painting up on my flickr page on Sunday and Angela noticed that my recent paintings had more earthtones and wondered if it has to do with me living in the prairies now. Well, I would say that definitely I am using more earthtones in my work and I do think it is an influence of my environment. When I was in Seattle I painted with a more blue/gray palette, reflecting the moody water environment that I lived in. But the funny thing is, I don’t live in prairie lands now! I live in a pretty concrete world called Chicago.

But the colors here are different, for sure. This weekend we trekked out to Middlefork Savannah Forest Preserve in Lake Forest on our “family day”. We try to have one day during the weekend dedicated to family activities since I work all day on Sunday. We had a lot of fun running along the trail, listening to frogs and birds, and just being out in the open air. It’s been a long winter.


golden_pods_w
golden pods?

From these photos, the earthy browns and ochres are apparent. So different from the deep greens and gray blues of the Puget Sound area of Western Washington. Anyone know what these beautiful golden pods are? I’ve never seen anything like that before.


lf_bntrail2
running away from mama
it’s so flat here!


lf_bntrail1
crazy how my baby is not a baby anymore

14 Comments

  1. As ever, your wonderful art focuses me on what is valuable in life. Thankyou Bridgette for your soulful paintings; they make me feel whole again. (Ann from UK).

    And it is strange how place and time and the ‘seasonality of things’ – can’t remember where I came across that phrase – so affect what we paint or write.

    And little ones demonstrate their individuality, and yet focus on home again as they grow older. Much older – mine do!

  2. Funny how much the nature of our environments influence our art. Now that I live in the Pacific Northwest, it takes a real effort to use colors other than blue and gray, but when I lived in California, I painted more reds and ochres.

    Love the painting, and the photos. I haven’t seen milkweeds since I lived on the prairie when I was in elementary school.

    Your baby’s gotten so big!

  3. yep…that a milkweed pod. monarch butterflies lay their eggs on the back of the leaves of this plant (and the wasps try to eat them). i make tiny woolen babies and these half pods become their beds.

  4. I think it is a totally unconscious act that we paint from our environment, don’t you – if I am in a warm colorful climate, my color palette reflects that and here at home, the blues, grays, etc……love this piece Bridgette and also the last photo on this post – Happy Easter…

  5. I’m loving these rich earthy tones Bridgette – for what ever reason they are appearing 🙂 Though I can see them in the city, too – the rusts, and patinas of metals.
    I used to find and collect milkweed as a kid. The monarch eggs would hatch and I’d feed those tiny caterpillars the milk weed leaves until they were quite big and would form their chrysalis, Then I’d keep it safe until it would hatch into a monarch butterfly, at which point I’d release it. Might be a fun nature project for you and your son 🙂

  6. Thanks everyone for the info. Now I am really curious to see these milkweeds with the silk in them as the dried pods are so beautiful.

    Beth- I want to see your tiny woolen babies!

  7. Oh i LOVE that copper brown strip at the bottom! Ohhh im in utter LOVE with your earth paintings – soooo beautiful!! x

  8. Your work is beautiful! I’m in Tinley Park and enjoy mixed media and collage. Do you know of any classes for encaustic or collage/mixed media in the city? I’d love to find one and learn some new techniques.

    Emily

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