Having a passion for the mountains and growing up inland, I never appreciated the marshes until visiting Bald Head Island and eventually moving to the Cape Fear.  Marshes are ever changing, full of life and a natural beauty that is only appreciated if time is devoted to observation.  After living on the marsh for fifteen years, I can testify that everyday is different.  The grass colors change with seasons and daily light.  Clouds create ornaments to enhance the scene and then lay shadowy shapes on the earth's surface.  Sounds and smells fill the air with sensations that I grew to love.

Morning Marsh,  an 18" x 24" oil on linen, was a scene I witnessed one morning at Wrightsville Beach after spending sometime near the ocean.  The early morning light just lit up the grasses with a glow that made me pull my car over, get out, and just soak up that colorful majesty.  When I have a visual experience of awe, I want to translate it onto a canvas, to capture and preserve the moment.

Color was my first consideration, but then value contrast to express the areas still unreached by the sun.  The sky was still faintly tinted by those early morning colors and reflecting onto the visible water.  Distinct diagonal shapes created by the light, aided the composition and created a sense of movement.  The illuminated homes provided variety in subject matter and added some humanity to the scene.

Although reproducing nature is impossible, I feel Morning Marsh, captured a brief moment that is worth remembering and viewing in a special place.  Maybe your home!

Exploration for the artist is exciting and intimidating.  If new subjects, methods or materials are not tested, the artist limits personal growth with her art and ends up repeating the same paintings over and over.  She starts something new, gets into the middle of the project, hits a wall and now what?  Problem solving time!  Artist solve problems with each painting.  Time to make a decision and just stick with it, right or wrong.  Next time a different decision can be explored.

Gallery Citrine, a new local exhibit space in Wilmington, invited artists to create nocturnal inspired works.  Artist were limited to the time between sundown and sun up and there were so many different interpretations.  The show is up until the 26th of December, so treat yourself to a visit.

I had never painted a nocturne, so exploration began. The challenge was to create sufficient darkness to feature the lights without completely obliterating the information in the dark areas.  Cool colors were needed, but then the opposite warms were use in small spots to create  complementary color schemes and express the lights.  I entered First Light, a 16" x 20" x 1.5" and Midtown Evening, a 10" x 8" x 1.5" oils on linen.  Because I painted a study for First Light, it's available in a 8" x 10" linen panel as well as its larger size.

First Light, features the horizon as the sun is several minutes from appearing.  The marsh and oysters beds within the grasses begin to emerge.  Midtown Evening, is a scene from my apartment complex. It caught my attention because of the light refections on the tree and surrounding area and well as buildings, cars, and the light post in the distance.  I also loved the waxing crescent moon naturally positioned in just the right place on the canvas.

Having enjoyed creating these two paintings, I'm searching for the next inspiring nocturnal subject that offers a new challenge.  Any suggestions from my readers?  Always open to comments.