Friday, October 8, 2010

Autumn- A Time of Bounty... and Thanksgiving!


Autumn is such a brief moment in our seasonal cycle, but despite it's brevity... it reigns with an intensity and radiance which totally captures the eyes and hearts of all of its subjects. There is a liveliness and lilting spirit in her court... that is unmatched (in my mind) in any of the other seasons. There is fanfare... majesty... opulence and unparalleled abundance in all parts of her kingdom.


There is music... dance... fairs and festivals of the Arts to honour her magnanimity and benevolence... performed and celebrated in every corner of her dominion. We kneel solemnly in gratitude to momentarily... yet traditionally acknowledge His... or Her countless blessings in this Kingdom rightfully called... Eden.


It is our traditional weekend of Thanksgiving. Families across the breadth of Canada will join hands around a table of plenty and offer thanks for blessings... small and large. It is my favourite holiday really. It symbolizes the real essence of giving thanks. It emphasizes the importance of families... shifts away from any need for gift-giving and focuses on the reality that our Creator's greatest gift to "Us"... is this Eden.


So on this special weekend for "Me"... I choose to remember Thanksgivings passed... and those family and friends who linked hands and are no longer physically with us. I choose to give thanks to those young men and their families... who made the final and ultimate sacrifice of their own hopes and dreams... to insure freedom and shared plenty for all of us who remain to enjoy it. I choose as well to remember those less fortunate and to offer some of my own bounty.


To all of my Family... Friends and Followers... I wish each of "You" and "Yours" a Happy Thanksgivings and further health and blessings! Today's posted image is a portrait of my maternal Grandfather's wheelbarrow painted... totally en plein air on Wednesday afternoon. I gave it to friends Grace and Rolly Hallyburton to be permanently placed in their beautiful... and lovingly created Eden on Orr Lake. Deb and I were married at the center of the bridge spanning their lily pond. This painting... like an onion... reveals its love of art... whether painted... gardened or just viewed in subtle layers. I hope that you can "read" those layers.... created over generations... and now combined and revealed, I hope... by my brush.


Happy Fall....good painting and Thanksgiving to All!

20 comments:

  1. you really set a mood with this painting. I've enjoyed looking at. Thanks for sharing too.

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  2. Thank "You" Fay... For visiting and for your kind and encouraging comments!

    I'm glad that looking at the image gave you enjoyment! May it help "You"... to focus on your many daily and seemingly "ordinary" blessings... and to give thanks!

    Happy Thanksgiving to "You"... and "Yours!
    warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  3. Thank you for such a delightful posting! It is my favourite feast of the year also and I positively delight in sharing with all I know.
    A good Thanksgiving to you and yours as you gather round your table.
    Love the painting, stirs many fond memories./

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  4. Thank "You" for your visit and gracious comments about the painting Ruby!

    Thanksgiving is indeed my favourite festival of the year as well... for the reasons I've already mentioned.

    Thanksgiving in my own mind... should not be limited to merely one day! We all can share every day in so many ways.

    Saying "Thank You" for service... holding a door for another... sending an email or card. Even posting a painting that "stirs many fond memories"... is a costless way to share... and to give thanks to distant Friends!

    Happy Thanksgiving to "You" and "Yours" Ruby!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  5. Happy, Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours Bruce and Thanks for Giving us this visual treat - a painting of a plein air cornucopia (love the colors, too)!

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  6. Hi Linny!.... and a Happy...Happy Thanksgiving back to "You" and "Yours"!

    Thank you for the complimentary remarks regarding the new painting! I consider this to be a HUGE compliment... coming from such a fine plein air colourist whose work I greatly admire!

    Good Fall Painting... and many blessings Linny!

    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  7. Beautiful autumn scene. I love the brilliant colors. It's funny how we usually aren't attracted to orange, until October. Then we can't get enough of it! Nice work, and lovely words!

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  8. Thank "You"... for visiting and for your always encouraging comments Katherine!

    If painting isn't all about colour in this region in October... then one really has missed the mark! The colours are glorious... uplifting and are really inspirational.

    "I" am so strongly effected by the colour and lighting effects that I feel like a drunken sailor in its grasp. That's not at all exaggerating the effects!

    October is the month when we haul out the seldomly used strong cadmium colours in our area. One can almost apply them in their most raw state!

    Happy Thanksgiving and Fall painting to "You"!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  9. Hi Bruce,

    Beautiful paintings and the words to match the spirit of fall. I am on a 5 minute break, my husband has the grandchildren. Oh, I can't wait to resume my fall paintings. Bruce, your work is amazing as usual.

    All the best to you
    Joan

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  10. Hi there Joan!... Thanks for stopping by and for adding your always uplifting and encouraging remarks! I very much value your comments and opinions!

    Get back to that outdoor painting Joan! I very much look forward to seeing more of your "water music" beach and shoreline paintings!

    It's not Thanksgiving in your neck-o-the-woods I know... but copious blessings upon "You" and yours in your house Joan!

    Good Fall Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  11. You always put a smile on my face with your postings...This painting is really beautiful with all the colors and details you put into it.
    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Bruce.

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  12. Hi Hilda!.... That people as talented and wholesome as "You" find goodness and worth in my bog and my work... make the effort in both the writing and painting worthwhile.

    Thank "You" for your continued encouragement Hilda!

    Rich blessings... and Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  13. What a special person you are, Bruce! Loved your comments, once again, on my blog - I could use you to be around all the time to lift my ego!
    This painting has such a sense of nostalgia, and not in a dippy, overly sweet way,...but with the sense of yearning and hope we all feel at this time of year. My favorite time of year. Wishing you a very happy Thanksgiving. (We don't eat any meat so won't be having turkey - the Tofurky soy loaf is delicious believe it or not!). Actually, I'll be on my own with three of our four dogs - Bob will be on the road somewhere finally coming home. When he arrives safely I will be truly thankful!

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  14. Happy Thanksgiving Bruce!! Wonderful painting- I love the bountiful feel of it. I just found your blog and enjoy it; feel free to visit mine as well. -Joe

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  15. Beautiful colors in this one, Bruce!!!

    I hope your Thanksgiving togetherness is beautiful for you and yours...

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  16. Hi there Karen!.... Happy Thanksgiving back to "You"... and Thank "You" as well for lifting my own artistic spirits with your visit and comments!

    We all suffer from moments of self-doubt and question our process. It is important when "Others" whose own work... ethic... standards... intellect and inner spirit offer support and input that encourages us to push on.

    "I" refer to this input... as "the third eye". Another eye that I can trust... along with my own two... to move forward and to cast off the self-doubt. All artists can benefit greatly from this type of relationship or mentorship!

    "I" thank "You" for that gift you always offer... and give thanks for your thoughtful presence. It means a lot to "Me'!

    Enjoy that tofurkey soy loaf -sounds delicious!
    Safe journey and arrival... to Bob!

    Good Painting... and again... a "Beary" Happy Thanksgiving!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  17. Hi Joe!.... Thank "You" for stopping by... and for the encouragement!

    Visited your blog! Very impressed with both the quality of your work and the content of your writing!

    "If Only"... is a touching tribute that not only pleases the eye... but touches the heart. Your generous spirit transcends "the average"...and I commend and greatly respect "You" for that!

    Good Painting!

    Warmest regards... and blessings to "You"... and "Yours"!
    Bruce

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  18. Hi there Marian!.... Good to hear from "You"! Wondered where you had gotten to!Thanks for the visit and uplifting comments!

    Your "Santa Cruisin' Expedition" looks and sounds like great fun! Love those newest 9x12's as well! Keep 'em coming!

    Loved the post on your dad's birthday celebration and the motion picture thingy... going back to revisit and read that one again at my leisure!

    Good Painting!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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  19. Hi Bruce,

    Lovely painting with the crisp, brillant colors of fall. It is especially a favorite time of year, after the hot summer, I appreciate those cooler temperatures, just right, not hot or cold. And everywhere you look it is a feast for the eyes with all the magnificent color. Well said Bruce about Thanksgivings passed and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

    Happy Fall to you.

    Sue

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  20. Hi there Sue!....Good to hear from "You" again!

    "I" agree with your thoughts! Autumn is such a brief... but special time of the year! The air changes... the smells in the woods and meadows are pungent with that musky ... acidy tang that piques one's "juices" along with the rich colour everywhere.

    "I" never feel more alive than at this time of year... and more grateful for the countless small... but important blessings in my life.

    Gratitude is such an easy concept to embrace and practise. I wonder why it is that so many... seem not to be aware of the gift of peace it brings along with it?

    "I" am indeed grateful to "You" Sue... for your visits... support and willingness to share ideas.

    Good painting... and copious blessings upon your house!
    Warmest regards,
    Bruce

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