Turkey's finally finished... but Thanksgiving remains!

"Autumn's Hangin' On... But Mary's Gone!"- oil on panel 10x8 inches

"The House That Built Me" (Line from a popular c&w tune)

Commission: Oil on gallery wrapped canvas 12x16 inches - SOLD

Despite the constant maelstroms of wind... and the deluges of rain all week... the colour is hangin' in there... and so am I ... hoping to get "out there" for one last full day of fall plein air painting. Fingers crossed!

But before I allowed myself that pleasure... I had things about the studio... and in personal life to tie down before that could happen. I can happily say now... that those necessities have been met... and hopefully either today orMonday will find the colour remaining as it has been... in pockets of dots n' dashes of the earlier crowning colour... which has for the most part passed.

I do actually enjoy the more muted and subdued colour as I suggested in an earlier post... where the heavily moist and misty air offers moody views and more manageable values that don't overwhelm or dominate visual senses. Just one guy's preference...

After completing Allison's votive painting of La Salute on time... and varnishing and providing the hanging necessities for the house portrait completed recently... delivering it... and getting paid by one very happy client... I noticed a subject not more than 200 paces from the Gallery door which commanded my immediate attention. I had contemplated possibly painting this subject many times for a number of reasons... as I passed by it on my evening walks.

I quickly came home on Friday... grabbed my easel, box and can of spirits and went over to the site in my van. It was drizzling n' spitting, but I simply used my usual inclement weather set up... "one leg of the easel inside the trunk area of the van... two legs outside... and myself under the overhang of the van rear door." After about an hour of quick brushwork... I packed 'er... "as is"... and headed back home... and directly into a deep hot tub to get rid of the damp cold that I felt in my core.

The first reason was that I liked the intimate... compacted composition... a neighbourly, almost familial relationship between the tree... house and church. Now... in that composition... the maple had dropped enough of its foliage to create a peek-a-boo view... broken by small clumps and bright golden "floaters"... to make a stunning and visually interesting subject to get my teeth into. I really like what I captured... it's plain... and simple!

The second reason was more personal... and was perhaps the more driving reason and incentive to make this painting. The 86 year old Lady Friend... large "L" and "F" fully intended... who had lived in this simple home.. had raised her large family of sons, daughter and grandchildren here...sadly had passed this summer... after a long, but never-complaining valiant struggle with cancer and simply old age.

Mary Morrison was an independent... always cheery and upbeat soul, who lived alone in this home... but with the help of her caring and attentive family who checked in on her daily. This home is reputed by local lore at least... to be the oldest surviving home in Hillsdale... being of log construction under the now faded "modern" mask of pinkish brown aluminum.

I often visited with Mary on her porch... pausing to catch up... have a few laughs and to get another village history and heritage lesson. She also enjoyed a nightly walk ritual... the same loop... only in opposing directions... "To spice it up!" she often jokingly threw at you. Often... she would simply appear at the front door of the Gallery and come in and sit down for quick visit. On occasion... she would have a fistful of grainy black n' white Brownie Sure Shot photos to leave for me... "to use in my work."

We shared so many small moments and time... and it cost so little to share these. I miss "Her"... more than ever now... as this year's autumn season slips away... too quickly. I hold on to these warm memories of "Her"... and in my own way used my paints to leave a small... perhaps insignificant "snapshot" back to "Her"... which declares with some joy... thanksgiving... appreciation and gratefulness that Mary Morrison... mattered and is remembered. That is so... if for no other reason than because "She" reached out unconditionally and consistently to the rapidly changing small world of Hilldale... and to this man... "from away"!

Thank "You...Mary!

Sharing... and caring knows no barriers. Anyone has the ability to participate... and the endless blessings... are unseen and certainly unexpected! Thank you ALL... for sharing your paintings... thoughts and ideas on your individual blogs

Good Painting... Sharing... and (extended) Thanksgiving to ALL!