Autumn Gala... in more ways than one!

Autumn is indeed a "gala"... or festival as the term is described in my dictionary. As I rode along the Parkway westward to pick up groceries in Gananoque this morning, I revelled at the majesty of the peaked autumn colour in every place my eye wandered. The rain and greyness of the early morning could do nothing to dispel the  breath-taking grandeur. The spell over me was, if anything... more greatly amplified as tree trunks were darkened... and the red granite glistened and glowed with the wet. There was little or no breeeze... so that perfect reflections of shoreline colour doubled the beauty and were disturbed and broken only by razor-edged paths left by mallard ducks and Canada Geese who were busy feeding and puddling in every bay and creek.

I returned home and immediately headed out to the Gallery to commence work on my newest piece, a 30 x 24 inch gallery wrap canvas toned black. I had managed to get it to the lay in stage by the end of the day yesterday and was anxious to step into the fun part... detail which would lift out the colour and detail which made this piece exciting to paint. The subject is quite unusual... even quirky for me. It is a still life of sorts which originated in preparations for dinner guests while working in the kitchen. As with many paintings in my past experience... they simply "appear" out of no where and really mean nothing to any one else around except me. I dropped my kitchen duties on that occasion three years ago... and ran to get my camera to record the "Idea." Had I not done so... this painting opportunity and subject, in all likelihood would have been lost.

The painting session today had to be conducted inside the Gallery... and I must admit, I experienced difficulty during this indoor part with colour and values. The overhead lighting was sufficient to light parts of the painting... but not equally on all parts of the canvas... and certainly not on my palette. This made mixing and adjusting values a difficult and frustrating task. I decide to take a break... to see if the weather would change sufficiently to permit me to work outside as I had been doing. The strategy paid off and the weather cleared for the rest of the afternoon. The glorious sunlight more than provided sufficient light for "home stretch" finish that took place.

I will not endeavour to describe the painting in detail or the process of making it on today's post. I have chosen to simply post it as it sits this evening... with some changes to be made tomorrow to draw the project to an end. I am doing so, because I wish to offer this very fitting and timely painting to celebrate another "Gala"... which will be feted tomorrow...but really began 32 years ago. I is my lovely daughter...  Dr. Allison Morgan Sherman's 33rd birthday... a day that still emotes the same feeling of joy and pride as it did all of those years ago!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!~ Can't wait to celebrate with you on Monday... as is planned!
What  better way could there be to commemorate the day an art historian arrived upon this wonderful planet... than to create a painting! And that painting possesses the same wonderful sense of humour... and "joie de vivre" which you possess and carry with "You"!

So here it is... fresh from my Rockport easel"

"Come hear the music play
Life is a Cabernet, old chum
Come to the Cabernet"!!!...... HA HA!!!

"Come to the Cabernet" - oil on gallery wrap canvas 30 x 24 inches

Have yourself a GRRRRRRRRRRRR8  Day tomorrow Jemima!

All my love ALWAYS!
Dad (and Deb)
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Good Painting to All!... Stay tuned...