This recently completed piece was based on a scene along the road that runs up through the spectacular Beaver Valley.  With exposed cliffs surrounded by lush, dense forest, the east and west side of the valley dominate the view, but along the way, there is countless quietly beautiful scenes right at roadside that shouldn't be missed.  This painting celebrates one of those and was done in a painterly fashion and at a smaller scale than I currently create my pieces in.  What caught my eye, as usual, was the combination of old fencing from long ago, along a field that hasn't seen a plow in many a year, surrounded by the natural environment that has steadily been reclaiming the land back into its' fold.  Expect many more of this theme from me in the future!

Around here each season offers an abundance of beautiful, unique and riveting imagery to keep a landscape painter busy, and I welcome the arrival of each one.  That being said, for me one season is anticipated more acutely than the others and that would be the fall, when we are offered a brief burst of colour variety that recreates every view and vista.  Every day presents a changing view, as each tree reaches its own colour zenith, then steps aside for another to have its' moment of glory.  The richly coloured foliage of the hardwoods stands in a pure contrast to the evergreens, both in the canopy as well as along the forest floor.
There is a downside to all this visual splendor and that is the duration of this annual event; it's hard to look and enjoy without the knowledge that all too soon, wind, rain and cooler temperatures will remove all the fall colours from our view for another year.  I steel myself for this inevitable letdown by urging my senses to be on high alert, taking countless mental snapshots and feeling grateful for the seasonal pleasures offered by this little corner of the world I am fortunate to call home.  I urge all to get out, rain or shine and do the same!