Louisiana Art- Woods and Weather

Spring came last Saturday, March 20, a balmy morning. By Sunday,tiny snow flakes peppered down as we attended church. Back to the 70's Monday afternoon, and today supposed to be 75. I've already walked this Tuesday morning, going through a creek bottom that's on our land,not too far from my house. The beavers damn up the creek occasionally, and turtles plunge off a log as I go by. I'm constantly comparing colors, planning the next painting for my art class. A red-tailed hawk that I see frequently is busy flying among the trees. The hunting must be good here. I feel in my pack to reassure myself that my small pistol is there. Cougars are spotted off and on in our neck of the woods. I nervously look around as birds stir the dry leaves. This morning, among rolling hills, there is the distant blue on far off trees. I understand this is caused from minute bits of moisture filtering the sunlight and splitting the light rays, which in turn alters the spectral colors in the light. I accomplish this in class by painting wet trees into a wet skyline, then adding graduating darks and lights. Time to get ready for my Tuesday class.

The Art Part of The Winds of September Cover

Notice how the sky colors of yellow, pink, blue, and white bounce off the hillside. The dark and light patches on her face give depth and fullness to her features. Dark colors recede, light colors come toward you unless you are painting a landscape, then it works totally backward. A far off field would be light colored growing darker as it comes forward. Notice Judith's dress, the dark part of the ruffle signifies depth, the light blue gives fullness. The light is coming from the right side of her body,(to us looking on, the left) giving fullness to the puffy sleeve.
Her shadow and the dark places at her feet anchor her to the ground. To see this cover art, go to: http://www.bookstandpublishing.com/book_details/The_Winds_of_September