Abstract Landscape Painter. Rural Dweller. Lover of Modernist Art and Design.
The Sun in the Morning and the Moon at Night
I've really enjoyed the week-end. On Saturday I had the day off and the weather was beautiful. We did some household chores and then went outside to work in the garden. My partner did a sterling job mowing the large lawn, while I tackled the overgrown vegetable garden. The heat and bright sunlight were a joy and I didn't mind the novelty of having to wear a sunhat and sun cream! We worked hard for over three hours and were very pleased with the results of our labours, surveying the transformation with satisfaction over a celebratory drink at the end of the afternoon. While I sat there looking, I was interested to see how yellow the green grass looked in the sunlight and how similar it was to the ground colour that I have been using in my recent paintings. It's funny how often working by instinct proves to be more accurate than I initially think.
On Sunday morning we set off for Gloucestershire, where we were going to stay at our favourite hotel for a couple of days of real relaxation. This is always such a special treat for me. It is set in acres of beautiful grounds and I spend hours looking at the various views while walking or sitting in the garden. The best view, this time however, came during the night. Sunday's weather had been glorious and had given way to a wonderfully still evening. I woke at what must have been around 3.30am and got up to look out of the window. I saw a full moon in a pale blue/grey sky reflected in the cobalt blue lake below. It was so still and so beautiful that I had to photograph it. The camera doesn't really do it justice. I felt so privileged to see it - I was lucky. While we were all sleeping it had appeared and shown itself in all it's serene golden beauty, just hanging there, thinly veiled in the mist like a gauzy garment, casting a benevolent glow on the un-knowing sleepers below. I looked at its reflection in the lake, echoed in the paper lanterns and the topiary and felt inspired.
Moonlight over Cowley
(Acrylic on Board)
All text and images ©2013 Carol Saunderson
