sunlight – Page 2 – Melanie Stokes Art

February 20, 2022February 21, 2022

The Old Wagon

A recent paintout with Outdoor Painters Society in Temple, Texas, took me to Summers Mill Retreat Center near Belton. The acreage is full of vistas and vignettes for a visual artist’s delight!

It’s always more fun to paint with a friend, so Karla and I searched together through many possibilities for painting on the property. One little thing that captured my attention was the light on the edge of an old wagon as it leaned under a cabin’s shelter. So, we set up our gear under the nearby massive oak to enjoy a few hours of painting there. (Well, actually Karla was sitting on the back of her car because she forgot her tripod, but that’s beside the point.)

As I painted, I enjoyed the shade of the oak, the sunshine on my back, and the sounds of children playing in the distance. Families strolled by and some individuals wandered over to see what I was doing. After a few quick conversations, I would return to the visual dance that the sunlight was having with the old wooden wagon. What was up with that pale turquoise green color in the late 1800s? It seems to show up in houses and furniture and now on this wagon. Was it on sale or something?

Now, here is the rest of the story…

As I painted the wagon wheel, I noticed the rusty metal rim tires, the faded wood of the spokes and then the cup shaped metal and wood that formed the hub in the center of the wheel. And suddenly, there was a familiarity hugging me that took me by surprise! It was the same as a wagon wheel hub I have sitting in my house! The same as the wagon wheel hub I possess from my grandfather’s old wagon, the one that probably belonged to his father, the one that I brought in my move as one of several family treasures that connect us to our ancestors. Back in the day, Grandaddy Miller drove a wagon that must have looked like this one! And the connection grabbed me, quite took me by surprise, and made me almost gasp! I could almost visualize the grandfather, who I only knew in childhood, hooking a mule to that old wagon and rattling up a dirt road in the hills of North Georgia. It was one of those serendipitous events that make you go, “Awww.” Those are the little bonuses that often happen on a plein air adventure!

After a few days of painting in both cold and warm weather, being with like-minded artists, exploring new places, and even having a visit with a Fallin cousin who lives only one hour away from me, I’m back home now. (And, found that my sweet husband remembered to clean up the kitchen!) Sometimes, this life is just plain good!

January 12, 2022January 13, 2022

His Mercies Are New Every Morning

Each morning, when I open window blinds, I look toward this row of trees in my yard. It is a morning refreshment to see the rising sunlight shower its brilliance on the leaves of the oak tree. As the sun rises, the color of light on these trees often gives a foreshadowing of what kind of weather we can expect.

On this particular morning, stormy weather was on its way out and breezes were blowing clouds across the sky to dust away dreariness. A couple of bucks had rested for the night and were stretching toward nourishment for another day.

Sunlight has a deep impact upon my ability to feel refreshed and energized. There is much to be said about a good dose of natural Vitamin D! Even on cloudy days, we know the light of the sun is still there. But when the sun shines bright, it refreshes my soul!

Morning refreshment for me also includes having a few cups of coffee, while reading Scripture and devotional thoughts (before I jump into social media.) This painting makes me think of the phrase, “His mercies are new every morning,” so I pulled it up from the Bible:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.'”

Lamentations 3:22-24ESV

December 21, 2021June 14, 2022

Benediction

melaniestokesart.com — Benediction
30×24

When I was a child, I sat by my father in church, because my mother sang in the choir every Sunday. At the end of each worship service, people would gather up their things to leave. I knew the end was coming because the bulletin said, “Benediction.”

Now if you looked up the definition of “benediction,” it would not say “time to start gathering the bulletin you drew on, put up the half pencil in the pew rack, and pick up your Bible and sweater to leave.”

I learned as I grew older that a benediction is a blessing, an expression of hope for the coming days, and a petition for guidance as we part.

As I come to the close of painting this collection of Texas Skies, I have decided this one shall be called, “Benediction.” It is at the end. It is the twentieth 24×30 sky canvas that is hanging in my studio. It is painted with the blessing of spiritual peace I’ve experienced in this process. It is painted with a hope that it will bring peace to the ones who view it. It is painted with prayers of petition for many. And, painted with a prayer for God to guide my direction as I look for venues for showing this body of work.

May the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, be now and forever more in our hearts and minds, as we continue to serve Him on this earth in the days ahead.

And because this is my Benediction, I will now gather up the paintbrushes and prepare to leave.

October 28, 2021October 28, 2021

The Beauty of an Old Barn

This old barn is deserted, but still standing, beside County Line Road #939, near Mart, Texas. It grabs my attention each time I travel by. With the goal of painting its stately beauty, I stopped recently for a few photos in good light.

The gambrel style shape of the rusted tin roof may be the first thing that caught my attention. It’s red patina is smooth and beautiful, against a blue sky. But, the unique advantage of being able to see light coming through a window on the back side of the barn captured my emotion. The left side of the barn is whole, complete with a closed door. When one walks to the other side, the open wall reveals the darkness of the hollowed out void inside the deserted barn. Weathered wood and weeds winding inward guard the edges. Yet, there is that small window of hope where the light of the sky enters and shines through to the front.

And somehow, I identify. We have sides of us that are protected, closed up to risks and leery of dangers. But, every now and then, someone walks around to the other side and sees our soul; bare, raw, and open, allowing light to enter and come through the hollow spaces. There is beauty in aging gracefully against the wind. And strength in allowing light to shine through.

June 13, 2020August 21, 2023

This Moment of Happiness

This moment of Happiness was brought to you by the Septic Tank! Really!

Erma Bombeck said, “The grass is always greener over the septic tank.” Well, apparently sunflowers thrive there also. While I have volunteer sunflowers growing in several places in the yard, the best view of the flowers from the shade of the house is by the septic tank.

I had a lot of deep thoughts about this. Most of which have slipped away now that I’m inside. So, I’ll let you draw your own conclusions, based on your own life experience.

And while I was painting, despite the septic tank, there was a moment of happiness in the yellows reaching toward the light. Happy thoughts developed through an hour’s worth of paint meditation. Then, sings my soul!

June 30, 2018June 30, 2018

From the Heart

Most days I paint from life,

Many days I paint from photos,

Some days I paint from memory,

But, today, I painted from the heart!

Recently, I was in a discussion about “skill vs. talent.” As an art educator, I’m all for training and acquiring skill! We need to work at our skills to make them better. Even talented people need to understand why they innately make art a certain way and how they can use that knowledge. But talent is more about the way you are bent, the amazing things you do just because you are you. While developing skill to make art is important, if there is no passion or emotion involved, skill doesn’t always speak. And Art needs to speak!

You have heard musicians who are highly skilled. They never miss a note, but their rhythm is so steady and notes so exact that it sounds like a robot is playing the piano! But when you listen to a musician who slows down, or speeds up, or gets louder, or gets so quiet that you can hardly breathe… you could be moved to tears and whisper, “Now, that is talent!”

Maybe “talent” and “skill” are not the words you use to describe this phenomena. Maybe it is the “art evokes emotion” theory. However you describe it, I agree that if art does not elicit a response from others, it is in need of improvement. (Notice I didn’t say to throw it away. You can always learn how to improve!)

Painting from the heart happens best when there is no pressure to perform. This “Painting from the Heart” began on a landscape that had been sitting in the corner of my studio. It had made the gallery rounds and was a peaceful landscape, but did not really say anything. No one was moved to tears. So, to keep from wasting a perfectly good 24×30 canvas, I turned it vertical and spread Gesso over the middle. Suddenly a vase of hydrangeas began forming in my head. I got excited. This was a day, after several days, when I needed to paint something to process my emotions.

And as I painted, these words formed:

Most days I paint from life,

Many days I paint from photos,

Some days I paint from memory,

But, today, I painted from the heart!

This painting has served its expressive purpose for me as I painted. Now, I would love to hear the reactions it may bring from you!

May 17, 2018May 18, 2018

It Stopped Raining and WOW!

I’m in Port St. Joe, Florida this week for Plein Air South: a gathering of artists who paint outside and a faculty of ten or twelve of the best contemporary plein air artists I know of, from which to learn! It has been raining all day and many of the outside activities had to move inside. But this afternoon, the rain stopped. The sky cleared and the clouds and colors were amazing!

melaniestokesart.com

After observing all morning, I was ready to paint. I went out by myself to find a pavilion (just in case another shower passed over) and painted until sundown. What a great time to be a plein air painter!

The smaller pictures are photos. A highlight of the afternoon was seeing both ends of the rainbow that appeared. The three fishermen, the couple on the pier, and myself, were brought together to share the moment of adoration and wonder.

The atmosphere was crystal clear as the setting sun illumined the earth and sky.

As I drove back toward Mexico Beach and the rental house, I pondered why I love painting outside. It’s not just the finished painting, it’s definitely the process. Painting from life causes me to be acutely aware of all my senses. Not just seeing and touching, but feeling the breezes, hearing the birds, smelling the fish. And yet, feeling so small against a huge backdrop of life. It is a time of worship of the almighty Creator God and admiration of His art. Amen.

May 10, 2018

Thinking About Geraniums

If my Mama could come back as a flower, I think it would be a geranium! (Now before you think I’ve finally gone off the deep end, hear me out.)

This morning, after seeing the inevitable Mothers’ Day posts on Facebook, I went out to the studio to work. I meant to finish up some things and clean up some things and pack some things for an upcoming trip. But the geraniums were beckoning me – calling out to me – luring me into the yard to paint them! So I did.

As I painted, I began to think about how like a geranium my own mother was: bright and cheerful, even in rain or hot sun; strong enough to stand, yet flexible enough to bend when necessary; commanding my attention when it needed to be focused; growing best in groups, she brought joy to those around! (Being from a really large family may have added to her gregarious nature.)

The shape, or non-shape, of a geranium bloom reminds me of Sarah Miller’s creative, spur of the moment, non-conformist spirit. The organic, curved lines are almost musical as they show up “here, there and yonder” like the songs that would erupt from Mama throughout the day. Just like a geranium, ready to burst with blooms, Mama was always ready to share a song!

Yes, I can see my Mama in the bright colors and fun shapes of a geranium. Oh, and the red is obvious to anyone who knew her – the red hair of the Fallin Family!

Happy Mothers’ Day!

March 9, 2018

Progression of a Painting

It all began with a photo, my photo, taken on a sunrise walk at the beach. I truly believe that a painting is not all mine unless I am the one who took the photo, the one who visited the setting, the one who had the experience in order to be able to share it.

Back in the studio, I revisited that morning by first painting a small study to establish colors, lines and composition.

About a week later, I progressed to a 24×36 canvas. I sketched the shoreline with charcoal and washed in a rose underpainting with Gamsol.

The second photo shows the underpainting with liquid (Gamsol) washes of color. The third step was to look for “darkest darks” and apply them with thicker paint.

I thought I was finished when I reached this point pictured below, but after consulting some other artists, realized I needed to pull the viewer’s eye back into the painting. An artist friend pointed out some “con trails” (I had to look that one up) in the photo reference. I call them “airplane trails” and had intentionally left them out because they didn’t seem a part of nature. But looking at my photo, I realized that was what attracted me to the composition in the first place. The position of the trails were needed to hold the viewer in the picture plane.

I love the addition –the “wake up, it’s morning!” feeling that the lines contribute to the painting. And once again, an allegory comes to mind: in trying to leave out the impact of civilization on the natural world, I was leaving out the accent mark that added much to the composition. The Creator made this earth beautiful and then He added humanity as His icing on the cake. I’ll remember that and try to stay sweet!

February 11, 2018

Strength in Times of Darkness

I showed this to my husband and asked, “Who does this look like?”

He answered with a question, “Us?”

(Good answer, but not who I thought he would recognize.) The models are his brother and sister-in-law. But it could well be “us” with the sentiment behind it. We are strong together, even in dark times.

As I painted, I was impacted by the play of light against dark, the blinding strength of the sun, and the deepest cold darkness of the side away from the light. I could feel the wind of that fall morning on the beach and the warm comfort of an arm around my shoulders.

My Protector, My Strength, My Constant… all words that I use when I think about God and his relationship with his people. But these words also come to mind when I describe my husband! (yes, really)

It does not offend my worth as a woman for him to be the strongest, for him to be the bravest, for him to even be the tallest. I know he loves me and is my best friend. Almost forty years of marriage hold many stories of facing darkness and many blessings in the light. The faith and principles we base our marriage on have held us together. And in times of darkness the light always seems the brightest! (ok, not immediately, but in hindsight…)

This brother and sister-in-law have seen some recent dark times with health. They have come through on the other side, ready for the morning walk, ready to soak up the warmth of the sun, ready to see light and all that it will illuminate day by day.

Celebrating love, life and light!