Thursday, December 9, 2010

In Awe...


Lupine Cottage
Original oil painting
by Susan Roux


In June, I rented a house on Deer Isle, Maine with other artists to paint for a week. My intensions were to go paint lupines. Unfortunately Spring was very early this year and though we did find lupines, most were on their way out. I took lots of photos including the one I worked from for this painting.

I remember coming around a curve on a narrow winding road. The wooded area I was driving in opened up to a spectacular view of a causeway with the ocean on both sides. The sun was shining that morning and the green twinkling forest I was in bursts into a vista of blue. I slowed my car in awe, taking in the view. It was early. I was in search of a place to paint. I had left a sleeping houseful behind and ventured off in excitement, so thrilled to be on a painting holiday. It was day one.

I wasn't accustomed to causeways. This was the second one I'd found on the island. I liked them. They were curved roads, built up in round rocks, that connected two adjacent islands. Not at all like a bridge that passes you in a straight line above the water. No, this was more like kayaking. You know what I mean. Its like being at water level as oppose to above it like in a typical boat.

I wanted to pull over, but there was no place to park. I suppose it really didn't matter. There was no traffic. I could have left my vehicle in the middle of the road. But it was day one and I didn't yet realize just how rural this place was. At the start of the causeway, across the street, was a tiny spot were I could park my car. Having spotted it at the last minute, I quickly veered and pulled in rather crooked. The tail end of my not so small car (my family calls it a boat...) was still protruding out into the street. No problem. I was just stopping momentarily to snap a few pictures of the view.

I stepped out of my car and as I did I looked back towards the woods where I came from. Tucked up on a hill was this spectacular house. The sun brightened it like a shining beacon. A field of lupines, passed their prime, embraced it. What a romantic looking house. What a view.

I laughed at myself for almost missing it. If I hadn't stopped to take a picture of the ocean, I wouldn't have seen this house until my return at midday. The sun wouldn't have dramatized it like in morning.

Day one. Stopped on the roadside, stunned in awe at the beauty that surrounded me. Where was I? I think I landed in paradise.


I just noticed, today makes a year I've been blogging...

33 comments:

  1. excellent work mam, realy u r great artist.i like u r paintings.

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  2. Congrats on one year of blogging! I love house pictures more than anything. I have several on my walls and old barns too.
    And yes your blog is easy to relate too, even for me as a writer. You have a lovely style and it pulls me in to hear about your choices and inspiration to paint. Love it!

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  3. Hi Susan, it's a beautiful painting. Those things that make us smile are the best things to paint, aren't they.

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  4. Hi Susan, your blog looks great. And even on the old Imac, your paintings come across very well. Though you are very correct in the stating that in person your paintings look very different, with a great depth of color. keep up the great work, congrats on the one year mark.

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  5. Just the post I needed to inspire me as I look out at a snow covered field, and my studio at 22 degrees this morning! Nice painting too.

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  6. Congratulations on one year of blogging!
    I read your comment on Terri's blog, "Probably not, but they come anyway." Just a short, simple, honest response....it made me smile and want to visit...so here I am.
    I love lupines, so that in itself made it worth the visit!

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  7. Great strong light. Romantic is a great adjective for this. I went to camp on Deer Isle for 1 month each summer of 65 and 66.

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  8. Elle reviendra cette belle période du lupin... avec elle le soleil, la lumière, les promenades... et les découvertes comme celle que tu as faite ce matin-là et que tu as magnifiquement reproduite dans cette toile... Bisous

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  9. happy one year blogger anniversary! this is not only a spectacular painting, stunning palette, but a beautifully written post! i so enjoyed your morning drive and happy find! what a great idea to rent the house just to paint! i'm so inspired.

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  10. beautiful work! i love the way you have painted the house! there is something sort of majestic in this painting!

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  11. What a lovely spot and nice memory for you. The painting is beautiful too.

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  12. Posso sentir o perfume das flores, o ar puro...
    Muito bonito e suave!
    Parabéns Susan!

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  13. i love paintings that capture the entire memory of a profound but simple thought, thanks!

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  14. Susan, this is lovely and dreamlike, what a great way to start my morning! happy holidays to you.

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  15. Thanks for posting..this is a lovely painting

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  16. How beautiful is this cottage with the lupines all around.

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  17. I love lupines, and love to come across fields of them. I long to see the fields of yellow and white ones they have out west. I miss the warmth already, hope I make it thru the winter! The painting you asked me about was Boothbay Botanical gardens.

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  18. What a find Susan! A beautiful painting and to find it on day one!!! Have a lovely holiday. :)

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  19. Susan, I LOVE this! It's a good thing you took just a moment to look back ... what a gift that you were rewarded with this magical scene!

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  20. Susan,

    Thank you for the ever so sweet comment! Love your colors!

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  21. You did land in Paradise. The painting is fabulous.
    I love Lupine and it doesn't grow wild in Massachusetts.

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  22. Beautiful work, and thank you for your kind comments!

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  23. Love the story, love the painting, you make me want to visit Maine. Everything there is so beautiful and picturesque.

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  24. Lucky you, Susan, and such a beautiful contrast of cool and warm in your painting!

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  25. you did it real justice. Love the flower work

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  26. Susan, this is a magnificent piece - and the story behind it... well, it makes me want to pack the dog and the paints in the car and head north! You make me long for Maine... that sky, that architecture...

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  27. There is something about these New England clapboard houses that seem to glisten in the morning sunlight -- lovely work! So glad I found your site via Caterina's -- seems so many artists are West Coasters -- nice to find a fellow New Englander!

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