Breezy Day at Griswold Point, Old Lyme CT

 "Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions."  -  Albert Einstein

Just like the way the wind swirls the clouds in the sky or moves the water into waves - I think that's the way my imagination works. Working behind the scenes, as I go about my day, my imagination begins to weaves together experiences, ideas and visions. And the more a painting idea circulates around in my mind the stronger the vision and  the deeper the conviction is to make it come forth.

How "Breezy Day"  came together really transpired back a few months ago... let's trace the roots of it's beginning.

In June, I began preparing for an upcoming class in acrylics for beginners, part of the lesson required teaching how to paint clouds. so what did I do... I painted clouds, lots and lots of clouds. Just practice.. then paint right over them the next day and start again. Searching how other artists painted clouds, I watched a few videos and then back to the easel.  Clouds have become a recent obsession, you might say. 

Fast forward to a few days into August we had one rainy stormy day after another - hazy hot humid and lots and lots of rain..... But as I dropped my mom off at Bradley airport that morning - kissed her good-bye the sun came out peaking around the billowing clouds. I headed south on 91  - picked up my gear at home- packed a lunch and back out the door to Old Lyme. Yes.... chasing the clouds all the way!

Even though that day's plein air study didn't thrill me... the vision was becoming clearer and on a much bigger scale.... like a few feet bigger!  The distance sailboats and the wooden sailboat in the foreground made its way onto the canvas based off of the dozens of reference photos from our trip to Mystic Seaport Museum in June for the annual Wooden Boat Show and searching the web.

As each idea worked it's way shape by shape, brushstroke by brushstroke onto this large canvas the energy and momentum and vision crystalized and the palette knife made the waves sparkle..

But deep down... what anchored this vision, I would have say faith. Faith that it would all come together, faith that what I saw in my imagination was canvas worth - because faith is the belief in things unseen.
... and in the next post I'll share with you where this painting, "Breezy Day" made it's first debut! ....and   the story continues... 

keep creating .... make your day colorful and bright!
​Linda