Since I usually paint somewhat local scenes, our hike last week was poignant. It was awesome. Amazing. And quiet…so quiet. Oh my gosh, to get alone (for several hours) in the woods and listen to the silence and drink it all in…that is amazing.
As (mostly) a landscape painter in western North Carolina (Asheville in particular), I am always on the lookout for really great nature scenes. Our hike last week along Daniel Ridge was just exactly what I needed. Quiet. Tranquil…and still very green. Usually, we have a bit of autumn color on the trees but this year it is quite late. I’m sure this has nothing to do with global warming or anything like that but still…autumn colors are late. But in last week, hiking in the verdant green…all was well. Very well.
As an artist, as an oil painter who usually focuses on the landscape of western North Carolina (in general) and Asheville vicinity (in specific), I need to pay attention to the fact that I need to “drink in” if I’m to be producing. Last week on the Daniel Ridge Trail was exactly what I needed. I got visually drunk. Drunk with awesome God-made beauty.
