The Dunes

Watercolour on Fontenay
"Parnidis" Dune in the Curonian Spit

Watercolour on Fontenay
Dunes in Nida

Saying goodbye to the winter

15x35 on Fontenay

This probably is going to be the last winter landscape painting this year. As it was difficult to start learning to capture  winter scenes, now it is difficult to draw them aside :) first i intendet to reflect as it was a snow blizzard around the farm, but ah... it didn't worked out. Anyway, I tried working on a different format of paper, and this was quite fun :)

Still covered with ice..

Although the frost is still covering the land, during sunny days you can already hear the first cheerful birds singing. Then you understand - it's coming, and coming fast :)

Winter's back

Usually we do have snow in November, but this year it was just rain, and even during the festives of winter, the weather felt like it is autumn. I began to think, there will be no cold in my land this year. But it finally came, and  yesterday i managed to capture the beauty it brought to us in some photos (unfortunately not the painting,  it's attached just to show, i'm still moving with this, just don't know - forwards of backwards, anyway, today my entry is not about it :)
It's about my little joys of the winter. You must be thinking 'oh, not again'. But i'm sorry, it's my favorit topick :)  I just can't stop. There simply is nothing better, than walking during the cold sunny winter's day and carying some hot tea it the flask. At first it's cold (-18 C) but all you have to do is better wrap yourself in a scarf, take a faster pace and enjoy looking at the sun playing on the tops of wintery trees.

P.S. All pictures were taken at "Neris regional park", only 30 kilometers from the capital. It feels great to hop in a car and after half of an hour enjoy cold, fresh air, silence of the forest and of course a great company :)

Brushing the dust away

There are times, when routine takes away all energy, and coming home after work all i can do, is to lay down, and read a book, or listen to music... or do something, that does not require much effort. But a break point when i just simply cannot spend an evening without watercolors always comes. Then i brush away the dust from painting kit and start again. I'm grateful, there's some magical power that makes me come back to it again and again. It's like strong friendship, that you cannot forget, although you do not see your friend very frequently :)

A little wash

There's one curious thing about painting. Sometimes ideas and visions comes at the most unpredictable time. To me they usually come when I don't think about painting at all. This one arrived one full moon night while sleeping :)

Alone but not lonely

During my last short holiday I realized, that the best way to relax - is to have some time alone, to get away from all the noise, distractions, focus on thoughts or to get rid of the them at all, and just breathe.
Autumn is my season, nature's thoughtfullnes, colours, even cold - soothes and comforts. There's nothing better than to wander all day long in the forest, knowing you don't have to rush anywhere, watching how the sun leaves traces on the tree trunks, eating sandwiches sitting on stumps, dipping eyes into clouds thinking what they might bring - rain or more heavy rain ? :)
The best thing is the knowing that you're not alone, the birds and animals are all around, although it's difficult to see them, but their footprints  leaves no doubt. And what an excitement to notice a roe watching you! See it dissapearing into the thick wood without a sound, as it was never there. Ach... holidays :) now it seems it was so long ago...all, that's left are few photos and a painting :)

Grandmother's flower on a rainy day

I love heavy summer's rain, especially while sitting cosy in grandmothers chair, drinkin coffe, starring through the window and listening to the thunder. Chatting  about this and that, about how to make the jam, about this years harvest, about simple things, nothing sophisticated, though in some way very important. And somehow the feeling comes, that present is so fragile, perception that it's very possible i might never feel the same way again. Melancholic thoughts comes and goes, painting the walls with light blue. On a rainy day. To my mind it's one of the most beautiful moods.

Anyway, here's a little study of tomatos. I managed  to put only the first layers of colours, left the painting table for a few moments. When came back, tomatos were gone... a friend decided to make some salad :) mm... it was tasty :D

Little Owl

I never could understand, why christianity states, that animals have no souls. Maybe it's because it's easier to justify killing for food, or hunting for pleasure. Sometimes people are so low.
Everytime i take a look at any animals eyes, i know they do have a soul, maybe more simple, but still...
As always, I've been painting from a photo, the expression of the eyes of this little owl stroke me, so curious and timid at the same time... sadly, wasn't been able to repeat the reflection here.

Trying to get back on track

The break was long. During previous half of the year, I've been trying to get back to watercolor from time to time. Mostly it was little scetches, washes, nothing really interesting. Lack of time, constant tiredness is not the best painting's friend. During this period I've changed two jobs, none of them was related to art. Finally it seems i've settled down a little bit and can try to get back to what I love to do :)