Blue Ridge, Daily Painter: Janet Wimmer: January 2012

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Looking Up

Parkway Series #373 16 x 20 oil Sold

I will not be posting for a while due to several shows in the next few weeks. Framing and delivering and hanging seem to take more time than painting! Please come by on Saturday February 4th from 2-4, Second Helpings Gallery, if you are near downtown Roanoke, Virginia and visit for a while. I will be there along with other artists and musicians and great food. All proceeds go to the Rescue Mission. Hope to see you there and in the mean time, keep "Looking Up"!

Monday, January 16, 2012

The Old Road

Parkway Series #372 16 x 20 oil Sold

The old road still fascinates me, especially when the light travels across it. My infatuation with the Parkway is still strong even after 372 paintings. Wonder if there is a world record for the number of Parkway paintings by one artist?

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Soft Light

Parkway Series # 371 18 x 36 oil Sold.

Experimenting with softer hues and textures led me to reinvent this painting which was originally one of my earlier 12 x 16 daily paintings. Many of my earlier paintings may end up as studies for larger paintings.

Panoramic Landscape at the Peaks

Parkway Series #370 18 x 36 oil SOLD
The walkway at the Peaks is a great addition to the landscape around the lake. The light in the late afternoon last fall was wonderful against the thalo blue background of the mountain. This new painting and others will be on display at Second Helpings Gallery in February. I will have several large paintings in the show; the two to one ratio of these panoramic canvases bring out the best in the landscape. Make plans to see the show if you are in Roanoke.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

The Language of Love

ParkwaySeries #369 18 x 36 oil sold

"The earth speaks, but....without words. For you see, the earth speaks in the language of love. Its voice is in...a new leaf, the feel of a water-worn stone, the color of evening sky...the sound of the night wind...." Steve Van Matre. I love Liza Field's quotes...she and those she admires always seem to echo my sentiments.

Monday, January 2, 2012

Anticipating Spring

Parkway Series # 368 16 X 20 oil $320.

In looking through my Peaks of Otter photos, this image of the lake inspired me to paint the misty background contrasted to the dark foreground. I find myself experimenting more with value contrast and soft textures contrasted with harder edged textures.

Treatise on why I create

An artist, musician, craftsman, theatrical director, performer, all know that the human heart longs for truth, goodness, and beauty. If we can create that sense of longing, we capture our audience in the creative experience. In Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz, Frank creates a magical story about longing for home. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is a plea by a young girl to find that place of rest, a home in which to feel safe. St. Augustine said "our hearts are restless until we find our rest in God". Ennio Morricone, the Italian composer, expressed his faith through his music. He sat before a painting of Jesus every day and prayed for an hour before beginning his day. His composition "The Mission" transports the listener to another place, another time, another dimension of reality - an eternal home- a celebration of beauty. My goal in painting is to draw the viewer into a higher sense of reality and to feel that sense of longing and to hopefully realize that longing is ultimately for the eternal home, Heaven.