Blue Ridge, Daily Painter: Janet Wimmer: November 2012

Sunday, November 25, 2012

October Beauty

Parkway Series #397 12 x 16 oil Sold

Parway Series #398 12 x 16 oil Sold

Several weeks ago, my "plein air" painting group got together and painted on the Parkway in the late afternoon. I was able to finish two paintings on location around milepost 100. #397 is from the Quarry overlook and #398 is from the Great Valley overlook. I am so glad we got in our last outing of the year while the weather was still good. Looking forward to the Spring already!

Visual Memories

Parkway Series #396 12 x 16 oil SOLD

Another version of Raven's Roost (milepost 10) was requested by an admirer, of the beautiful Parkway vistas, who now lives in Dallas, Texas. I am so thankful to live in Blue Ridge, Virginia and to be able to send visual memories of this area to people all over the world. Thanks so much, Brittany, for this commission.

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.