Tag Archives: country living

Spring flowers

Posted on June 1, 2014 | 6 comments

June Roses by the Woodshed, 12x16, oil on canvas, Kit Miracle

June Roses by the Woodshed, 12×16, oil on canvas, Kit Miracle

Spring flowers are almost a cliche. It’s difficult to paint them without getting too saccharine. But that is why we love them, isn’t it? Part of my spring busyness, as mentioned in an earlier post, is that I get carried away when I’m at the nursery. I always buy too much and then have to plant everything. This particular flowerbed is out by our woodshed and is probably the oldest one on the property. I think the rock wall was actually a base for a chicken coop, if I remember correctly what the former owner told us. The yucca and the weigila were already there but I’ve planted everything else. It’s always a fight between me and the wild critters who have eaten plenty of expensive perennials over the years. Since this flowerbed is furthest from the house, it generally gets the least attention so the plants have to be pretty hardy.

I painted this 12 x 16 oil yesterday morning. I love the strathing light. There was a nice breeze and low humidity so it was a pleasure to be at the easel again.

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Posted in art, country living, plein air painting

Tagged art, country living, kit miracle, oil painting

Spring Busyness

Posted on May 27, 2014 | 2 comments

Beginning around March, outdoor work really kicks up here in the country. This amounts to cleaning up debris left over from the winter, tidying flowerbeds, trimming dead branches, etc. Then preparing the garden patch and beds for planting. While it’s rewarding when it’s finished, at times I wish I lived in a condo near a big park. Well, not really but it is tiring.

This is also one of the most beautiful times outdoors here in southern Indiana. The trees start sporting a haze of pink and purple buds, understory trees like Dogwood and Redbud assault the eyes. Other times of the year, you wouldn’t even notice their scrawny selves. Spring also displays some of the most beautiful shades of greens from lime green to sea blue. By June, the woods and fields display a pretty even state of crayon green. Not my favorite color, I admit. Strange for a landscape painter.

This is also the time of year when I’m torn between my “have to” garden work and my vagabond painter self who just wants to toss the gear into the car and take off. I usually manage a bit of both.

Below are an assortment of a variety of spring paintings, some quite small at only 8 x 10, which is far smaller than my usual sizes. And, I’ll admit, while it’s always a joy to dive into the spirit of painting, the results are not always so great. Well, I tell myself, I always learn something. Even if it’s only something of what not to do next time. As usual, I always welcome your comments and feedback. Don’t be shy.

One of the most interesting colors is the limey-greenish-yellow of fields of wild mustard. I spotted this field one day with a dark grey storm rolling in which really set off the yellow. I did the first one from memory but it looks more like a Van Gogh spin-off. Later I went back and painted it from life. I think I like the second one better.

Abbett’s Field 12 x 16 oil on canvas – from memory

Abbett’s Field from life, 8 x 10, oil

This is a creek that I pass on my drive to work. Mostly attracted to the reflection in the water which is always a challenge. Again, from memory.

Creek near St. Anthony, 8 x 10, oil

And another drive-by painting of a farm with the distant blue hills, hazy sunrise and pond reflection.

Farm at sunrise on a hazy day, 12 x 16, oil

And this painting was started outdoors then brought inside. White oak trees have the most interesting spring green color with racemes of flower/pods. I didn’t quite capture it but it’s a good start. Since it’s near the house, I will try to paint it under other conditions and seasons.

White oak in spring with dogwoods, 18 x 24, oil

The final painting that I just completed is a goat farm that I pass each day. I love the evening shadows. They usually have about 30 goats but I thought that would be overkill.

The Goat Farm 12 x 16, oil

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Posted in country living, oil painting, plein air painting

Tagged country living, kit miracle, landscapes, oil painting, spring landscapes

Spring campfire

Posted on March 15, 2014 | Comments Off

It was a balmy spring day here. After the artic blast of a long winter, it felt great to bask in the sun, reading a book with a hot cup of tea. The peepers (frogs) were tuning up in the bottoms by the creek. My crocuses are finally in bloom and the promise of spring is not far off.

: Campfire with the full moon overhead.

Both of my boys were home today so tonight they decided to start a campfire and stretch out the evening. There is something primitive about gathering around a fire at night with other humans. It always grabs me in my innermost self.

A few toasted marshmallows. My granddaughter delighted with the “fireworks.” Our new puppy got tired and put himself to bed.

Country life is nice. Now I have to go shower the smoke out of my hair.

Two brothers.

Campfire fireworks.

How long have humans been gathering around a campfire?

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Posted in country living

Tagged camp fire, country living

A birdseye view

Posted on September 19, 2013 | Comments Off

My apologies for not posting much recently. I’ve been traveling for three out of the past four weeks. But…have much material for painting so that is encouraging.

As I was flying home from Austin, TX last weekend, my plane happened to go over my own house! This is the first time that has happened. Living here in rural southern Indiana, it was a real treat to see the area from the air…and humbling. Lake Patoka looks so small…and it’s over 9,000 acres! I’ve circled our farm on here. We all look so small from that altitude. And it makes me think that our petty squabbles are small, too.

View of our farm from the air

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Posted in country living, opinion

Tagged country living, kit miracle, old house

Is it or isn’t it?

Posted on July 16, 2013 | Comments Off

Female bobcat early morning.

We moved the deer cam up into the woods. In addition to deer, squirrels, etc., we caught this photo. I think it’s a female bobcat which typically weigh between 15 and 22 pounds. Unfortunately, the photo was taken at dawn, around 7:45 on Sunday so it’s in a grey light, not either day or night. It’s about twice as big as a house cat (which don’t last too long in these woods with so many coyotes around). If you zoom in on the photo, you’ll see that the legs have bands and that the back legs are longer than the front giving the bobcat its characteristic cheetah-like walk. Anyway, stay tuned. There may be more pix to come.

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Posted in animals, country living

Tagged bobcat, country living, deer cam

Night visitors

Posted on July 5, 2013 | Comments Off

Living out in the near wilderness, we are often beset with furry critters set on eating our produce. Our 90 acres is more like a big park than a real farm. We don’t mind sharing but…there’s plenty for the animals to eat without invading the garden and orchards.

Recently we noticed that something was munching on the fallen apples. So we set up the deer cam in the orchard. My goodness, but there is a LOT of activity out there. Plenty of deer, lots of raccoons (and babies), and one slinky coyote. This isn’t counting all the rabbits and squirrels that set off the camera.

And for those of you who think raccoons are cute little masked bandits, think again. They are vicious creatures who just enjoy the pleasure of killing a whole flock of chickens in a single night.

Anyway, we’re really trying to capture a photo of a bobcat or mountain lion rumored to be living in these parts. We’ll move the deer cam into the woods soon and see what we will see.

Day visitors – a whole herd of deer munching on peaches 8:45 a.m.

Big buck 10:15 p.m.

Raccoon stealing bait from trap 5:08 a.m.

Wylie Coyote 1:43 p.m.

Evening muncher 6:45 p.m.

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Posted in animals, country living, Uncategorized

Tagged country living, coyote, deer, deer cam, kit miracle, old house, orchard, raccoons

Distractions

Posted on May 22, 2013 | Comments Off

As an artist, I have many distractions. Don’t we all? With a large yard and garden, this time of year finds me outdoors most evenings and weekends. Yes, I’d rather be painting but sometimes I have to do some other stuff. Work for one. Gardening.

Swifts in corner of my studio porch

But this spring, as the past three springs, a family of swifts have taken up residence on the porch of my summer-kitchen studio. I don’t know why they choose this particular corner as there are plenty of other good spots – woodshed, shop, eves, …yes, even birdhouses. So they get touchy as I go in and out of my studio which puts a bit of a damper on my painting activities, especially at night. I even covered the window with a black drape so I wouldn’t scare them. Sometimes I go into the studio by the side entrance although mostly I forget to unlock that door.

Also, I love to garden. Well, I love the results of gardening…not particularly the labor that goes into making it happen. But it beats my hours at a desk so who should complain? My husband plants a little spring garden – lettuces, kale, onions, asparagus, tomatoes, basil. And I plant the big garden, about a quarter of an acre. Tomatoes, peppers, beans (those durn rabbits), peas, squashes, corn, sweet potatoes, more basil…and loads of sunflowers. In the winter when I’m having a nice vegetable soup or some homemade salsa, I think of all the sunshine that has been captured in my vegetables. Maybe monetarily it isn’t worth the work, but it is to the spirit and soul.

View from the patio towards the big garden

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Posted in country living, garden, old house

Tagged country living, kit miracle, old house

Noise

Posted on May 22, 2013 | Comments Off

As this blog isn’t totally about being an artist, I thought I’d talk about country life today.

This evening I was sitting on my patio listening to the sounds of the day winding down. For those of you who live in the city, I know you think you live in a chaotic and noisy environment. But those of us who live in the country also have the noise and chaos…just a bit different.

This evening as I was sitting on my patio, I tried to identify all the sounds that I could.

Crickets in the garlic chives
Birds – chickadees, cardinals, goldfinches, titmouse, two kinds of woodpeckers, mourning doves, and even the stupid starlings in the gutters
Peepers (frogs) in the lowlands
Diesel engines of the train about a half mile away
Neighbor’s son revving up his truck’s engine then taking off
Far away highway sounds
Jet high overhead
Cat meowing in the shop telling me that it’s too early to be shut up for bedtime
Wind in the trees overhead
Bumblebees in the honeysuckle

Plenty of noise…just different. You just have to listen.

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Posted in country living, Uncategorized

Tagged country living, kit miracle

Choosing a painting subject

Posted on April 21, 2013 | Comments Off

A simple spring subject. Oil on canvas, 11x14

A simple spring subject. Oil on canvas, 11×14

I’ve often been asked how I decide what to paint. To me, the answer is obvious. Just as writers are advised to “paint what you know,” so, too, should painters. What interests you? Do you have a passion or special message? For me, just walking out the door will often suggest a subject. In fact, I once had an exhibit which was solely painted from “my 90 acres,” i.e., everything and everyone was from the home place. That was a little challenging as I do get out and about, but it was a good exhibit.

This painting that I completed yesterday is a scene just out my studio door. The dog and some spring bushes. Pretty simple. However, if you look back at some of the famous painters of the past century, regional artists or French Impressionists, some of their best work was of ordinary daily scenes. I don’t live near the ocean or the Rocky Mountains, so my usual subjects are the soft hills here in southern Indiana, small villages, flower gardens, vegetables, my favorite people and places. Try taking a look around your own home town with new eyes. You’ll be surprised at subjects which suggest themselves. Good luck!

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Posted in 100 dollar paintings, animals, country living, painting instruction

Tagged art, country living, kit miracle, oil painting, painting instruction, plein air

Hunting season

Posted on November 18, 2012 | Comments Off

Deer hunting season started here yesterday. This is with guns. Bow season is a lot longer. Lots of booms in the woods. I stay close to the house, in the studio. No biking for me for a few weeks.

When I lived in the city, I always felt sorry for poor Bambi being shot by the big mean hunters. Since I’ve lived here in the country for over 25 years, I’ve had a total reversal of attitude. The white tail deer was totally wiped out in this state and only reintroduced in the 1940s. Without predators, the population has exploded. No matter what your thoughts about hunting, something has to be done. (NO, I do NOT want wolves to be reintroduced!)

Deer ravish the understory forest growth, decimating native plant populations. They can jump any fence and are a huge concern for farmers’ crops. Overpopulation make them susceptible to many diseases, some harmful to humans. But worst of all are the significant road hazards they cause. Rarely does our daily paper not report at least one deer vs auto accident. Usually this time of year it’s two or three. Between my husband and two sons, they have hit a total of six deer, once two at a one time. Of course, that car was totaled but fortunately no one was hurt.

Venison is also a very lean meat. All of the local hunters I know actually eat what they kill, or even take the meat to the local food bank. I don’t know anyone around here who is a trophy hunter although there is plenty bragging when a big buck is bagged.

Our ninety acres is mostly a big park, not much of a farm other than the garden and some fields we rent out. However, we don’t like trespassers and only allowed limited hunting on the property. Most city folks have no idea whose property they are on or whether or not there is a house behind that copse of trees. We’d rather not take chances with armed (and often drunk) idiots.

Anyway, life in the country is not always bucolic or quiet. It’s more often man against nature…and nature is winning.