Behind the Scenes with Susan Abell

On a morning when fog seemed to engulf the entire landscape, surprisingly I found inspiration for a recent work.  Time of Reflection developed from observing the moody quality the mist created over neighborhood ponds. These two small ponds offer ample painting inspiration throughout the year with each seasonal change. While walking past on a winter morning recently, I was struck by the veil-like appearance the fog brought to the trees bordering the ponds. A bit of sunlight suddenly broke through the heavy cloud cover in the distance creating a bit of golden color to the lingering autumn leaves. If you notice the focal point in the distance where clouds appear to touch the treetops, you may see this effect.

The familiar setting could be considered rather gloomy at the onset, but it still seemed rather intriguing.  Using a muted, earthy palette to emphasize a foggy morning,  I endeavored to capture the subdued but peaceful setting. Painting the scene while appealing, proved to be somewhat challenging. Beginning with an underpainting of a grayed shade of blue to focus on the ambiance, I applied many thick, impasto oil paint layers with palette knives-my favorite painting tool. The heavy cloud cover received special emphasis with this technique as did the reflections in the pond. Lastly, shade of brown, yellow, and green were used to paint in the various hardwood trees and tall loblolly pines that border the pond. As a final step, a glaze of thinner pale bluish-purple was used to reflect the fog hovering in the distance. 

The overall aim was to offer my interpretation of a foggy morning in a serene setting.  Inspiration is not always dictated by the most ideal weather conditions. It was interesting to capture a scene from my daily life in a different way.

This storm shall pass.....

Ever found yourself in the midst of the "storms of life"?

The story behind this painting represents just that. Inspired by a pasture near my home I pass by often at various times of day. I find the cloud patterns  so interesting over wide open spaces like this. In this particular instance, a threatening thunderstorm was appearing to be quickly approaching on a nice, sunny day over the usually peaceful pasture. This is a clear metaphor for life that we all can relate to at one time or another.

Sound familiar? Just when you are coasting peacefully along, some storm or event hits you hard.

But hang tight.....there is a band of light in the distance.  You can take heart and know that this storm will soon blow over like difficult times.

Or at least any damage it may inflict will not shake you since your roots run deep.

Positive signs of encouragement can be found most anywhere-even in an approaching thunderstorm.

May you weather your storms of life well!

“Cat: Where are you going?
Alice: Which way should I go?
Cat: That depends on where you are going.
Alice: I don’t know.
Cat: Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”

Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Do you ever feel like Alice? A little directionless…like a ship without a rudder? I would venture to say we have all felt uncertain at one time or another in our life journeys, especially if we are endeavoring to "branch out" in some way.

For many of us creative types, the uncertainty as to which step to take next is a large part of an entrepreneur's everyday life.  Why like Alice, I have felt perplexed on occasion several times a day....and that is only before noon!

Quite honestly, it does take a lot of fortitude and determination to forge ahead on a given path even when there isn't much guarantee of success. But if you are like me that just fuels you to not give up. Remaining positive and keeping the faith in the midst of challenges is key.

As we near the end of another month in a new year, it might be easy for some to harbor regrets with regards to those unfilled New Year's goals or dreams. Take heart, the year is still young and you can always "begin again" as many solo entrepreneurs, like myself, do every day. Besides,there are many ways to be successful and every step toward a goal is something to be celebrated.

Recently, I began a new painting series with a journey theme in mind. The inspiration behind this collection might seem a bit mundane at first. As my husband and I were traveling down the interstate on a rather seemingly gray day, I was struck by the clouds moving ahead. The usual storm clouds were in the foreground, but every so often a glimpse of the sun would peek through, clearly a hopeful sign.

Sounds a lot like life's ups and downs, doesn't it? While observing the clouds and snapping pictures of the scenes, I was reminded of the reason for the trip. My mother-in-law had passed away a few months earlier. We were journeying once again to her home to work on the clearing out process along with other family members.

Observing the clouds reminded me of her and her constant positive, faith-based outlook throughout her life, despite health difficulties and personal tragedy that clouded her life. Her lasting impact is monumental as she stayed true to her purpose in throughout life's journey.

After reviewing my photos of the day, I knew I wanted to paint a series based on this uplifting journey and message.  I can just imagine her  saying quite emphatically, "Journey On!" 

Thanks for reading!