Behind the Scenes with Susan Abell

It's a sunny summer morning in the park. Excitement seems to feel the air as park-goers hurriedly make their way through the spacious grounds of Piedmont Park in Atlanta. Nearby, the Peachtree Road Race, an annual Fourth of July event,  has just gotten under way. The sounds of cheering fans, lined up along the race route, can be heard beyond the trees. For a few short hours, this bustling metropolitan city  has slowed down long enough to celebrate this momentous day.

Making Tracks was inspired by the view I observed in the park on this day prior to heading over to the street view of the race. I was especially captivated by the tracks of footprints still visible on the grass indicating the flurry of recent activity. The contrasting clouds made this scene equally compelling as the sun was beginning to peek through the trees. The large, ancient oak trees along the wide expanse of grass seemed to welcome everyone into this inviting park on this wonderful day.

You never where or when inspiration will strike-even on a holiday!

Nature is painting for us pictures of infinite beauty. John Ruskin

What is the most peaceful place you can imagine? If your idea includes a peaceful, gurgling creek, waterfalls, and stirring mountain vistas, then you can easily relate to the inspiration behind this piece. A day in nature can certainly offer respite from our everyday lives in a most welcoming way.

One of my favorite places to visit offers a time of renewal in nature, as well as unlimited  painting inspiration. A recent return visit to Amicalola State Park in the North Georgia Mountains resulted in an amazing experience.  After climbing the strenous 425 steps to the top of the falls, my husband and I were rewarded with stunning views of the lush valley below. Not surprising, considering that at 729 feet, it is the highest waterfall in Georgia!

Following a very careful descent on the trail side of the falls,  I took a number of photos to fully capture the views.  The lower creek view really struck me for its quiet simplicity. Ultimately, that inspired this impressionist painting created with acrylics and inks in unconventional shades of blue and purple to replicate the light and shadows of a very peaceful place. I can almost hear that creek now.

What is your 'go-to' place for inspiration?

A Sense of Place: Where's the inspiration?

It was a seemingly ordinary day. Slightly overcast sky...not really sunny...

perfect for a landscape artist seeking inspiration.   

I grabbed my camera and quickly slid out of the car. Only a few other visitors could be seen in the distance.

Moving toward the bank,  the soothing sounds of tumbling water could be heard.

Is there any more relaxing sound in nature than gurgling water? Simply blissful.

Soaking in the peaceful nature scene, I snapped photos from different angles.

Relying on nature for painting inspiration can be challenging. Sometimes it is necessary to simplify.

While the entire scene is beautiful, not everything will reasonably fit into a completed painting.

Later, when I began to sift through my photos, I knew the shoals would be front and center in the composition.

The watercolor painting above I call Crossing the Shoals was the end result.

With so much subject matter to draw from here-this scene would need to captured again.

What's next?

A change in season often calls for landscape scenes, capturing the changing landscape with a nod to the changing light.

I have set myself a goal of capturing as many Georgia State Parks and well known places of interest as subjects in nature-inspired paintings.  

Crossing the Shoals was the first a such a series, depicting local venues like Harris Shoals Park near my home in Oconee County, Georgia.

Below is a  watercolor painting resulting from this local inspiration.

This is a familiar park where my son played Little League baseball. Picnics following field trips were common here too during my days as an elementary teacher.

It seemed only fitting to begin this nature painting adventure in my own "neck of the woods".

Not only are the shoals a compelling subject, but the surrounding bank of back lit trees are especially captivating.

What most inspires you in your 'neck of the woods'?