One day I saw a spectacular photograph taken by Mitch Zeissler, whose blog Exploratorius provides us with amazing images taken through his lens. This day Mitch posted a most gorgeous scene he shot on his commute to work http://exploratorius.us/2013/10/18/slice-of-light/. Could you imagine passing by natures best each day? I asked Mitch if I could use his photograph as a reference for a landscape painting, he graciously said yes. Thank you Mitch I truly enjoyed painting this scene.
As my first landscape of the season, here is my interpretation of his awesome shot. This oil pastel (14×11) was painted on a gessoed prepared hardboard with a medium flat gray acrylic underpainting, which provided a beautiful grayish hue undertone to the painting. We have finally experienced warmer temperatures, and that made for very slippery oil pastels – I felt like I was learning to paint all over again. There are little specs of bright orange highlights in the tall grasses, but unfortunately I couldn’t capture them with my camera after an hour of trying I gave up (it’s Thursday and I need to start drawing)!
I hope you enjoy the painting, it was a wonderful change of pace for me. BTW, Mitch who lives in around the DC area has provided us with some gorgeous cherry blossom photographs, they are just peaking – check it out!
Oil Pastels by Mary 
Happy Easter Mary
Thank you so much Eunice and the same to you. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
It will be sunny so you know I will 🙂
🙂
The light is captivating! VEry, very beautiful!
Thank you!
You create beautiful art. I am going to have to go back to your site when I have more time to really dig into it but I love it so far. Thanks for sharing your creativity! It’s truly inspiring. 🙂
Thank you Jolyn for visiting my blog and for your nice comments. It’s wonderful to meet you. I’m so glad you enjoyed the paintings.
You’re welcome. Very happy to visit your site. I love creativity in all forms.
Mary, I don’t know if I ever told you this before….but your work always makes me sigh….a very good thing.♥
Great to hear from you Laurie – thank you so much for your beautiful comment. The ultimate compliment for me is when my work has this effect. Thank you!
Mary time after times I enjoy walking into your gallery and see your new creation which give me, us all new life, it is amazing.:-)
So nice to see you Doron, hope you are well. Thank you for your lovely comment – I’m glad the scenes take you to new heights of imagination.
Every painting you do Mary is joy and great inspiration x
Thank you Doron, you know how to make my day!
Mary with great pleasure 🙂
It’s awesome Mary! How lucky I feel to have found you and your gorgeous paintings.
Hi Dorann, somehow thank you isn’t quite adequate for such a beautiful comment. It means a lot that you enjoy my art – thanks for your encouragement.
It’s gorgeous, Mary! Cindy and I both loved your interpretation! Here’s the original, in case anyone wants to see it:
Morning commute into work — Central Maryland (October 2013) iPhone 5S + 30/2.2
And I’ll have new post with your painting as the leading image going up shortly. Beautiful!
Hi Mitch (and Cindy)! Thank you so much for your wonderful comments on the painting, it was a real pleasure to paint – you guys have a wonderful view on your drive into work. Thank you for allowing me to use your photograph, looking forward to your post. Thanks!
those little tendrils of light reaching across the field to illuminate the tips of green leaves in the foreground, a simultaneously serene and dramatic image Mary. just beautiful,
Thank you very much, I really enjoyed reading your description of the aspects of the scene that touched you. Thanks – the painting shows more of the sun’s effect on the fore and middle grasses, just couldn’t get a good representation with the camera. Have a nice weekend!
Hi Mary, I just found your blog via Cynthia Jobin. Your work is amazing! I am itching to try pastels; I just have one or two rather gargantuan obstacles! a) I cant draw for the life of me and b) I have a progressive form of MS which has now decided to take away the use of my right hand. But MS catapulted me into writing poetry which was something I thought I could never do, and I recently read this quote
“To the timid and hesitating everything is impossible because it seems so.” – Sir Walter Scott
So who knows, I could become a famous artist one day!! 😄 i need to take hold of a pastel and draw a line!
Best wishes
Christine
Hi Christine, so nice to meet you and thanks for stopping by – really appreciate it! Love the quote and seems so appropriate for many of us. Very happy to read that you been able to channel your energy into writing, that’s a wonderful thing and I’m looking forward to checking out your blog. You never know what surprises are in store if you try pastels – they may be another great outlet for your creativity. Take care and all my best!
Beautiful painting, Mary! Very nice landscape and light! 🙂
Thanks Calee – appreciate it very much!
Very serene. To me, your placement of the sun on horizon, thus allowing to bright out the blue of the approaching night while shining on the ground cover provides excellent contrasts.
Thanks Frank!
Beautifully done Mary! Impressive, I love the lighting.
Thank you so much Susan, really appreciate it!
Wonderful Mary. The light is absolutely exquisite.
Thanks Don so much, appreciate all your visits and comments. Take care during your break!
A glorious painting for the beginning of your landscape season …….. what a lovely buttery field under a heavenly sky Mary … I feel wrapped in light …
Hurrying off to look at your link ….
Thanks Poppy, so glad you enjoyed this piece. The early lighting is what caught my attention, wish you could see it in person my camera work leaves a lot to be desired. Have a wonderful weekend.
Lovely landscape.
Thanks Gallivanta!
Beautiful painting and scene, Mary! Great job as always. 🙂
Hi Stefano, nice to see you – thanks so much!
Beautiful interpretation of a beautiful photo! You both are extremely talented!
Thanks Rhonda for your comment on compliment – appreciate your support.
I like this, too! 🙂 Smooth, soothing, and sunny!
Hi Uncle Tree nice to meet you. Thanks very much for your nice comment.
It’s so beautiful, Mary… xx
Thanks Marina! Have a wonderful weekend ~
It is indeed spectacular & you interpreted it beautifully, there’s a sense of peace emanating from it!
Thanks very much for your generous comment!
Don’t praise him too much, Mary – his head will swell and he won’t be able to look properly through his viewfinder. 😉
Whaddya reckon, Mitch ?
And Mary – it’s lovely. What else ? – but what happened to Thursday’s Sorrow …?
Thank you M.R. for your nice comment. Only my second time missing my Thursdays Drawing, will work on Sorrow today ~