It’s been a busy around here I apologize for not visiting everyone’s blogs, but throughout this afternoon I will do my best.
Hillside Fiddling, an oil pastel (9×12) was painted on heavy card stock paper. What started as a quiet field with an incredible cloud structure, soon turned into something quite different. The textured paper had a bit of a slick coating on it, which didn’t allow the oil pastels to adhere properly and led to much bleeding. Thank goodness there are only 8 sheets left in my supply – this paper is not a good surface for oil pastels.
Well plans changed as the cloud structure didn’t pan out, so I decided to take an opportunity to paint this fiddler and her violin. I don’t paint figures that often, let alone a violin – ha, a good exercise but that’s about it. Click onto the image for a larger view.
Several reference images from Rosemary Clark and Freda Nichols Austin both are artists and amazing photographers from pmp.
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Oil Pastels by Mary 
Okay. Now THIS is lovely!!! Well, all of your works are, but especially this one!
Thank you Eva – glad you enjoyed the painting! Have a beautiful weekend.
Thank you! The same to you!!
I love this one, Mary. A redhead! A violin! Yeah! Also, I love the yellow in the sky.
Love your response to this painting Brenda – got to love those redheads! This was one of those scenes to just go have some fun. Rarely will you see me put such brights in the sky, but in this case it adds to the magical feel of the scene. Thanks so much!!
Very magical. I love it!
This gives me a fun and carefree feel. A good thing Mary!! 🙂
Thanks Susan, it was fun scene to paint.
Such a beautiful artwork, made me smile.
Thank you Joel, appreciate it!
I love the warmth of emotion in this painting!
Thank you Fiona, was a fun scene to paint.
Always a pleasure to experience your art! Wonderful Mary! 🙂
Thanks so much Kathy, great to see you again – really appreciate it!
beautiful choice of colours! and when I see that, i have my head in the clouds! ♪♫♫
Thank you so much Dsaquarelles for your engaging comments – love it! Have a wonderful weekend.
Wow, this one is so striking, Mary! Such freedom and movement in this piece! Love the colors and I can feel the wind. Wonderful sky, I could go on and on, but this is a transportive piece. Everyone needs to feel on top of the mountain, and this one does it. Thank you! I needed this today! 💛💛💛💛💛💛
Thanks Laura – I totally enjoyed your thoughts and feedback on this painting. It’s always a compliment when the viewer can get caught up in the feel of the piece and you are right there. Really appreciate your enthusiastic response to the painting! Have yourself a beautiful day ~
It made me feel so wonderful this morning, as I used to play the violin as a little kid. I really needed to feel an energy burst this morning, Mary, and your painting gave me that feeling. Thank you. 💛
This is so sweet. Amazing how you work the op’s on the small details! Great movement in the sky and then repeated in her skirt.
Thank you my friend – love that you felt the movement and quiet energy flowing through the scene. Appreciate it!! I worry about the fires near you – hope you are staying safe.
Wonderful, Mary. And I’m sure I know the young lady’s name – Joy.
My very best,
Paul
Thank you Paul and now I can’t seem to forget about “Joy.” Yes that name is perfect for the scene – awesome!
This is a truly charming image….evocative of gentle and loving times….thank you…Enjoy your day.. Janet. 🙂
Thank you Janet – I really enjoy your feedback and thoughts on this piece. It’s one of those peaceful and isolated feelings of complete joy – we all need that hillside moment.
Indeed we do….:)
Another super work, Mary! Glad to see so many people writing excellent reviews!
Thank you Fabio, your comments are always enjoyed and appreciated!
Always a pleasure to see and contemplate your beautiful works! Thanks so much, Mary! 🙂
I think there was a time not so long ago when you said you didn’t really do portraits and then you did a few and lo and behold you were GOOD at them! And now you say you “don’t paint figures much” and lo and behold, THEY’RE LOTS OF FUN! Sound of Music was my very first thought, but somehow this is even more……I see that 16 going on 17 (with the movement in the dress as if she’s just spun around and around) and the youthful excitement of first love (looking up at the skies thinking how magnificent life is) and the abundance of nature in there too. How’s that for an evocative painting? I think it’s pretty darn good!
Wow A! now that is quite the review and I loved it. A whole lot of promise in this young lady’s life – she has much ahead of her and if she holds onto that youthful joy, well the world is her oyster. Thanks so much for your encouraging support in my art journey.
This si really lovely Mary and reminds me of a photo of my granddaughter which I posted a while ago, minus the fiddle of course. 🙂 https://adinparadise.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/photo-challenge-free-spirit/
So awesome Sylvia – went out and saw your granddaughters’ photograph, I’d say we were of the same thought. Thank you so much!!
Miss Mary
Your work never disappoints
with love
uncle john
Thank you Uncle John!!
Beautiful, Mary! Love the colors in the painting. I can feel her joy. 🙂
Thank you Amy! Awesome compliment when you can feel the scene – love it. Thanks very much ~
I love all of your paintings, but this one…WOW! Love it, Mary!
Thanks so much Jill! I’m glad you enjoyed the painting, the young fiddler was a perfect fit for the hillside scene – a freeing sense of joy.
Beautiful x
Thank you!!
I think you should do it more often because you’ve done it beautifully! I loved the flow of her skirt…it’s so natural… 🙂
Thank you Maniparna – it was fun to paint something a little different.
Well, you may not do it often, but you sure do it well. Beautiful. 🙂
Thanks very much Judy!
I love this painting! It’s so beautiful and makes me think of a free spirit just like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music. 🙂
Thank you Mamie! I was going to name the painting, The Sounds of the Hill – but was too close to The Sound of Music, so I went another route. Thank you my friend.
Haha, I love the name you chose!
This isn’t your usual kind of subject, Mary, but I think it’s lovely, and very evocative….like a poetic story that wants to be told…..
I knew you’d be onto it – yes, Cynthia that is the feel I was hoping for. A magical moment in the field, imagine seeing this young lady playing her violin out in a field by herself – would be quite a sight. Thanks so much. I know it’s quite different from my normal, but once the other painting didn’t work out this is what I started to envision. Glad you enjoyed it.
Apart from the violin, there’s something musical about this composition–perhaps it’s the sensual glissando of the violinist’s skirt, the ostinato of the ochrous grasses, or the pizzicato of the melodious sky…
I’m going to check my dictionary and be right back!! Seriously, I thought the yellows and ochre was going to be too much, but as I worked out the scene the warmth seemed to fit what I was after. btw I do like the description “ostinato” to describe the young lady. Do you think the sky has that pizzicato feel to it? I like your description Prospero, very fun indeed – thank you for brightening my day!!
Reminds of what could have been Christina’s world.
Thank you so much Lulu for your awesome comment and compliment – appreciate it! Guess what one of the finalist foods at the TX State Fair is this year? Chicken Friend Lobster – can you believe it?
Crazy!
I know, right?!
What a nice surprise to see the fiddler in your field. 🙂 Looks like she’s getting inspiration from the sky!
Thank you Geralyn, different right? Something fun and away from the more serious stuff that always hits my canvas.
It’s beautiful, Mary! I love your color palette!
Thanks Sibella! The actual scene was more of a gray day, but I wanted something that really brightened up the field and sky. I was leery about using so much yellow, but finally just went with it.
You’re welcome, Mary!
I think you did well by choosing yellow and I love the sky!
Thanks Sibella!
Gorgeous! Incredibly beautiful, and I love the colors in this.
So generous my friend. Thank you very much Nicodemas!
🙂