Usually I am the teacher, but sometimes my daughter Element wants to teach as well! She made the beautiful painting featured in this blog, and showed me how she did it!
Remember to Like and Subscribe!
The water at Burns Valley Herbals and Retreat that flows beautifully through the woods, has been named Stone Creek, for the many stones you can find there.
Stone Creek houses many little waterfalls and surrounds a few little islands! These islands have been cleared and named as well… Solomons Stone Island, and Circle Stone Island. Each island has been cleared so that people can camp and enjoy the water all around them.
My friend Eli ArtSparkle came to visit last weekend and I took her out to the woods and let her pick the spot we would sit for our artmaking. This specific spot is a beautiful place to sit on huge rocks that Brenda and Theo arranged.
Having Eli here really reinforced that my idea of a Plein Air workshop here at Burns Valley is something that I must plan! I can only imagine what beautiful work would be created from having many different artists here, inspired by the land.
Please like & subscribe, & click the bell to be notified when I upload my next video!
Every now and then it is important we go outside and sit.
To listen to the wind blow around us, and feel the earth beneath our feet.
Sitting stone is just the place to do that at Burns Valley Herbals and Retreat.
I enjoyed sitting at the bench and painting the mountains!
I am looking forward to when others can enjoy this beautiful space with us!
I feel like the summer solstice will be the perfect time!
The sound of flowing water is so grounding to me.
Sitting in the woods, sun shining down on my face, hearing the birds chirp and the water rushing… food for my soul.
I have walked down to the Flowing Hollow a few times the past month here at Burns Valley Herbals and Retreat. The space has really transformed since March!
When we first arrived, Brenda and Joe had just cleared out the brush, and tree debris. They started laying stones for a pathway next to the little creek, and created an area for a fire pit!
Thanks to the help of many friends, there is now a beautiful space to enjoy a bonfire by the water, you could even hang a hammock and camp down there for the night!
Brenda and I dug out the steps, Austin moved the rocks and created the fire pit, and Theo is building a bridge. We also added a few little fairies and gnomes to live down there!
Water is life, and when structured with intent… it allows life to flourish.
Deciding on a topic for my quarantine art series, I tend to take a minute to listen to what the universe is showing me. I felt drawn to the garden this day…and the beautiful leaves of the mullein plant.
Courage, health, love and protection.
These are things we are all hoping, praying and wishing for during this quarantine time.
Mullein represents all of these things. The leaves of this plant used to be placed into little satchels under one’s pillow to keep away nightmares, and to attract love, health and protection. In fact, it was believed that wearing mullein would ensure fertility, and also keep potentially dangerous animals at bay while in the wilderness. Mullein was also used to help treat respiratory problems, and can be used as toilet paper!
The universe speaks through all things… mullein being synchronistic to COVID-19 in so many ways! Reminding us that nature provides all of our needs, if we are open and willing to listen and receive.
Remember to Like and Subscribe!
The sound of water flowing always brings me back to center. Helping me to let go of all my thoughts and feelings in the moment. Showing me how quickly things change, and how no matter what… life still goes on.
Sitting in the woods at Burns Valley Herbals and Retreat has really given me a deeper realization of how important being in nature is for our being. The sounds of the earth fill my mind and heart, allowing me to be present in each breath. From birds flying overhead, to cows in the valley and peepers in the pond… the sounds of spring help wash away the cold winter.
Spending time in the woods with gratitude for each moment. Being able to see how the brown dead leaves make way for new green growth on the side of the mountain. Water rushing over the mossy rocks. Every now and then finding a back up of leaves and branches that need clearing. Just like our lives… every now and then, seeing how there is a build up of emotion or attachment to things that no longer serve our highest good.
I have been drawn to jump right into the water to clear away what is holding it back from flowing freely. Using this analogy as a reminder to keep my own energy flowing freely. Every now and then, jumping in the water to release, and to celebrate what we’ve let go of and what we have to look forward to.
Moving debris, and rearranging rocks to create a bank where we want to the water to flow. Such is life. Water is life.
Yesterday and today I had the pleasure of attending another Baltimore County public schools Art teacher workshop, Plein Air Painting at Cromwell Valley park.
This park is BEAUTIFUL! A hidden gem for sure. There are beautiful old structures, meadows, many different trees, and a beautiful creek! We found beautiful rocks, river glass, and a mulberry tree!
It was supposed to rain both days, but it held out for us to get two beautiful days to paint plein air.
En plein air (French pronunciation: [ɑ̃ plɛn ɛːʁ], French for outdoors, or plein air painting) is the act of painting outdoors.
My friend Eli and I chose a beautiful spot at the creek that faced lovely rocks!
Normally I paint with acrylics and with an more abstract flair, but these past two days I decided to paint with watercolors. I used Jack Richeson Watercolor palette and I love to results.
One problem I found in the beginning was that I needed to retrain my brain to see the landscape lightest to darkest. I didn’t leave any of the white from the paper in my first painting. So that is something that I really worked on during the second day.
For my second painting I started out very light. It took more time, but I felt less frustrated with trying to get the right values where the light was reflecting.
Overall this workshop has given me an opportunity to hone my skills with using watercolor.
Thanks for another awesome professional development, BCPS!
You must be logged in to post a comment.