Monday 11 March 2013

Autumn Almanac

Oil on Board, 12 x 17 inches  SOLD

As I sit in the studio, late at night, with the snow driving past the window almost horizontally in Spring, with temperatures down to -4C, here's an Autumnal scene I've painted for a client, just as a reminder of things to come, hopefully with a Spring and Summer before it!

This is near the village of Lyndon, a few miles from here, where the Oaks and Limes provide this glorious burst of russety colours each year as the sun shines through them, throwing those lovely shadows across the road.  You have to be a bit careful with the colours and not make them too hot, otherwise it's not convincing.  Autumn is, after all, a time of rest and change, when the trees and plants can no longer photosynthesise as the days get shorter.  looking almost directly into the sunlight, the trees in the distance still take on a bluish tone, despite all the warm colours of the leaves, and this provides a nice foil for the yellows and oranges.

I've called it Autumn Almanac after that great song written by that quintessentially English songwriter Ray Davies, frontman of the Kinks.......go on, you know you want to....

From the dew-soaked hedge creeps a crawly caterpillar  
When the dawn begins to crack, it's all part of my autumn almanac  
Breeze blows leaves of a musty-colored yellow  
So I sweep them in my sack, yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
 
Friday evenings, people get together  
Hiding from the weather, tea and toasted  
Buttered currant buns, can't compensate 
For lack of sun because the summer's all gone
 
La la la la, oh my poor rheumatic back  
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac  
La la la la, oh my autumn almanac  
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac
 
I like my football on a Saturday 
Roast beef on Sundays, all right 
I go to Blackpool for my holidays  
Sit in the open sunlight
 
This is my street and I'm never gonna to leave it 
And I'm always gonna to stay here if I live to be ninety-nine 
'Cause all the people I meet, seem to come from my street 
And I can't get away because it's calling me, come on home 
Hear it calling me, come on home
 
La la la la, oh my autumn almanac  
Yes, yes, yes, it's my autumn almanac  
La la la la, oh my autumn almanac  
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes
 
Bop bop bop bop bop, whoa 
Bop bop bop bop bop, whoa


7 comments:

  1. Beautiful painting Peter. I`m sure the customer will love it, I would. All the best Peter.
    Vic.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you very much Vic - yes, it's had the seal of approval! Cheers, Peter

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  2. Hi Peter,
    I have just discovered your beautiful blog. This painting is just amazing - you have captured the light through the trees perfectly. I feel as if I'm there, I can practically smell it!

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    1. Hi Wendy - if you get close to the screen, you can smell the oil in the paint! I appreciate your comment very much, thank you!

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  3. That's a lovely painting Peter, I've got a son called Lyndon. I didn't know there was a place called Lyndon too.

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    1. Thank you Paul. This Lyndon is named after the Lime trees around Lyndon Hall, an ancient stately home.

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  4. Hola, hemos agregado un trackback (enlace hacia este artículo) en el nuestro ya que nos pareció muy interesante la información detallada pero no quisimos copiarla, sino que nuestros lectores vengan directamente a la fuente. Gracias... realizar una consulta al dicom en chile

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