Every time I come home from the library with a big heavy art book, I find yet another wave of inspiration!
This past visit reintroduced me to the work of Grandma Moses. When I was a child Grandma Moses was one of my favorite artists. I believe it’s because there is just so darn much to look at! Her paintings tell stories about her life, where she lived and how she felt about things. As an adult I still look at all of the detail with wonder and amazement. But now I realize how valuable these paintings are historically. They document life on a farm during the early 19oo’s. People rode horses, hung laundry, quilted, canned, & gardened. We may have forgone some of those traditions in the name of technology, but the idea of documenting one’s memories, great loves and surroundings seems like a valuable endeavor.
Worth a try right?
For those who know South County, Rhode Island where I live, they know it’s not just a town we love, it’s an area.
Because Rhode Island is such a small state, everything is a hop, skip and a jump. South County is a region of the state. It is where you find the most sea-shore.
In my painting, I combined 5 towns into one. The theme is Autumn in South County so I took all the different things I love to do and wrapped them all into one. It may not be technically accurate, but it is what I am considering a memory painting.
When I look at this painting I will think of how gorgeous the sailboats are as you drive over the Jamestown & Newport bridges. How quiet all the towns are after the tourists have gone home. I think of Galilee, where you can watch the lobsterman head out to sea. Off in the distance are the Beavertail and Narragansett Lighthouses. Center left is historic Casey Farm. This is where Rhode Island Red chickens are raised. Dead center is “The Tower” or some locals call it “The Tow-ah”. The longer you live here, the more reasons you find to never pass the tower. Meaning you never leave South County! Hey want to go to Boston? Providence? Connecticut? Nope. too far most locals would say. “We’ll just stay here.” I used to think this was one of the oddest things, now I find myself one of them. In Jamestown, across from Watson Farm is where I go to see the large hay bails. They look like giant jelly rolls randomly strewn across the field. North Kingstown is where I go apple picking and by the time the fall is over, I will have most likely taken my kids to 4 different farm festivals filled with hayrides, corn mazes, homemade French fries and pumpkin picking. I also added my little town. we are all sad when Brickley’s ice cream closes for the winter. I included our Neighborhood Guild, playground and bike path too.
My final thought on autumn is of course Halloween. This year my son is going to be a court Jester skeleton and my daughter Cleopatra. I stuck them in the hay wagon since they are the ones that inspire me to get outdoors and enjoy it all!
This painting is a 10×20 inch watercolor. I might just have to create memory paintings of the other three seasons too!
Thanks for the memories Grandma Moses. I find your ideas delightful!
