Friday, May 18, 2007

IF: Signs of Stillness


I love marshes. There's something calming and serene about them. They're uncluttered by man-no signs sticking up out of the grasses telling us who to vote for or what to buy. The only signs of life are the birds that reside there like Egrets, Herons, Peregrine Falcons and Redwing Blackbirds. There are frogs, of course, and in some areas, otters.

You can sense the stillness of the water reflecting the twilight sky. The ever so gentle "hush" of the grasses when an errant breeze passes through. Perhaps the song of a cricket or two. And all is right with the world.


"Stillness" First in a series of marshes painted last week in the studio. Acrylic on canvas 24"x36" . (I've been hoping for a word to use this for.) Click to enlarge.

65 comments:

  1. Being from South Louisiana I love the marshes too!

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  2. ooh! it is lovely! great painting.

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  3. The stillness is so calming....Thanks, this was a wonderful experience. You do such beautiful work. -kate : )

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  4. I love marshes, too! SO much! I was riding in the car with a friend and kept pointing out all the marshes and he finally said, what do yoiu see in those ugly muddly places--and I said, ugly? Oh my gosh, so beautiful.

    Very pretty painting. So serene.

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  5. wow.... this is so beautiful!!

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  6. Great interpretation-- I love marshes too!

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  7. Beautiful, contemplative landscape, Laurel! Thanks for sharing this one!

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  8. Oh, so very nice. I love the purple in the trees, and then again in the bottom section of the marsh water. In the close up I can see the sky's reflection so clearly...and you know how I love your skies!

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  9. Aaaaahhhhhhhhh..... just lovely.

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  10. Wow what a wonderful painting! Truly wonderful!

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  11. It truly is calming. The effect you have created is mezmerising.

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  12. Just simply gorgeous!!!!

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  13. i like it and the texture is great!

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  14. This is a wonderful painting - and certainly NOT typical for the topic.

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  15. this is lovely; a very relaxing image, a place someone would go as thier "happy place"

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  16. lovely, calming piece, love it:)

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  17. They're also great places to dump bodies! (or so I am told)

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  18. This is beautiful. It reminds me of Savannah. How I wish I was back there... thanks for bringing up a great memory.

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  19. Awww, this is beautiful. Love the water surface reflection.

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  20. This feels like CALM. Can I jump right in and stay there? Would you mind if I did?

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  21. beautiful, very calming illo

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  22. This is so gorgeous. beautiful work!

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  23. The sign of peaceable soul in this painting.
    Cata.

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  24. How wonderful a marsh - so relaxing I could sink into your painting! I've never seen a marsh like this one, being from a different country. Ones I've seen are filled with mangrove trees more so than grasses. I can hear the hush you describe when there is a breeze your way and with so many different wildlife species too! :)

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  25. This is so beautiful, Laurel! So peaceful and serene!

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  26. Beautifully done. It’s very contemplative.

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  27. Great painting. I had some marshes near by where I used to live, you captured them well.

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  28. Thanks for the drop in! Love your swamp painting! Soothing and calming to look at, just what I need for my withdrawal symptoms! Cheers!

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  29. this is very calming and enchanting...I like your writing as well...tnx for stopping by...

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  30. this is AWESOME! love your work.

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  31. you have a beauty here... I can sense the quiet...

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  32. Please, it puts fhoto of Madeleine in your Bloggue

    Missing Madeleine!
    Madeleine, MeCann was abduted from Praia da Luz, Portugal on 03/03/07.

    If you have any information, please contact Crimestoppers on
    0800 555 111

    Please Help

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  33. I couldn't agree more. Something sorely lacking in my area anymore. nyhow, what a fantastic idea and a beautiful, warm and tranquil piece.

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  34. Beautiful beautiful- lovely painting. Marshes and swamps of course are a "sign" of healthy ecosystems!

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  35. What a beautiful painting, you have such an amazing range of styles and techniques!
    It is a very calming image, and you capture it really well.

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  36. I really like your new header, I could get lost in those hills-beautiful!
    Your post for "signs" is also beautiful and so calming. Lush and the grass is sweet and full of spring fragrance. Another place to get lost in.

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  37. This is beautiful, Laurel! You have captured the stillness.

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  38. Lush and serene. Love the soft glow of light from beyond the trees.

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  39. green and blue stillness. beautiful painting. also like the new header!

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  40. Hi Laurel, this painting is simply beautiful and serene! I read your profile and learnt that you're an animal lover. No wonder you thanked me for telling people not to wear skins :)

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  41. so beautiful , still and calm. wonderul relaxing painting!

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  42. How beautiful landscape, Laurel :)

    I also love your new layout :D

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  43. you're right about the soft breezes that move the marsh grass and the quiet stillness of the waters...i love the handful of reeds in the foreground water most...your scene could almost be a capture of the South Carolina Lowcountry, where I live. thanx for your nice comments on my IF blogspot!

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  44. So peaceful!!! Lovely piece, Laurel!

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  45. Beautiful, you certainly created the calm atmosphere.

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  46. You really captured that elisive light of the bright overcast day.

    I lived on Casco Bay Maine for years. Great salt marshes nearby. I also like some of the huge freshwater, beaver-created marshes with forests of dead trees.

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  47. Oh, how lovely! I feel calmer just looking at it! ;-)

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  48. Good paitning. Very calm and relaxing scene.

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  49. Laurel, that's really beautiful! I love the water reflecting the sky. It looks so calm and peaceful.

    And thank you very much for your support - I have posted the sketch for signs, but... you'll see what I mean.

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  50. Great painting! I too love the Marshes, its scents, and especially the call of the redwinged blackbird. The painting along with your description was like a mini-vacation, felt like I was there. Thanks.

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  51. A beautiful marsh painting. I love the blending of the greens and the serene atmosphere that you've created. One of my favorite landscape artists is Scott Coulter. Do you know his work? (His web site comes up if you Google his name)

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  52. you have captured the essence of "stillness"...great work and thanks for visiting!

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  53. It is very beautiful...can really feel the stillness...

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  54. Thanks for dropping by. Absolutely love your painting, it strikes a chord with everyone. Fantastic! Diane X

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  55. Wonderful! I love the calmness here.

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  56. This is gorgeous! Great peaceful mood.

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  57. Aiyee, I missed this one! It's beautiful! Fantastic work.

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  58. haaii :) I love the stillness of your paintings it's very calming... :) love the technique too

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