Autumn

Some oil paintings from October and November:

Late-blooming roses.

Autumn Roses, 9 x 7" oil on linen/birch.

A stem of sumac leaves, with the light shining through them.

Sumac Leaf, 7 x 9" oil on linen/birch.

Gathered hickory nuts from the woods.

Hickory Nuts, 8 x 8" oil on linen/birch.

A little study of autumn color, fields and pastures, and a few grazing cows.

Green and Golden, 5 x 7" plein air oil on linen/birch. October 17, 2017.

A blue-sky day along the river. Painted in Alma, Wisconsin.

6 x 8" plein air oil on linen/hardboard. October 19, 2017. Sold

Followed by a cloudy one. Painted in Brownsville, Minnesota.

On the River, 6 x 8" plein air oil on linen/hardboard. October 20, 2017.

In a week's time most of the leaves in the woods were on the forest floor instead of in the canopy.

9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/hardboard. October 25, 2017.

Falling snow and sleet softened the view of the landscape and heightened the color of the green moss and the dark trees in the woods.

10 x 8" plein air oil on linen/birch. October 27, 2017.

There is a particular row of pear trees in the orchard that always turns beautifully red in the fall. I broke off a few twigs before a hard frost robbed the leaves of their vibrant color.

Pear Leaves, 12 x 12" oil on linen/birch.

First snow. It didn't stick around long, but it was beautiful while it lasted.

First Snow, 8 x 10" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 1, 2017.

Another little still life of things gathered in the woods.

Oak Leaf and Acorn, 7 x 10" oil on linen/birch.

The last of the nasturtiums, which had been kept through a few frosts outside already.

Nasturtiums, 8 x 8" oil on linen/birch.

A quick study of the oranges and greens of a cold November evening.

7 x 10" plein air oil and linen/birch. November 9, 2017.

The old frame of a barn along a country road.

9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/hardboard. November 12, 2017.

A study of the familiar sweep of the south-side fields on the home farm. The cold weather has changed the greens, softening and dulling their hues.

Windswept Fields, 9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 13, 2017.

 And a little study of the fields and woods to the north. The colors at dusk.

5 x 7" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 13, 2017.

 A sunshine day in a field of hay.

7 x 10" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 18, 2017.

A day to give thanks. One among many.

7 x 10" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 23, 2017.

Despite a stretch of warmer days, a little bit of ice remained on the shaded edge of the pond.

9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 27, 2017.

 After keeping out during most of the deer hunting season, it was good to get back down amongst the trees again.

7 x 10" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 28, 2017.

One more painting for the month of November. I knew just where I wanted to paint, and went there directly, but I didn't stay there after all. The old draw of the woods kept me wandering and meandering through the trees and up and down hill until the shadows were long and there was only just enough daylight left for an attempt at capturing this little group of birch trees.

10 x 8" plein air oil on linen/birch. November 30, 2017.

Fieldwork

June 8, 2017

Perched on top of some round bales, overlooking the fields. Watching the clouds pile to the south and move to the east and the wind make waves in the tall grass, listening to the blackbirds and bobolinks call.

The grasses this time of year are full of texture and subtle colors as they flower and seed. The weedier parts of the fields are full of white cockle blooms and the tall flower spikes of yellow dock.

The sky was mostly clear towards the end of the first painting, but some distant clouds in the east showed pink as they caught the last light of the sunset.

Clearing Skies at Dusk, 9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/birch. 

There was just enough light, and just enough time, to paint another quick study: The moon rising above the southern-facing fields.

Moon Rising over South Fields, 6 x 8" plein air oil on linen/hardboard

October's Bright Blue Weather

I know, I know, November is two-thirds over already. It's snowing outside at the moment. But here's a look back at October.

***

October 1st I met up with a great group of artists at Evansen Art Studio in Hastings, Minnesota to spend a day painting. In the evening the show was hung and there was a public reception. There were sure a lot of beautiful paintings and some of the them were featured in a silent auction at the Hastings Prescott Area Arts Council gala on November 4th.

Here are the two that I painted:

Another Season, 9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/hardboard. 

Fruit on the Vine, 12 x 9" plein air oil on linen/hardboard.

As the daylight hours became fewer, I didn't often get out to paint, or have long to work when I did. But I just love the light and color of this time of year, so it was good to get out and soak it in. This is a smaller painting, so I could try to capture those gorgeous lines and colors in a short time before sunset on October 17th.

Pastures in October, 6 x 8" plein air oil on linen/hardboard. 

October 22: Time to get out into the woods. These back-lit birch trees caught my eye, with the golden poplars in the background, and all the wild asters that had gone to seed lit up with the low sun.

Some cattle broke through a fence somewhere and came up behind me and stared. They weren't impressed.

Birch Grove - Late Afternoon, 9 x 12"plein air oil on linen/birch panel.

October 24: Another race against the sunset! I never tire of those curving fields with their varying colors and textures. Many of the trees in the woods had already lost their leaves, but the aspens and oaks still were a sight to behold with their vibrant yellows and rusty reds.

Late October Color, 9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/birch panel.

***

I've only been out once so far this month, on November 4th. I painted quickly, as the light and shadows changed as the sun sank down beyond the neighboring bluffs, and the girl tending the fire didn't hold still. But it was one of those clear-sky days, with the smell of fallen leaves, and perfect for a little campfire supper.

November Campfire, 9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/birch panel.

October

Changing weather, colors, harvest, shortened days and low sunshine.

When I could, I walked over fields, and picked apples in the orchard -red and yellow fruit against blue October skies - and soaked into my memory as much of this fleeting season as I could.

 Though I seldom had the time to get out with my gear, I'm happy I was able to do a few paintings outside. 

I often had a dog or two for company.

Farm Dog, October 10, 9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/hardboard.

The season changes quickly. By the time I painted this one, only a few late-blooming wildflowers still stood amongst the brown weeds and seed heads. The aspen leaves almost glowed.

Golden Day, October 21, 12 x 9" plein air oil on linen/hardboard.

At times, the hills across the valley looked beautifully blue. On this day, the sinking sun back-lit a glory of oak leaves as the shadows grew long in the woods.

Oaks and Shadows, October 25, 9 x 12" plein air oil on linen/hardboard.

Skies

Smallest Fattest sleeping in the shadow of my easel.

Smallest Fattest Niece (and her mother) accompanied me painting today. Smallest Fattest slept while I set up my easel and got started, and awoke delighted to find herself in a hay field and got right to work. After all, Auntie Hannah's painting gear wasn't going to strew itself about the field, now was it? Someone had to take it in hand!

Pretty much finished... 9 x 12" oil on linen

 My eyes are always drawn to beautiful skies, dramatic clouds and fleeting light effects. Painting them seems to be a practice in frustration, but I keep trying.

In any case, it was a great day to be out. :)

Valley Farm

Sometimes, on my way home, I drive up this road just because I like the views. This is one place that has always caught my eye, and it was fun having the chance to poke around a bit and see the place from different angles. There is a collection of old outbuildings, a beautiful little barn, and this lovely old worn farm house.

Old Valley Farm, 9 x 12" oil on linen

 I'd forgotten to put some of my paints back into my plein air gear, which made this a bit more challenging. I was missing my main yellow, and had to squeeze paint from some almost empty tubes to get at the yellow I had, and the blue and white I needed. Oops!

Fall Colors

 It has been a beautiful autumn, and I'm working on a few studio paintings that I hope to complete soon, while it's all still fresh in my mind! As always, fall is passing by too quickly, but I've been able to get out painting a few times and here are a couple of recent plein air paintings:

Met up with some of my favorite artists on October 27th, and did some painting in Red Wing, Minnesota. This is a view of the iconic Barn Bluff as seen from Colvill Park. Such a gorgeous day to be out!

Overlooking the Mississippi and I-90, done on a blustery November 3rd afternoon. Had to bring out the winter gear for this one!

 

And this morning I woke up to snow. :)

October Library Show

Queen Anne's Lace and Evening Clouds, 14"x18" oil on linen, copyright 2012 Hannah C. Heyer

I've been kind of quiet lately, with lots of unfinished projects in the works. Hopefully some of them are close to completion!

 In October I took over the local library, with 29 original oil paintings and 10 illustration prints. Between planning, framing, and hanging, there were sure times I thought I'd bitten off more than I could chew! But it all came together, and the library crew was fantastic.

Illustrations and paintings at the library!

Illustrations displayed above the shelves of picture books.

"Song of Grace" and "Third Position", two portraits done in oil.

Detroit plein air paintings on display.

"Uncle William's Farm", and the little plein air piece on which it was based.
14"x18", and 7"x5" oil on linen.

The weather has turned colder, and we had snow yesterday. Not the staying sort, but that may be just around the corner. Stay warm!

Painting and Pie.

Oak in the Fog, plein air, oil on linen. October 13, 2012

Spent my Saturday afternoon sitting out in the fog, and then rain, admiring and painting the ghostly shape of an old oak on the edge of the woods.

 It was a beautiful time to be out, even if it was a bit soggy.

Then my little sister brought me a piece of apple pie.

Perfect.

:-)

Aspen and Oak

 Today's painting subject: the brilliantly arrayed aspen and oak (and a few hickory) trees. The aspens seemed to glow against the dark clouds, and the oaks were all sorts of lovely.

Aspen and Oak, plein air, oil on linen panel. October 16, 2012

The muddy tire marks lead into a pasture, and for the first half of my painting session I had an audience. :-)

Critical cattle.

Moonrise

The moon rise yesterday was truly awesome. Seeing it rise above the pink hued clouds, while the fading light still illuminated the trees along the river... breathtaking.

"The heavens declare the glory of God," says the Psalmist, "and the skies proclaim the work of His hands."



Preach it, moon!

I actually entertained the idea of staying up all night to paint, but settled on doing a quick pencil sketch, and got everything ready to start in painting this morning.
Trying to capture the dusky, peaceful scene before I forget it.

Moonrise over the Mississippi, 8"x10" oil on linen.
copyright 2011 Hannah C. Heyer

Tuckered Out

This blog is, sadly, only slightly more neglected than my painting has been.

The days are getting so much shorter as we approach winter, and I miss the sunshine already. But it's beautiful too.

I was hoping to do some plein air painting today, but since I couldn't seem to get warm indoors, the prospect of spending a few hours outdoors sitting in the wind just wasn't quite appealing enough.
So instead of painting the great out of doors, I began a small portrait of two very tired people. It's wonderful how subjects hold still when they're asleep. ;-) It needs some work yet, but the sunshine is gone.

4"x4" oil on linen