Blossom

One of the upsides of lockdown has been to experience the passing of spring into summer in “real time” as it were. We normally miss the flowering of redbud and dogwood, arriving to find it past its best and fading. But not this year.

Redbud, Clinton Corners, 11.00 am, May 10th 2020

Detail – Redbud, Clinton Corners, 12:15 pm, May 10th, 2020

Detail – Redbud, Clinton Corners, 8:40 am, May 2nd, 2020

Dogwood, Clinton Corners, 11:00 am, May 16th, 2020

Acer and Redbud, Clinton Corners, 2.30 pm, May 10th, 2020

I usually finish a painting in one session but trying to capture the dogwood was difficult. I started early morning on May 14th and then reworked this first attempt the next day, trying to capture the luminosity that felt missing. I lived with it for a few days, telling myself it was fine but aware that it niggled me. A big clue is when I turn a picture face in! Consequently, I radically reworked it on the 21st. The whole scene had changed – much greener, with more shadows, and this time I made peace with the final result.

63ADEEC5-B595-47C1-BB7B-3FED9F1081EE — Dogwood, Clinton Corners, – first state (May 14th, 2020)

Dogwood, Clinton Corners, - second state (May 15th, 2020) — Dogwood, Clinton Corners, – second state (May 15th, 2020)

Dogwood, Clinton Corners, 8:45 am, May 21st, 2020

In Front of the Kitchen, Acer, Early Morning, May 2nd, 2020

The appearance of the acer caught my eye early one morning. I confess to loving this picture. It communicates the urgency required to capture the quickly shifting light and the almost violent vibrancy of the color.