"Paintings have a life of their own that derives from the painter's soul." Vincent Van Gogh

Friday, January 10, 2020

2020 Begins, a Bobcat and Part 3 of Washington DC




Fundamental Limit to Precision / oil on linen / 18 x 24

 Hot off the easel - first painting of 2020. And a big surprise this morning as I was having coffee in my kitchen - a beautiful, bobcat walked right across the backyard! I was not fast enough to get to my camera for a photo but did remember this lynx  (cousin of a bobcat and very similar in appearance)  painting I did a while ago.
Canadian Lynx / oil on masonite / 14 x 18
We finally got to tour Mount Vernon on the next morning of our Christmas vacation. I have wanted to see the home of George Washington for  a  long time and was not disappointed. I was filled with a sense of awe and of history to be able to walk through the rooms and gardens where he and Martha hosted Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and James Madison. I learned that following his Presidency, he was an avid farmer and was surprised to hear that he was the first person to breed a mule - a cross between a female horse and a male donkey. He wanted a big, strong animal with lots of stamina to be able to plow the fields!
Mount Vernon

Breathtaking view from the porch over the Potomac River

Bedroom where Lafayette stayed when visiting Washington.

George Washington's study with his chest from the Revolutionary War and his  chair with an overhead fan powered by foot pedals.

The working section of the farm - the laundry, ice house and stables.
We spent the afternoon walking the gentle hills and valleys of Arlington National Cemetery - a place I have no adequate words to describe other than to say I have never felt more humbled or more grateful for the sacrifice of these men and women. It is a still and quiet place of great yet disquieting beauty - a place for deep sorrow,  reverence and introspection .




I have yet to show you my photos from the National Gallery of Art and the National Portrait Gallery. I will post those next time. I hope that this New Year is beginning with great promise and potential for everyone as we move forward into this brand new decade!
Posted by at
Labels: , ,

12 comments:

  1. JaneJanuary 12, 2020 at 8:01 AM

    A very powerful first painting of 2020 , incredible energy and so vivid ! What a great surprise to see a bobcat in our yard, must be a rarity and maybe it was good you were inside :-))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SusanJanuary 16, 2020 at 2:15 PM

      Thank you, Jane. I had fun designing this painting - I was inspired by a painting that I saw by Degas in the National Gallery. Yes, the bobcat was scary to see so close and I was happy to be safe inside my house. I once saw a video of a bobcat in a fight and it was ferocious!

      Delete
  2. Simonne's fantasiestudioJanuary 13, 2020 at 6:13 AM

    Dag Susan, de val van het paard is weer een meesterwerk geworden !!
    Als ik de foto's zie, denk ik dat jullie een prachtige reis hadden..
    Groetjes van Simonne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SusanJanuary 16, 2020 at 2:16 PM

      Our trip was wonderful! We were able to see so many things and experience history so personally. It was great! Thank you for your very kind words!

      Delete
  3. hmuxoJanuary 14, 2020 at 11:51 AM

    WOW Susan, you created two beautiful paintings... The painting of the horse is outstanding as well as the bobcat. A great start for 2020.
    Your trip to Mt. Vernon looks VERY interesting. I love touring these historical homes. Enjoy the rest of the day.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SusanJanuary 16, 2020 at 2:18 PM

      Thankvyou so much -I have just ordered a ton of new paints, mediums and canvases so I guess I intend to continue to paint up a storm in 2020! Mt. Vernon was on my to-do list for a long time and did not disappoint!

      Delete
  4. JudyJanuary 15, 2020 at 10:40 AM

    Your style is so beautiful, whatever subject! Love the first of 2020!
    What a great trip you made. Love the chair and the fan!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SusanJanuary 16, 2020 at 2:18 PM

      I am so happy you like my style! The chair with the fan was a brilliant idea!

      Delete
  5. juliefordoliver.blogspot.comJanuary 15, 2020 at 2:05 PM

    Fundamental Limit to Precision - great title! I am in awe of the action in the painting and I only know Steeplechase racing through Dick Frances, but it sure seems to fit!

    Mt Vernon was a trip down memory lane. Thanks Sue
    Cannot wait for the National Galleries. Don't take too long!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SusanJanuary 16, 2020 at 2:20 PM

      Hi, Julie- so glad you enjoy my title. I always try to strive for something meaningful. I have been fascinated with steeplechase jump racing for a long time - always marveling at the connection between the large powerful beast and the jockey. National Galleries are on their way!

      Delete
  6. martinealisonJanuary 17, 2020 at 4:55 AM

    Re-coucou Susan,

    En plus de cette belle découverte au travers de tes magnifiques photos de la maison de George Washington, je suis heureuse de pourvoir contempler tes deux oeuvres. J'adore celle où le cavalier se retrouve au sol. Le mouvement, l'atmosphère me plonge dans la réalité du moment et la fixe, j'adore la spontanéité de ton coup de pinceau...
    Le lynx est aussi superbe... Cela doit être très surprenant que d'en apercevoir un en vrai !
    Un jour au Sénégal, j'avais été très interloquée et effrayée de voir un varan qui traversait le jardin.
    Je pense que pour moi tout animal que je n'ai pas l'habitude de voir m'interpelle !
    Très joli billet... je te souhaite une belle fin de semaine.

    Gros bisous

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SusanJanuary 17, 2020 at 10:08 AM

      Many thanks for your kind words. I am always interested in unusual animals and this morning was fortunate enough to see a coyote in our garden. I see coyotes occasionally but have only seen two bobcats. They are very beautiful and very frightening at the same time. I imagine I would feel the same about seeing a monitor lizard!

      Delete

Your comments are welcome and brighten my day!

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)