"I started photographing my domestic world and writing not just about what I had made,
but why I made it, examining the thoughts that accompany creativity and the act of making."
Jane Brocket from The Gentle Art of Domesticity p. 189 UK edition

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Spring Perspective















Perspective.  It has special meaning to me at the moment.

Put aside the hot topics of money, politics, and religion. Focus on visual perspective.

You see, on Tuesday, my blog friend, Teresa, drove us to Canon Beach, Oregon for the afternoon. We had a yummy seafood lunch at the Wayfarer.  Then Teresa found the perfect spot for us to work on watercolor paintings of Haystack Rock.

Teresa is a wonderful, interesting friend from whom I feel I learn something new each time we are together...and I have a lot of fun in the process!

Tuesday afternoon we sat side by side to sketch and paint.  As in so many skills, Teresa is way ahead of me in knowing what she is doing.
Although we were looking at the same seascape, we each picked a different angle to sketch.

After two enjoyable hours, Teresa had a lively painting signed with a flourish and my painting still wasn't/isn't finished, but you can see what we painted by clicking here.

In order to finish my painting, among other things I need to adjust the perspective of the horizon I sketched...otherwise I have the Tillamook Rock Light floating on thin air!  But I loved the process of sketching and experimenting with strokes of paint.  Very satisfying!

Here at home recently I enjoyed the perspective of a Trillium flower my oldest SIL snapped in a photo in our woods with his phone.  Then this morning I enjoyed a perspective next to our front yard hose,  of our little apple tree full of white blossoms.  Also, I enjoyed seeing flurries of white wild cherry blossoms which landed on our front yard flower gardens and our gravel driveway.

In the perspective I shared with you of the preemie blanket I am knitting, the blanket is folded in half.  I am making good progress on it and enjoying how the self-striping yarn is flowing from row to row.

What is your perspective?

Gracie xx

25 comments:

  1. Ah, the lovely beach:) Enjoyed seeing both your and Teresa's photos of your day at Cannon Beach and it was fun to see Tillamook Rock in them (the place fascinates me). Love our spring tree blossoms--both on and off the trees! Continued success on your premie baby blanket--I am sure I've already mentioned this, but our youngest was born 2 months early. The blanket will be appreciated.
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  2. My perspective today has been watching families arrive at their campers, spilling out of cars and pickups. They run to greet summer friends they haven't seen in months. Laughter and music is floating around the campground with shouts of "Hello, we've missed you!" Altogether very nice. I loved your post Gracie. Your painting is quite beautiful and you girls inspire me every day. See you next Saturday!
    Blessings my friend,
    Betsy

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  3. Oh some beautiful photo's here Gracie and did enjoy seeing both of your paintings, clever ladies.....me not a painter at all lol xoxo

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  4. The entire world needs a change in perspective at this point in time. I choose to ignore all those topics you mentioned that rip people and the world apart, and to focus each moment on what is interesting and wonderful around that I can share and inspire others with. You captured some lovely moments. Sounds like a wonderful day trip. Now I'm going over to see what you painted. :)

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  5. Gracie, that Haystack Rock is well named.I so love the sea.We live in a busy industrial and fishing port and the docks are out of bounds so have to go a few miles down the coast to get up close and personal with the sea. In UK we don't travel the long distances like you do on a regular basis to sight see.
    Love the different paintings too. Thank you for sharing. I still haven't mastered water colours yet

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  6. My opinion of the beach shots that you have taken are, you are certainly blessed, you live in a beautiful part of the world. Take care.

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  7. I think you both did beautiful work -- though I'd love to see your finished work. You are off to a good start in the photo on Theresa's beach. Wish I lived out there and could go sketching with you two!

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  8. I enjoy seeing things from your perspective, Gracie. That's one of the best things about blogging, seeing another person's perspective. I'm glad you had such a nice time on the beach with Teresa. It looks like you both had a really fun day. Your trillium is beautiful and I like the colors in your preemie blanket. I hope you're having a nice weekend.

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  9. Greetings dear Gracie. I loved reading about your day at the beach. How lovely to spend time with your dear friend and enjoy your hobby of painting. I love your painting, by the way. And the photos you shared brought back great memories of the times I have visited Cannon Beach with my family. Your preemie blanket is adorable! Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Pat (you asked me about Turkey; according to my neighbor there, all is well in our part of that country)

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  10. My perspective is that you and Teresa are both very talented. I love the very, very special friendship you share , and frankly both of you teach me things all the time. I love your perspective Gracie.
    Meredith

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  11. Hello Gracie I have enjoyed seeing yours and Teresa's perspectives of your joint visit to the beach. it looked such a lovely time. I love the sea - but live in the Midlands - about as far away from the coast that you can be in Uk - though I'm sure that for those of you in the US - who are used to great distances it would seem not far :-) Hugs Anne x

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  12. Your blanket is lovely and colorful !! Thanks for sharing your perspective images, they are cheerful:)

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  13. Now that I've read your post, you and Teresa have each lovely perspectives of your day out at Cannon Beach. Lovely place and cannot get enough of the coast. Even though it was a lovely day out, I stayed inside and did a few things. Now it's nearly bed time. Thanks so much for your kind words and prayers. We appreciate it very much. God is faithful! Hugs and see you soon!

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  14. Wow Haystack Rock is MASSIVE!!
    I love your yarn, those colours are mouth watering - what yarn is it ?

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    1. Hi, Jill! I am knitting with Lion Brand Yarns 100% acrylic yarn Ice Cream Tutti Frutti fine weight. I had intended to get worsted weight yarn, but the colors of this beguiled me and the skein leaped into my shopping cart!

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  15. Hi Gracie.. sorry I'm late to comment.. I read this on the run the other day and had no time to comment! But I loved this post and your perspective on our fun day driving to the beach and having lunch and painting for two hours and racing south to get an ice cream before the Tillamook Cheese Factory closed it's doors for the day! LOL! We had a wonderful time and I love you all the more. I hope to see you in the pool this afternoon.. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  16. Hi Gracie, It was lovely to enjoy your day out at the beach with Teresa. Haystack Rock looks amazing it is so huge and such a haven for wildlife. The beaches full of people remind me of the beaches here too. Your paintings look wonderful and a fun way to remember this special day. Sarah x

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  17. A nice day out with a friend. Lucky you, Gracie, it looks like such a pretty place. And I do like the idea of painting together.
    Amalia
    xo

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  18. Good morning my friend. I was so happy to hear that you and Teresa were at Canon Beach painting that famous rock. So nice. Teresa is indeed an interesting lady. I love her zest for life. I love that she is so interested in History, as am I. I love that she is crafty, and loves the great outdoors! I love her positive attitude, and love of her family. She is someone I admire, and learn from as well. So I know what you mean. I would love to meet you and Teresa....in person one day. I know we would all have much to talk about. And we would knit, or crochet. And Taci and Betsy must be present too!
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  19. I love the way in which you write of perspective...and I love these amazing photographs. Greetings from Germany.

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  20. Love your photos! Looks like a beautiful place to spend time--and ponder one's perspective! I love seeing the work of my sister and Grandma--both artists. Grandma does watercolor, and Charity is a pencil artist. I have a little trouble getting my perspective down correctly if I draw; it looks much better if I just take pictures. Will you be sharing your painting with us?

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  21. Beautiful pictures and thoughts in this post. It is lovely how you and Teresa have become firm friends and do lots of fun things together! I enjoy reading your gentle words both here and as kind comments over on my blog, you are very astute and there is a lot to adjusting our perspective sometimes, both in drawing and in life :) Wishing you a very happy spring in your beautiful part of the world.
    Helen xox

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  22. My perspective includes purple yarn being knitted into a cabled cap, purple flowers in the garden and green hills (finally!) behind the house.

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Thank you for visiting me today! I welcome your comments!