Lughnasa

I started out my morning with my usual daily warm up exercises. Instead of working with traditional mediums today, I did my morning warm ups using Corel Painter IX. 5.

My inspiration for the day came from the word “Lughnasa,” which is one of the four main festivals of the Medieval Irish Calendar, celebrating the beginning of the Harvest season.

It’s that time of the year when blackberry bushes are heavy with ripened fruit, and there are subtle changes in the light, a golden haze that seems to wrap itself around everything.

I love this time of the year even though there is a lingering sadness as summer comes to an end.

Lughnasa – Digital Painting – Oils – 4 x 5 – on heavy hand made paper

quote for the day;

“Whilst August yet wears her golden crown,
Ripening fields lush- bright with promise;
Summer waxes long, then wanes, quietly passing
Her fading green glory on to riotous Autumn.”
–  Michelle L. Thieme, August’s Crown

August is here!

I can hardly believe August is already here! During this time of the year the local farmer’s offer a plethora of fresh vegetables and sun ripened fruit, and who can resist the sweet and succulent taste of ripe strawberries and plums. Yum!

September is right around the corner, and soon enough the leaves will begin to turn and fall. Until then enjoy the wonderful bounty that the last month of summer has to offer.

Happy Lughnasadh everyone!

Autumn Spirit – Combined Medium – 4 X 5 inches

“August creates as she slumbers, replete and satisfied.” – Joseph Wood Krutch

“Then let us toast John Barleycorn
Each man a glass in hand;
And may his great posterity
Ne’er fail in old Scotland!” – Traditional Scottish poem