Jean Hirons Pastel Artist
Paintings: My Pond
On March 3, 2008, I began a series of paintings of my local pond. Stoneridge Pond is a man-made retention pond that has become a mecca for both wildlife and humans. The water and marshes are home to mallards, wood ducks, Canada geese, and great blue herons. The reeds teem with red-wing blackbirds, and there are Baltimore orioles in the trees. A paved walkway makes the pond accessible to hikers, bikers, and baby strollers. The pond has become a destination for my husband and me on our daily walks.
My decision to paint the pond was a challenge to myself to find something of interest to paint, even in an area that seems to offer so little. And, believe me, in March, this pond doesn't look like much! But I have come to realize that I'm not painting outside enough, partly because I dread the idea of driving all over the countryside looking for the perfect scene (and spending a fortune on gas!). Too often, I've favored staying in my studio. So, to paint en plein air more and to challenge myself to create interest in ordinary scenes, I decided to keep revisiting the same place, my local pond.
Click on a picture below to see a larger image and description.
