In Our Own Backyard

"September Summer"

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

As I work trough a difficult painting here in the studio, I've been reflecting a lot on the amazing opportunities for work right here in our own backyard - literally!  I looked back in my files and found so many paintings, drawings and photographs, that I wondered if I shouldn't break things up a bit...I can't show everything though, there just isn't enough space, even in a blog.

I'm just going to throw out a few paintings and drawings that originate right from our small acreage...the image above is from our north pasture - looking north onto the neighbor's ground; they had just mowed some alfalfa and the colors of September prompted me to do a painting.  This was the first painting I had done after we moved here many years ago and I considered it a milestone for me; I've been working more in earnest here ever since!

The following images are both early years here at Prairie Hill farm, as well as fairly recent.

"Late Summer Afternoon" 

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

"Summer Evening Formations"

color pencil drawing - © Bruce A. Morrison

"June Rains Past" 

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

"Summer Pasture" 

oil painting - © Bruce A. Morrison

It pretty easy to see that clouds are an important element in my work done here on the acreage.  They certainly are where the landscape is concerned.  As I've said more than once in the past, the clouds are our mountains out here on the prairie, and the sky is very big here!

But there is more inspiration here in our back yard than just views of the landscape around us -

"Iris Study"

color pencil drawing - © Bruce A. Morrison

"Home"

color pencil drawing - © Bruce A. Morrison

Whether its the house, yard or the adjoining landscape, this place hasn't just kept me busy - its inspiring!  

I'll get back to work on my studio painting for now again...I needed a break.  Next time I'll share some photographic inspiration here at Prairie Hill Farm; until then - stay warm and keep inspired with what may very well be right outside your door!