Pages

▼

06 August, 2009

Portage

Prairie Bush
5.25" x 12.75"
Pastel
Casey Klahn

Let's take a portage and see some overland scenery. We'll return to the river in due course.

This image has an interesting story. It is a scene by the road that leads from our farm to the highway, and is a low bushy tree that stands at a crop line past a neighbor's farm. I intended for so long to set up and do an on sight painting, but finally did this in the studio from memory. I stalked it so long that it just stayed in my memory.

Because of its local flavor, my wife has decided that the painting is hers.
at

15 comments:

  1. Deborah ParisAugust 7, 2009 at 6:10 AM

    This is beautiful Casey! I find my best work is usually done from memory (after lots of on site observation). Memory is a wonderful filter- it eliminates the unimportant and distills the scene to its most essential components. Beautifully done!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Casey KlahnAugust 7, 2009 at 7:35 AM

    Once again, coming from you, this is a dear compliment, Deborah.

    And, I think you have given us a keeper quote in your "filter" remarks. They are dead on.

    I happened to review the scene (well, I see it every time I drive out) and it does clutter itself quickly.

    ReplyDelete
  3. loriann signoriAugust 7, 2009 at 4:57 PM

    Beautiful Casey. Your use of mark and contrasting absence of mark is exciting.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Casey KlahnAugust 7, 2009 at 5:40 PM

    I appreciate it, Loriann. The variety of marks was a risk, but it turns out well.

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownAugust 8, 2009 at 10:06 AM

    Casey, this is absolutely beautiful. These are "MY" favourite colours, earthbound and so warm. The composition and the format of this little painting - everything perfectly matching and giving a sense of endless view in the prairie...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Casey KlahnAugust 8, 2009 at 11:23 AM

    Thank you, Petra. It is interesting how composition is essential for the open prairie, huh?

    I just finished another in the studio, but in a square format. We'll see how it holds up.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jala PfaffAugust 8, 2009 at 1:28 PM

    How gorgeous. Your wife has good taste. :) Made me laugh when you said you've "stalked" it for a long time.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Casey KlahnAugust 8, 2009 at 4:51 PM

    10 Q, Jala.

    BTW, I really love your spheres pastels - especially the contrasting temperature parts.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Brian McGurganAugust 9, 2009 at 3:20 PM

    I love the colors and texture here, Casey - what a beautiful painting!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Casey KlahnAugust 9, 2009 at 3:50 PM

    Thanks, Brian.

    As we are framing right now, I am looking at the number of local scenes (prairie) and I am thinking of where I want my next show.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Laura DietrickAugust 10, 2009 at 2:48 PM

    My husband stakes his claim on my work all the time too...really, it's getting ridiculous as I often hear, "You're NOT going to sell that are you...?"

    ReplyDelete
  12. MadSilenceAugust 12, 2009 at 5:18 PM

    An interesting concept, the artist stalking the image. Quite beautiful, reminiscent of the great American plains. Somehow Aldo Leopold comes to mind.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Casey KlahnAugust 12, 2009 at 9:13 PM

    You know the words exactly, Laura! Ha ha.

    Thanks for the reference, MS. I had to look up AL ! The area to the left is virgin prairie, and the right is cultivated, BTW.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Robyn SinclairAugust 19, 2009 at 2:11 AM

    That's a poem of a picture, Casey. Love it!

    Hope your laptop is on the mend too.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Casey KlahnAugust 19, 2009 at 8:32 AM

    I appreciate it, Robyn. Enter: The Prairie Series.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for commenting here!