I'd written July's full moon off.... while daylight lingered, there were far too many clouds... not to mention a shower or two.
I was stunned when I took the dogs out for their last pee trip at 11 pm to see this gorgeous sight! I rush back inside for the camera, but to no avail. The clouds smothered the moon and rain soon followed.
The image was burned in my memory and it had to come out :) Today, I painted the sky, let it dry and then sat on the front porch and painted the tree. I'm such a pick about having my full moon sketches being executed en plein air.... I love the drama that I just don't feel in the studio. I did get the brightness of the moon better in the studio, though :) For the highlights on the clouds I used a uniball Sigmo white pen. Even put some on the moon. Ha ha!
July's full moon is also known as the Full Buck Moon as in the northeast (I like using the NE Native American's full moon names) the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads. It's also know as the Full Hay Moon. We saw a lot of dino balls in the fields on our drive back from NY this week (that's what I call the large hay rolls they make now instead of bales.... The first time I ever saw hay roles I imagined dinosaurs visiting hay fields and leaving their calling card..... kind of like bunny pills) That was probably TMI :)
This is a lovely sketch/painting. Lucky you to go out just at the right moment & you could remember it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chris! 'Twas too dramatic to forget :)
ReplyDeleteWow - what a magnificant tree! And great use of the white gel pen on the cloud edges, such a nice contrast. There is such drama that I like the title of Thunder Moon, though Full Buck Moon is informative. After your dino ball story, I will never look at a hay bale in the same way! ;)
ReplyDeleteThis one is dramatic and beautiful!!! I like the addition of the white (I'm not a stickler about watercolor purity) that adds even more drama. Well done!!! Had to laugh at your dino balls - we call them hay doodles for some reason.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elizabeth! I'm giggling about the hay rolls... I wondered about sharing that little ditty....
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rhonda! I do try to leave as much white paper as I can but ofttimes my hand gets a bit heavy. I think in this age of mixed media and the joy of creating art, I lean toward using whatever material works. Besides, it's fun! Love the 'hay doodles' name! I usually see the hay rolls scattered in the field. One farm had them neatly stacked together in long lines. Of course that was in Virginia horse country where beauty abounds. They obviously tamed their dinos to limit their distribution..ha ha!
ReplyDeleteLove your sketch, the depth of the clouds near the moon is amazing to me. Up here the moon has been clear each and every night. Friday I watched it rise on the front lawn wine in hand, last night we were at friends on a Fingerlake and it was amazing - reflecting off the water. Love the clarity but we need rain!!!
ReplyDeleteLiving in Washington state I am always hoping for a full moon without rain and clouds. This is a fantastic painting.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great piece! The colours really get the feeling of how a full moon can be so bright and yet have such a different quality of light than daytime light. I love how you've captured the drama of it.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as I saw this I thought of Walter de la Mare's poem
ReplyDelete"Slowly, silently, now the moon Walks the night in her silver shoon; This way, and that, she peers, and "sees Silver fruit upon silver trees;
Beautiful.
Thanks, Carol! The white pen really helped me out with the clouds :) The weather was glorious when we were in NY. Way too short a visit, though. I wanted to paint the moon on the water on July 2nd, but was still too tired from the 18 hour drive the day before. Next year!!
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Thanks, Sharon! I always think of the line in Sleepless in Seattle about all the rain :) But it's so beautiful out there. I hope to return for another visit one day!
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Thank you, Ruca! Moonlight is magical :) I'm hooked!
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Ooooo, Barbara, what a lovely poem! Silver shoon... Oh, la, la! Thank you for your comment and for sharing this enchanting piece by Walter de la Mare!
I consume all things 'moon.'
Pam I enjoy all your work so much, but I must say I am enchanted by your moon paintings. I love how you journal about their names and seasons, and put them in beautiful settings. I'm getting inspired and must make a point to do some lunar sketches too. ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Katie! Oh, yes! Join in the fun of moonscapes :) I'd love to see some desert moon paintings :) My folks lived out their lives in Tucson. Have many a fond memory of AZ.
ReplyDeleteI won't look at those hay rolls the same way now! This is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ann! Ha, ha.... Dino parties everywhere :)
ReplyDelete...wow...really cool! I love the dark shadows of the tree and the incredible light of the moon and clouds. It's really dramatic. I'm glad the dogs had to go out one last time so you were able to capture this view!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kelly! Me too! Having dogs to walk has brought many bonuses :)
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