Monday, November 4, 2013

Sundays in Southern Virginia

After Church, created in "Paper" on iPad
This has been on my list of things to paint for about ten years.  I thought I'd try a simple sketch using pencils in this app; it's done from memory or imagination--and it took days to finish.  It was done, I thought; then I spotted Dad's Bible on my book shelf.  It wasn't black like I'd drawn but a deep red.  I had given it to him--that got changed; then the color of the chair cushion had to be changed.  The made-up chairs (the one on the left looks like the type we had in our store) are in the grass because I thought a baseboard, floor and rug under them would be too many horizontal lines.  Mom probably wouldn't like this because her shoes and pocketbook absolutely had to match.

Even before my dad studied for the ministry, Sundays were busy.  Mom fried the chicken (one of us kids stole the liver) and we went off to church for Sunday School and preaching.  We came home to "dinner" of fried chicken with gravy and biscuits, of course, lots of fresh vegetables and dessert.  Afternoons were spent napping, pitching horseshoes (I'm still a champ), or visiting relatives.  After a light "supper," we went back to Church.
Posted by Picasa

36 comments:

  1. What wonderful memories, and what a wonderful tribute to your parents (in the painting). I imagine making changes drawing with an iPad are a lot less messy than when you pull out paints, the deep red makes everything else appear richer to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Robin. The good thing is I don't tear up the paper when erasing and the pencil doesn't smear. With this app, there's a "rewind" button. Unfortunately, it only rewinds so far. I had played around with watercolor cloud effects and had to re-pencil in the background and re-draw most of the edges--I almost wore out a stylus. Play and learn.

      Delete
  2. I like the story this painting tells. What wonderful memories for you in this.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Carole. One of my childhood FB friends said she could see my parents--Robert and Estelle--in this drawing. Church was a huge part of their lives. Thank you. You're catching up on your reading tonight?

      Delete
    2. Whoops--misspelled your name, CarolKing.

      Delete
  3. Just love this painting, Hallie. I love the calm, the colours, the male, the female, the chairs sitting in the grass. Such lovely memories.
    Can you believe it's November already? Shocking how quickly summer disappeared and how fast we're skipping through fall.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Carole. This is a good memory and I could have done a painting in the time it took to draw this. I'm doing some rework on it because a friend wants to buy a print--gotta learn how to print or have something printed.

      Ou weather's been around 70 and beautiful until today--a bit chilly. It is hard to believe 2014 will be here soon.

      Delete
  4. wow...what poignant imagery....it's very touching! There is definitely something so human about a chair! Maybe it is that we occupy them and they are upright. Upright is actually quite a good word for this painting. Your parents were devoted...and solid. Beautiful painting!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Celeste. This one is almost too close for comfort; I usually make a turn before I get to that place.

      Delete
  5. Using grass instead of a floor gives it that extra twist that is so typical of you , i's a great painting, and I liked the story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jane. I like the grass, too--I'm not sure why. Thank you.

      Delete
  6. Hallie, I think this is just an amazing composition and what a lovely testament to your mom and dad. I hope you can somehow print and frame this for yourself!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi CrimsonLeaves. I guess this is a still life without flowers and fruit. I will try printing or having it printed.

      Delete
  7. Chairs can be so evocative! You have given the personalities of your parents to these. Whenever i am stumped with subject matter chairs fill the bill.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi lifeartist. You've painted some great chairs. It would have been nice to have an actual chair to paint from but my furniture is a bit mid-century modern.

      Delete
  8. Everything about this Hallie is wonderful! I love the mismatched chairs, the symmetry, the southern influence, the reverence.
    It's a beautiful memory. The story you told with it is a great reflection of southern life.
    The grass floor was a spectacular choice.
    I simply love it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you PAMO. I hadn't thought about reverence but you're right--it shows in this one. I got a bit caught up in the details here because I was really enjoying drawing (I stopped myself before adding some buttercups to the grass).

      If I paint this, I'll probably give the chairs roots--maybe that's why I chose grass.

      Delete
    2. Hallie- roots on the chairs will be magnificent! This is just beautiful.

      Delete
  9. This is wonderful. Tells a story, even before reading your words.

    Your postings have motivated me to try Paper.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jean. Paper's advantage is that it can be printed as a sketchbook. I could have done this same drawing in my other apps--Procreate or SketchbookPro--you might want to check all the apps.

      Delete
  10. I am absolutely amazed that this is an app. But besides that, the drawing is adorable - I don't know why, but that is the word I come up with. And touching. And the concept is ingenius! It seems simple, but it is not - so much information is there. And the drawing, of course, is excellent!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Adorable!! Does that mean this is kitsch? It is close. I would hate to become sweet in my old age; my defense is everyone recognizes this as my parents. Thank you, Dan--you should try some apps.

      Delete
  11. This crisp style with deep textures and shadows is something I love. Came by as a visit from Dan's Canvas which I have not visited in a long time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Tabor. Dan's Canvas is an interesting blog, picture-wise and writing-wise.

      Delete
  12. Your description of Sundays brought back lots of memories. Wish we could go back

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hallie,as always, you have you own unique approach to art.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mary, I think everyone has her own way of seeing and interpreting. Your way is lively and full of life.

      Delete
  14. J'aime énormément votre travail!!!
    je viens vous voir non pas de" weekend et coup de brosse" mais de mon autre blog photo http://weekendabstrait.blogspot.fr/
    Bonne soirée Cath.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Even without the people concerned these chairs are so full of life , reflecting the personalities of mom and dad, love your unique approach of telling a story through symbolism, there is more here than just to seeing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Padmaja. Your beautiful sunsets tell stories, too. The chairs had been in my mind for a long time. I had thought of having the space between the chairs symbolize the years between their deaths--I let that go.

      Delete
  16. Magnifique travail! .Très joli post! je te souhaite aussi de très belles fêtes de fin d'année accompagnées de joie et bonheur !
    Belle journée à toi, et merci de tes visites sur mes pages!
    Cath.

    ReplyDelete
  17. It shows the amount of work you put into it. It is a phenomenal iPad drawing. Great skill. Paper is one app I have't investigated. You've aroused my curiosity. No stylus, just your finger? Wow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Linda. I definitely use a stylus on something like this--and a lot of zooming in.

      Delete