Favorite places. Places that intrigue, inspire, or invigorate. Places that remind us of good times or thoughtful moments. Everyone has places they love to remember or dream about. I have many. Most often they are wild and secluded, far away from the clamor of everyday life. But I have also found delightful subjects down the street and across town. Sometimes I don’t know it’s a favorite until I’ve spent a few hours pondering, feeling, appreciating. Then I realize that it has marked my soul and my life is richer for the time I spent there.
Standing at my easel at one of these special places, I mix colors and compose a painting that represents that specific place and time. Plein Air painting is all about the moment – the colors, the light, the instant in time. Most of my work is done this way. The larger pieces completed in my studio are from sketches and studies at the site. My paintings share the delight of discovery, the beauty of nature and the colors in my heart.
© 2008 Paula Ensign