In Green Pastures - 18" x 30" oil by Laurie Friesen.

Falling Leaves - by Laurie Friesen

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The days are shortening. Gardeners are bringing in the last of the harvest. Frost is inevitable. Amidst the annual change of the seasons from summer to fall, there is a palpable stirring. Horses awaken from the sleepy days of summer. They snort and their steps hasten as they sense the coming of cold. Autumn rides are brisk.

For the artist, autumn days are filled with an onslaught of sensual imagery. The cool nights bring fog-draped mornings that have a stillness so deep that only the haunting calls of flocking geese and crows disturb. As the sun breaks through, the last vestiges of summer reappear as the day warms.

The shortening days and cool nights work their biological magic on the foliage, turning it into a myriad of color. Bright yellows, brilliant reds and spicy oranges suddenly adorn the trees and shrubs. It is a feast for the palette.

In the painting, Autumn Gray, the tall prairie grasses provide a subtle backdrop for the golden hues found in small saplings and late flowering wildflowers. A mottling of soft blues and violets of the silvery sages and spent grasses supply contrast, sparked by a brilliant band of crimson shrubs. And what is more perfect for an equine subject in a brilliantly colored setting than a gray? A gray provides a limitless palette on which to reflect the colors of their background.

Reflected light is one of the immense joys of painting. It creates a powerful statement that defines the shape of the subject but also harmonizes the painting in color and light. The gray horse reflects the warm yellows, soft peachy reds, cool violets and intense blues. It is a celebration of autumn.

Sunny autumn afternoons trigger the desire to pause and breathe deeply the heavily scented air rich in earthy aromas and enjoy the fading warmth of the sun before the onset of winter. In both Autumn Gray and In Green Pastures, I strived to portray this seasonal interlude. That blessed moment in time when we sigh and smile, savoring the peace of the moment. For we know that summer is ending and the cold winds of winter are soon to come.

This fall, look closely at the natural world. Drink in the colors before they fade and fall to the earth. Take note of the rich scent of the falling leaves. Feel the warmth of the sun. Watch the horses grazing the last of the green pastures. It is just such an inspiration that renews the senses and is the essence of art.

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