Saturday, September 18, 2010

Autumn And A Starlight Hare

Autumn always seems more peaceful somehow? Is it because things are winding down, giving in, getting tired, in preparation for winters first touch of icy fingers? Things shine brighter in Autumn. Berries, dew covered apples, colours of changing leaves, there is more contrast. The skies seem bluer than blue against the blood red of the hawthorn berries. Behind that peaceful exterior though is a busyness.  Harvesting and storing quickly before the last of the runner beans wither, toughen and dry up. Before we hear the weatherman on our radios and televisions announce that temperatures will drop to a ground frost, while Jupiter shines in the fading years sky.
 I hear the slow ticking of Mother nature's clock, steady like a heart beat.
 Creatures stock up and indulge in extra sunny days before the big sleep.

Preparing and looking for possible places to spend those long cold months.

A spiders web, a lace curtain in fairyland,

catching the mornings sunlight sparkles.

 Darkness comes early now. Time to restock the log pile, ring the chimmney sweep, light the candles, incense and buy those new slippers you've had your eye on.
For some it will be their very first taste of Autumn. A first taste of blackberries and first sharp smell of cold and frost in the air.  

 As you may have guessed, these are the baby chicks with their Mum behind, that hatched a few weeks back.

If only we could all look at things as if we had never seen them before. As if it were our first Autumn. Maybe then we wouldn't take things for granted and would appreciate the small things that we have right in front of us?
I put the finishing touches to the painting I had on the easel this week. This picture has been in my head for a long time and has waited patiently for it's turn to come out.  The Starlight Hare is an acrylic painting on wood panel and is available as a print in my Etsy shop here...



32 comments:

  1. What a wonderful post. I love this time of year. What is it that makes the sky seem so blue? Love your pictures and really love that painting!

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  2. This really is a beautiful painting. I wonder if you've ever painted a hare made of stardust before. Seems like the perfect painting to match your blog's name. :)

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  3. I was moved to tears when I saw the starlight hare picture. The face of the hare is just so beautiful and the imagery is just gorgeous.

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  4. love your photos and post. and such a lovely painting. this is my favorite time of year!
    happy saturday
    lisa

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  5. Your starlight hare painting is beautiful!
    I love the cold misted autumn mornings, scents of woodsmoke and frost and changing colours...

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  6. That hare is amazing - love it! Love your other photos and prose too - you've captured perfectly autumn.

    Jane

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  7. Your painting of the hare under the stars just took my breath away!

    You have a talent for painting a picture in words too - you reminded me of past years when I helped stack up logs and stood outside the house, watching for the chimney sweep's brush to pop out from of chimney, and then the excitement of the first fire of the season; it's these little things that I so miss! Although tomorrow I will be raking in some hay from a wild flower meadow-so I am thankful for that :)

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  8. very beautiful and gentle Karen - a perfect hare(s)
    and I love your sentiments, you are perfectly in tune with mother nature,
    those chickens will be enjoying the world I'm sure, it will be nice to think that way again, thanks for the reminder :)

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  9. Even though I'm sad to wave goodbye to summer, it made me very happy to step out into the garden this morning in the orangey sun, & feel that nippy chill in the air :)
    I love the 'seasons' :)

    And your starlight hare is magical!
    I predict it will be a very popular print :) hehe
    xxx

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  10. What a wonderful post and beautiful photos.
    love
    Lyn
    xxx

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  11. Yours is always such a serene place to visit. I love your photos and especially your enchanting painting. Theresa

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  12. I love autumn too. That Starlight Hare is gorgeous, I'll have to look in your shop window :-)

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  13. Starlight Hare is absolutely lovely, and the photo of the sparkling spider web is perfect.

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  14. I've been stacking wood in the shed all weekend, almost done! And early..... lovely starlight hare... for me its a magical time of year... so much about the essence of form, letting go and going in.

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  15. Beautiful, beautiful painting! We are gearing up for summer here, but in many ways, for me at least, it is the season of drawing in, when I feel like I want to sleep through the oppressive heat till Autumn comes. But there is gardening to be done, vegetables to plant, jobs around the house to be completed!

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  16. I love your new work - this is my new favourite. Your photos are lovely too - the ladybird with seed pod is really outstanding!

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  17. There does seem to be a pause in time as the seasons shift. I love September...and your starlight hare. :)

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  18. Autumn is the season I best relate to. So full of mists and melancholy! Your starlight hare has won my heart Karen. So beautiful and ethereal. Stunning! Thanks so much for sharing. X X

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  19. I love the hare! Thanks for sharing your beautiful autumn pictures, it gets me in the mood to walk through crunch leaves soon!

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  20. Yes Autumn is a time of winding down and I always get a feeling of deep peace tinged with excitement about the wintw coming and the joy of turning inward,stories and fireside reminiscence.The air seems to be a caress,can i ask you to be a follower of my blog ,yours is inspiring.

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  21. I love the Starlight Hare. It makes me think of star gazing on cool autumn nights. It also reminds me tht there is a constellation called "Lepus."

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  22. You've captured Autumn in such a lovely poetic way. The hare painting is beautiful.

    Jeanne

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  23. Hi Karen, this is a beautiful and dreamy post and I was miles away wrapped in your words, then, the birdsong made me jump! ;o) You have surpassed yourself with this new painting, it is truly inspired! xx

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  24. Hi Karen, tis me again! Just to say that I've nominated Moonlight and Hares for A Lovely Blog Award on my blog. Thanks for sharing your wonderful work!
    x x Jen

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  25. Your posts never fail to show the magic of the moment :)
    Thank you and a Merry Autumn to you!

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  26. Oh your blog is so very very beautiful. I am going to bookmark this and come back often. The Hare is my totem, after a close encounter with one at Stonehenge about 2 years ago, they are such wise and beautiful creatures.

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  27. Dear Karen, you write like a poet! But I don't wonder - you are an artist, so you have the eye for beauty and possess the skill for recreating it with paints, with words - following the voice of your innerself! Yes, if we only could see Autumn as if it's for the first time... But I do believe that a lot of people welcome it with excitement and curiosity, notice and admire the bursting colours around them and enjoy this festivity before the rains and chilly time begin!

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  28. I t is a very nice post. I really like all the detail in your painting.

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  29. Your pictures are like dreams! Just amazing...thank you for the inspiration!!

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  30. Aw thankyou everyone for your wonderful kind words about The Starlight Hare. It is so lovely to hear that it touches peoples hearts or spirits in some way.x

    Pogostemon :)x

    Kitty :)x

    Jenny Crouch :)x And thankyou for the kind blog award ;)

    Jessie..Oops sorry if the birds made you jump. I often do that, leaving my volume on loud ;)

    Jackiesjottings..Thankyou and welcome! :)

    rosshika..
    Thankyou :)x

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  31. What a magical post...I instantly felt at peace...felt calm and inspired...

    I love your creative soul....and your respect of nature. Your paintings are just beautiful....

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