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Spring Things

4/24/2024 10:43:02 AM | By Gail M Gallagher | Comment on this

Spring is here and full of surprises!

A painting that I began in 2008 and finished this year was used as Dan's Papers cover art! The painting is a second view of dear friends' property in Water Mill. Our friends have been invaluable in helping the city mice Gallaghers settle into being country mice. The first painting that I did of their property was a small work called "Water Mill Spring"

Water Mill Spring (2007)

I launched into a larger version of the property soon there after, but hit a wall and put it aside. Every once and awhile I would take it out and have a look.... it took me till this year (a retirement "to do list" item!) to complete the painting. I looked for a "before" photo of the painting, but only found the one below, which is pretty awful, but gives you an idea. The painting was gloomier. The barn perspective was off, all of that empty grass in front... I sanded it down to remove distracting brush marks and began to rework and refresh. I was particularly motivated to finish the painting as our friends backyard looks nothing like this now. The scene captures a memory.

BEFORE

Mecox Memory

Oil, 20 x 30 in.

I was reminiscing about fun times at our friend's home while thinking of what to add to the foreground of the painting. Parties and BBQs, Bob puttering around the yard on his John Deere tractor. So many scenes floated through my head, but one stood out. It was always a lovely sight to watch Janet playing with her foster dogs, Mitchell and Beekman. Sadly the two Golden Retrievers are both gone now, but it is sweet to have a lively reminder in paint.

It was very much a spring surprise when the editor at Dan's Papers emailed and said they were going to use "Mecox Memory" for the cover. I was grateful for a recent cover using "Tribute" and figured "my turn" was up for awhile! Yup, never assume. I nearly didn't send the image over, but thought that the editor might be amused that it took me 16 years to finally finish a painting.

Thank you, Dan's for supporting local artists!

Thank you to all of my family and friends who constantly inspire and support me!

For a full blog archive back to 2012, see Painting the Hamptons!