QUIET AFTERNOON – RIDGEFIELD REFUGE
The Ridgefield Refuge in Ridgefield Washington is one of my favorite places to gather materials for painting.
Occasionally, I do go out on site and paint in the pristine air of this location.
Shuffling around some paintings I have stacked against my wall ( I do check them out for dusting once a year), I came across this little 14” X 11” that I painted on site at the Refuge in 2006.Paintings really do bring back the memory of the moment. I was painting almost 45 minutes when I heard this large splash just below me and lo and behold – a beaver made his way across to the other side.
He must have been sitting just ten feet below since I started painting. Later a blue heron lifted off just in the distance near the tree with the orange foliage highlight.
Being in this spot is what you call “surrounded by nature” in the truest sense. I hope I have captured a little of the late afternoon sunlight as it picked through the trees along with the stillness of the canal that evening.
Happy viewing, fellow bloggers. As always, your comments are welcome. Critiques or Hoorays, I read them all. If you would like to be part of my regular blog, let me know and I will add you to my growing e-maill address listing.
Jim Gola, Artist
You may also visit me on my web at www.jimgola.com
I bring the landscape home with me…
Hans Hoffman 1890-1966
Jim Gola's Art Blog 
November 27, 2007 at 11:48 pm
Hi Jim!
Reading your blog and viewing your painting inspires me. I chance upon your entry while browsing on painting tags. Being a self-taught would-be painter myself I’m easily and naturally drawn to artworks and anything that talk about it. I started painting again last July and had so far finished some works displayed in my apartment walls. Some of my works are posted in my blog:
As you told beautifully in your blog and as I see in your work, you had a wonderful time communing with nature in the refuge that afternoon and you brought me there as I read it.
Thanks for the inspiration.
I wish you well.
~ Jeques
http://jeques.wordpress.com/
November 28, 2007 at 2:51 am
Jeques…
For a thirty five year old and a fairly new painter, you are doing well in your efforts. I am twice your age but also basically self taught, but are we really? We live and breath looking at each others art and always take something with us as we depart. Keep up the good work. I like the way your paintings reflect your cultural background. You work is very individualistic and will only continue to get stronger as you mature within the fine art world.
Jim Gola
December 15, 2007 at 9:46 pm
very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce