Tag: flowers

Hedgerow Magic

hedge•row :a rough or mixed hedge of shrubs, trees or plants enclosing or separating fields

Hedgerows were originally planted to delineate fields and town lands in Ireland. They have grown into very important habitats for a diverse group of plants and animals. These living fences line the narrow roadways and insist that you slow to a pace that allows you to see all the life that they are supporting.

These vertical works of art contain flowers, birds, insects, trees and shrubs. Each of these elements supports the other creating its own little ecosystem. Along with being beautiful they are a wonderfully protective place for birds to build their nests and bees to make their homes in wait to do their job of pollinating the plants in the fields around them. These hedgerows provide a valuable service to agriculture through their habitats for pollinators, flora and fauna, and the prevention of soil erosion.

However, as an artist one of my favorite parts are the flowers that they host. They make their homes both in the cracks of the stones, as well as, in the dirt that the winds have deposited in between them. Montebretia, heather and gorse are some of the most widely seen plants I’ve noticed the walls hosting. With their intense colors of orange, purple and yellow the walls create their own abstract painting. The earth is singing a symphony in these roadside treasures.

The road appears to be getting a “sandwich” hug from both sides with the hedgerows. One of my favorite colors is purple because it is so deep and rich. The brilliant hedgerows are filled with these color. While walking the land I am recharged by listening to the earth sing with its beauty. As a child growing up in Iowa I remember enjoying the weeds/flowers that naturally grew in the ditches along side the roads. Even today these “volunteer gardens” bring me a great deal of joy as the hedgerows do in Ireland. What one person considers a weed another may call a flower. The bees that we so desperately need seem to have an infinity for them all and are totally indifferent as to their hierarchy.

So next time you venture out into the country or take a walk in nature remember to slow down and notice the masterpieces being created all around you.

Not every masterpiece is created in the studio…so often it has help from what is right outside.

Try a Little Mud for Creative Inspiration!

“Walking the Fields of the Prairie” | Oil on Board | 6″x12″ | $360

The land inspires much of what I paint through what it provides and the simplicity of living off the land. Growing-up in Iowa I spent a great deal of time on a farm with pigs, horses, crops and lots of things to get into for a kid (Not all of which were parental approved.) However, having four confidants in crime (brothers and sisters) we were able to find all kinds of adventures to pursue. We played in the mud, created pottery out of it and were lucky enough to have my Mom bake our creations in the oven. She even used on one of her prized cookie sheets. I do believe the turtle creations hung around for more than 10 years!

“Simplicity is the Ultimate Sophistication”.

Leonardo da Vinci
The Land I Played on in Iowa as Child and it still Inspires Me Today.

Our farm house sat beautifully in the middle of acres and acres of cornfields.  This was no ordinary old two story farmhouse, it’s claim to fame was a that it was a hide-out for the infamous Jesse James from time to time.  That’s right the outlaw!

Back to the cornfields and dirt:  If you were to wander through one of the cornfields you’d find a creek which was always calling our names.  After all what kid wouldn’t like to play in the water and mud of a creek??  This was after all considered an acceptable place to play by our parents…on the other hand we did manage to find a form of playing in the mud that wasn’t as welcome to our Mother. 

Here is where some of that “Creativity” comes in. One fine Summer day we discovered a very large tractor tire track in a field that was filled with the PERFECT amount of water to make it delightfully slippery. Our experimentation began with running and sliding while standing up. Our vertical sliding method “accidentally” morphed into sliding on our stomachs which proved to be absolutely OUTSTANDING! This event of “opportunity” happened probably 45 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. By the time my mother was made aware of our latest adventure we were covered in mud from head to toe. Even to this day it is puzzling to me as to why this was such a problem…give me a minute as I get up off the floor from laughing so hard!

I have always felt growing up on a farm was a real treat and a great way to learn to appreciate the hard work, determination and grit that it takes to live off the land. Oh yea and there is plenty of mud!

Simplicity is the final achievement…it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.

Frederic Chopin
Myself (Back Center) and My Confidants in Crime: Karla, Sarah, Andy and Mark…That’s right I’m naming names and I can’t imagine life without them!

Much of my creative inspiration comes from those years on the farm and a life lived quietly and simply in the country, even as a child. Children are always learning and discovering things that will carry them through their lives whether directly or indirectly. So when you see weathered fence posts, a creek or a ditch of wildflowers appear in my work they come from the simplicity of daily life and travels in the States and abroad.

So if you are looking for inspiration I highly suggest mud!

After all what’s simpler than mud?

Ever Wonder: How Long Does It Take to Make A Painting?

Ever wondered how long it takes to make a painting?

“Scottish Plume Thistle” | 8″x10″ | Oil on Board | $360 | ©MargaretDukeman


Many times I’ve been asked
“How Long Did That Painting Take To Complete?”
There is no short simple answer to this question.
 
An artist’s work of art is similar to the delivering of a baby, much thought and preparation goes into it. With your art you’ve thought about it, researched the subject, discovered the best angles and composition, done quick sketches and/or take photos as reference for the studio, and developed the color scheme that develops the mood you are trying to achieve. Each painting is a building block in the castle of your skills through new brush strokes, color combinations and different mediums. This experimenting and learning of skills are carried-over from one painting to the next.
 

Continue reading “Ever Wonder: How Long Does It Take to Make A Painting?”

Look For The Unexpected!

When I plan a trip I’m looking for the out of the way, not typical, adventure laden locations. I want to find places that will inspire my creativity, most of the time my choices aren’t tourist location. Many of the times it’s the roads less traveled that peak and hold my interest.

Portmagee, Kerry, Ireland

While in Ireland these back roads also hold a bit of a challenge until you become familiar with driving on the left-hand side of the road in a teeny tiny car with a huge lorry (that would be a semi-truck) coming at you quite obviously partially on your side. While learning to deal with this heart-palpitating adventure you discover the safest method is to just pull over as far as you can and stop, close your eyes and hope for the best. HAHAHA! Once you get used to it you do somewhat the same thing only you keep moving and keep at least one eye open…and hope for the best. Eventually you do master this challenge and transportation fears become a thing of the past. Once this happens you actually start finding yourself getting frustrated with the “tourists” who you no longer consider yourself a part of. There is no problem wherever you are on the scale there is sure to be a pub around the next corner to soothe whatever ails you. This activity can be very inspirational and soothing and I suggest it at least once a day…the pub that is!

Dun Chaoin Pier, Kerry, Ireland

Beautiful flowers grow wild and “hedges” take the place of chemical spraying…so much more environmentally friendly. Spraying of chemicals or mowing every square inch of roadside simply isn’t done in Ireland. I’d love to see more of this be done in the states. Nature has a way of making things beautiful all on its own. In many places these stunning, tall roadside “hedges” are actually rock walls covered in plants…yet another good reason to have fear of driving. If you get too close to these walls you will have new “racing stripes” down the side of your car due to rocks leaving their signature. You learn to absolutely love these “hedges” because the colony of flowers calling them home is so impressive. The cracks and crevices of these walls host many varieties of grasses, flowers, trees and wildlife.

Don’t Fence Me In, 48”x24”, ©️Margaret Dukeman[[
While traveling the countryside staying between the walls will be a challenge because beautiful ruins will be calling your name from just outside of site. Let one eye stray just don’t let them call both eyes off the road for too long. Stopping for a moment is usually the best idea so you can gawk in awe of the structures and their ability to remain standing. The alternative to choosing to stop is to have a “road hazard” giving you a reason to stopl. These “road hazards” will facilitate the necessity to slow down or stop and grab a peak behind the hedge/stone wall. These types of stops are my favorite! Who wouldn’t like to see some adorable four-legged friends?

I figure “road hazards” both on the driving roads or the road of life are a reason to slow down and really look at the world around you. Join me in celebrating “road hazards”!

Who votes for more “road hazards”! Me, Me, Me!!!

ITTY BITTY TEENY TINY

Challenging my Art

I like a good challenge even in my art so I decided to buy the smallest boards I could find and see if I could translate 3’x7′ down to 4″x4″. First I had to figure out just exactly what the subject matter would be. I went back to one I was familiar with…Flowers. Continue reading “ITTY BITTY TEENY TINY”

The Rolling Hills & Country Roads of the Plains

Growing up I really enjoyed the gravel roads of Iowa. Growing up in the country we took these roads frequently back and forth to town. Even as a child I loved the ditches along side the roads with their beautiful flowers and the fence posts that you could see going by…as long as you weren’t going too fast. Going too fast can also be fun though because there is a bit of a sliding factor that always can become exciting. Continue reading “The Rolling Hills & Country Roads of the Plains”