"Simple"

Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill is one of my favorite places to work. When I go there I draw "en plein air" and I take lots of reference photos for later studio work especially when the weather in Kentucky does not lend itself to the outdoor experience.

A favorite Shaker song written by Joseph Brackett goes
"Tis the gift to be simple, Tis the gift to be free
Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be"

And I think about choices for subject matter for art. I come down on the side of "simple", not big thoughts or esoteric meanings; just images that touch my heart and isn't that what it's all about. Finding beauty in the quiet places of life.

This is a carriage trail in Shaker Village and it use to be the main road from Harrodsburg, KY to Lexington, KY. The Shakers used it to take their products to market and as I stand on this road I think of all who travelled along it's gravel path.

pastel and alcohol wash underpainting on UART sanded paper

Adding NuPastel and Sennelier pastels for next layers

"Simple Trail - Shaker Village" 8"x12" pastel