Looking across the field multiple times through a day is part of my daily routine. I can’t walk by without stopping to turn my head and glance over at the field. Once again I find myself walking towards the field. The rows of corn have attracted my eye, pulling me to the edge of the grass. At the edge of the field I slow down, embrace the stillness, hear the quiet and become aware of the moment. The season becomes a factor in what one can view, how one views it and the sight lines that allow for it to be viewed. However, it remains bucolic all year long and I take it all in.
Following the corn rows lines across the field I look to see if there are signs of wildlife, I don’t see any wildlife today. The strong west winds over the hill are blowing the snow and it drifts across the entirety of the field. I have observed some significant gusts of wind up here on the hill, I have plans to measure it. My time at the field edge is limited, one day soon I won’t be able to walk here come winter as the snow drifts will be to high, perhaps it will come tomorrow. This reminds me to always live in the moment, as you never know what tomorrow will bring.
With no signs of life, I am drawn to the terrain of the land, the slopes and hills can be seen clearly as the snow covers the ground. One of the most interesting things I like to look at is the rows of cut corn. The perspective given the expansive distance across the field is intriguing, the eye is taken on a journey north across the field. One can only experience this in winter when nature sleeps. At times in the year with a mature crop you can’t see across the field.
Lines within nature are fascinating as it in its true form is abstract. The corn rows also provide outlines and perspective giving clues to the land formations. The season changes what one can view and this makes each season unique, especially to the eye of an artist. The rows of cut corn have been of great interest to me. Particularly the sheer perspective given the expansive distance across the field, the eye is taken on an intriguing journey north across the field. This has been full of discovery to experience in winter as nature sleeps.
The wildlife uses the corn rows as pathways. Through winter I have been watching the wildlife on the sleeping field, following their pathways through the corn rows. Observing how natures colour acts as a camouflage depending on which way they are standing in the field. There have been wild turkeys, deer, coyotes, wolves, geese, sandhill cranes and crows to observe. I have been given a front row seat without obstruction and free from noise to watch the show from afar. In fact as I am editing this piece, there are the most lovely deer out on the field quite far to the east by the woodlot. One is nearly camouflaged by the trees in the woodlot, I am struck at their size and dark colour as they appear substantial from a long distance, I see a couple of smaller deer, likely their young from a few months ago. I truly always watching with at least one eye, I don’t miss much.
An Artist’s Note
This is an important painting. As far as paintings go, this is my favourite painting that I have worked on to date. In fact once I finished this painting I had to immediately go back and rework another painting because I was no longer satisfied with the work on it. Years ago I read a Malcom Gladwell book “The Tipping Point’, in fact I was in a book club at the time exploring this piece of non fiction. This particular painting ‘The Field Sleeps In Winter’ is a tipping point in my painting, the point of time when an idea catches fire igniting and subsequently spreads through my work. I plan to take this spark for a ride and simply flow with it seeing where it takes my paintings.
Jane Holden Art 