Wednesday 16 March 2011

Winter in Richmond Park; a postcard from Alison to Ronelle

Alison Staite's (Lens and pencil) postcard reached me just in time before I took off to Singapore.

What can I say? Beautiful in its monochrome colours, with a serenity and quietude that captures your spirit. "...but oh, wait a minute...what is that behind the tree stirring this peace...? Oh look, a deer! There...to the right! Oh, and another one,..! Aren't they so beautiful?"

Winter in Richmond Park

A story...this is what Alison's postcard is about. And reading her story in her own handwriting, makes it personal. Gives it life. Movement.
I know you would like Richmond Park.  Some of the old oak trees. like the one I have painted here are so contorted and bizarre they seem unreal.

The park is full of deer who eat the lower branches.  This gives the trees a manicured loo, some of them like lollipops - like the ones in the distance on my postcard.

The rest of the park is covered in rough grass and bracken.  All this surrounded by a huge continuous wall enclosing the area 10km2 - that's three times the size Central Park in New York.  I am so lucky to have this on my doorstep!

Come and visit!
Stirs the desire to look again. Closer.

And simply enjoy.

Links re Richmond Park, London

13 comments:

vivien said...

Alison this is really lovely and moody, very sensitive use of paint :>)

Desiree's Designs said...

Oh Alison this is just so lovely. It creates a mood with such emotion! I love the way you have used the positive and negative spaces to define the wonderful area. Bravo!

Making A Mark said...

Alison - you should be very proud of this! I love your description of the park as well. Can I place an order for the Thames or Richmond Park for mine? :)

Albrecht Rissler said...

Beautiful but cold! Brrrr.

Cathy Gatland said...

Alison, this is so lovely with the icy light on the tree trunk and the lollipop trees behind - wonderful to imagine the deer hidden away in there!

Charlene Brown said...

You missed one, Ronell -- there are at least three deer in there.

Robyn Sinclair said...

Really exciting choice of palette, Alison. So fresh and effective. The trees are beautiful, wonderful depth in that foreground trunk and I love the subtle texture in the ground cover.

Papierflieger said...

This one is a stunning surprise, a real eye catcher!

Felicity Grace said...

Beautiful colours, winter perfectly captured!

Africantapestry and Myfrenchkitchen said...

Eh oui, Charlene...your eyes are better than mine!
Before you know it, I'll be visiting Alison!
Ronelle

annie said...

What a beautiful painting... full of atmosphere. Your sketch and your description make me feel that I was there. Thanks for taking me along on your walk.
annie

bridgethunter said...

Isn't it amazing how a single colour can capture the essence of the scene so powerfully?

Pat said...

Alison, this postcard is so fresh and I agree the color says crisp and cold. Well done and I need to put my order in for one just like this. I keep saying that so now you have to send me three.