One April morning I rose early and headed out to Shaker Village.  This Spring has been one of the most beautiful in memory and this particular morning was so perfect I just had to get out and try to make some art.   I strolled around the village soaking up the good energy, looking for interesting value shape patterns and pleasing divisions of space.

Mid-April in Kentucky can be artistically challenging; some of the trees haven’t leafed out and are still nearly bare creating a wintery look, while the thick green grass and sunshine and everything blooming yields a full blown Spring look.   It can send mixed messages if you paint the trees with too sparse of foliage.  But I’ve got to say, on a day like this, well, who cares.  It is a gift to walk in this place among the Shaker’s architecture and beside the old trees and gardens in the peace and quiet and feel the sun on my shoulders. 

This painting is from a photo taken on my walk.  This building is the dining room at the Inn at Shaker Village.   Before it you see the spring garden, with markers showing where various crops were planted. Inside is the smell fresh coffee and the clink of plates and silverware as people enjoy their breakfast.

I hope this painting evokes within you the same good early Spring feeling I had while I was there.