I hope you enjoy seeing scenery in and around Jacksonville, Florida, because this post has more :>). Since both our super sons and their wonderful wives were busy on Mother's Day, Mark and I enjoyed a quiet afternoon. The weather was so spectacular, clear and pleasantly warm with a light breeze, that we decided to take a walk in a park we had seen only briefly before when we were house-hunting seven years ago. The Lyons Club Park (that's the way the map spells it), lies on the western edge of a point of land along the St. John's River just before this north-flowing river makes its last winding turn east to empty into the Atlantic Ocean several miles from the park. After a delightful walk, we took a peek at a second lovely park, a preserve area just across the main road on the north edge of the point. Always on the lookout for "paintable" scenes, I took some photos as we walked in Lyons Club Park. One shows typical vegetation along one of the well-kept paths. Another looks back at the way we had come, a park boardwalk along the marshy river bank. The third shows the industrial port views across the river at this point, an interesting contrast to the parks and preserves that line some of the river bank, the lucky riverfront homes, and to the city skyscrapers and urban river walk downtown. We continue to be grateful that we chose Jacksonville for our home in this semi-retirement phase of life (and beyond, we hope). The variety of wetlands, wooded areas, beaches, and extensive preserve lands--the varied habitats and ecosystems are amazing. What a super home for a landscape and seascape painter! Exploring and discovering new areas of natural beauty are an important part of creative living for us.Question of the day: What are the best natural features of your area?
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Goodness, Mary! I've done posts on Starved Rock State Park and on the I & M Trail (twice) in my blog. I think we can each find beautiful places in our home areas if we but look. I have always detested the industrial 'cities' that crop up along waterways. I used to think they looked so awful (Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma, Elliott Bay in Seattle, many places along the canals and rivers and along Lake Michigan here in IL). I still think they are a blight, but at the same time, I also see hints of the Industrial Revolution and find that sometimes there is a unique beauty even in these ugly spots. Think of "On the Waterfront" with Marlon Brando and the art of the sets, despite the cannery...
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Sherry, that all of us can find beautiful places in our home areas, and it's a blessing to be able to appreciate them. I grew up just north of Muskegon, MI, so saw plenty of ugly, polluting industry along lakes and rivers. However, I do enjoy watching a busy port with all the shipping going in and out--have since childhood. Of course, there was a time when this was the best way to transport goods or people, and that is why we have so many cities along rivers and the ocean. In Jacksonville, we are fortunate to have many, many square miles of protected river bank, marsh,, and ocean front, so there is some balance in the use of the waterways. Thanks for your interesting reflections, as always--you can see you got me thinking.
ReplyDeleteHello Mary. It is a beautiful piece of the country in which you live. No wonder you are attracted to paint the wonderful scenery. Today, finally came good news that the oil spill is making a stop. Well I think the consequences will be equally disastrous. I cry when I see what the planet we live. Nothing doing, no oil can not.
ReplyDeleteI looked at your paintings and I must say that they are magical. I wish you let the work continue to thrive. Nice day wishes J.B.
J. B., it is wonderful to hear from you--thank you for visiting and for commenting! I appreciate all your thoughts and your kind response to my paintings. The process of painting is magical for me, that I know. Yes, we are fortunate to live in this beautiful part of the country and care deeply for its preservation. Thank you for caring, too. Although we have not visited your home town, we were enchanted with Prague and the loveliness of the Czech Republic when we came in 2008.
ReplyDeleteI live near a national park that bears the name of the Czech Switzerland. It's a beautiful landscape. There are rocky ridges, canyons, sandstone towers and mesas surrounded by deep forests. Park goes back to Germany, where it is called Saxon Switzerland. Switzerland in the title have been responsible for two Swiss artists who painted sometime in the eighteenth century natural beauty. This contributed to the publicity and subsequent popularity of this beautiful place. In my hometown is just forests and grasslands. Previously there were a large textile factory, which contributed to the prosperity of the city. After the revolution in 1989 have closed. Today only ruins are mostly. Our biggest problem (it covers the whole Czech Republic) are probably illegal landfills. After opening the border because we have bad legislation, had big problems with them. Now we are paying exorbitant sums for their environmentally friendly disposal. But it is more about politics so back. The landscape is beautiful here and I knew how to paint landscapes like you, I had ideas for life :-).
ReplyDeleteHi again, J. B.! I just realized you had posted a second comment here. The story of your hometown and the surrounding area is fascinating--thank you for the information. The landscape there truly sounds beautiful. Sorry to hear about the landfills, but glad they are being cleaned up. You will make many gorgeous paintings of your area, I am certain.
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