Autumn in Appalachia
Autumn in Appalachia. For a few weeks a year, the Blue Ridge Mountains are draped in a rainbow blanket of leaves. The clouded skies dip low to smother the mountain tops in a foggy romanticism. The crisp mountain air carries rustling leaves of vivid red, yellow, orange, and gold. The morning dew clings to spider webs, coating them in a spooky sheen. The leaves crunch underfoot as you hike along winding mountain trails.
It’s my favorite time of year to be in my favorite mountains. So, naturally, it’s one of the most inspiring times to paint.
For my husband, Joshua, it’s the most inspiring time to trail run. So as he set off on a 13 mile hike along the Tanawha Trail, I wheeled my cart of paints and supplies up a rolling hill and set up the most idyllic picnic for plein air painting at the end of that trail. Beneath an outcropping of rocks and trees, I laid down my blanket and took in the view from the very spot where my husband proposed four years ago.
Three years before his proposal, it was the space we hiked to in the middle of the night to stargaze and talk about all things love and life. It was the place where we truly fell in love. For years, we referred to it as “the spot.”
As I painted, Joshua made his way down the Tanawha Trail to me. Three short hours later, he arrived at my painting location…our “spot.” (pause the time lapse video below at 0:29 to catch a glimpse of Joshua’s arrival).
The piece I made on this day is certainly not my favorite painting, but it was among my very favorite painting experiences.
So although I’m not particularly thrilled with how the painting turned out, I am thrilled with the experience of painting it. It’s a reminder to myself that painting is not always about the final product, but about the process. It inspires me to redefine my definition of success. This painting was a success, not because I loved the end result, but because I loved the journey.
Even still, it’s challenging for me to show paintings of mine that I’m not as thrilled with, as I’m still working on showing people the imperfect sides of myself, and that includes my art. However, I hope you’ll nevertheless enjoy, as I did, watching the view and the experience of painting a place so dear to my heart.
Where’s your “spot”? I’d love to paint it for you one day.