December 18, 2012

When my father was shopping for an umbrella for his patio years ago, we got into a discussion about shadows when I told him to purchase a darker umbrella so that he would enjoy a darker shade.  Clearly, at the time I didn't get my point across because he purchased a very pale cream umbrella - scoffing at my advice.  Well, who doesn't like a pale umbrella...before it molds, very pretty.  I had mentioned as a point of reference the wonderful tree I planted in my backyard, which has a canopy of large dense leaves that produces the most wonderful deep shade in the summertime.  In fact, we took down our umbrella because this tree provides a cool shade unparalleled.   When it was time to replace that umbrella my dad said that he now understood the idea of different grades of shade and purchased an extremely dark green umbrella which my parents enjoy to this day.  So remember this when you are painting...not all shadows are the same darkness.  Back to my brushes.

"The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a a good novel, must be intolerably stupid."  - Jane Austen