Nina Jerome Painting: Moving through Autumn Landscape

My landscape painting practice depends on regular outings, physically moving through space and absorbing the structure of the land and its visual qualities over an extended time. It helps my painting reflexes when my eyes and body have experienced the panoramic space, climbing over rocks, passing through shadows, and feeling the warmth of the sun.

Each fall a friend and I put aside a day, usually a Friday, for a hike or a day-long outing. We compare our schedules in September, and "protect a day". Then we hope for good weather for what may be our final hike of the season. In October we picked Mount Desert Island as our destination and decided on Parkman and Bald Mountains for our excursion. It was a cold morning and we wore layers that were gradually discarded, but were greatly needed at the windy summit. There was a mix of sun and clouds, and the mountains were covered with brilliant red growth along their ledges.

The hike was a challenge for me, but we were rewarded at the top by expansive panoramic views studded with moving shadows. We stopped often to enjoy the views and to question the location of certain landmarks. One of the joys of looking down on a region one knows is to to identify favorite places.

That day has stuck with me, and my photographs provide resources for the paintings. The photos prompt memories of biting wind, blinding light reflected on the surface of the rocks and sea, fast moving clouds, and vibrant red, all of which fuel the painting process.