'Appearances'- Autumn Bramble painting

Title:    Appearances

Size:    51cmx41cm (20"x16")

About this painting: 'Appearances is a painting of Autumn bramblea changing colour from summer greens to tones of auburn, red, orange & gold. They rest against a sun dappled background, filled with light. 'Appearances'brings a sense of warmth & comfort with its mellow colours & a sense of relaxation to a space.

On one of my daily walks with the dog, I was struck by how beautiful the colours & hues of the bramble bushes were as they changed into their Autumn coat. Running along the edge of the driveway, in a hedgerow with other wild flowers, they made a swathe of gorgeous colour backed by hazy seasonal sunshine.

They made me think about how people so often just things on preconceived ideas or appearances. They look at something they consider ordinary even unnecessary & refuse to shift from that idea. When it came to the bramble, my neighbours saw only a weed. Something prickly to get rid of & raze to the ground. 

I saw a valuable plant which in the Spring feeds the bees & butterflies, then creates delicioulsy dark, sweet fruit for not just the wild life, but for us too. Such an important plant with so many benefits. Too quick to judge, the neighbours had the hedgerow ripped out, leaving a barren patch of earh with nothing to offer.

I thought about how these judgements so often happen in life. Looking at a stranger a judgement is made on first appearances. How they look, how they dress, the expression on their face. Without bothering to get  to know or make an effort they write a person off as insignificant. But, in truth, that person may be the kindest, brightes, lovely person to know. But they will never add the joy of knowing them because they only saw the surface.

I have come to the conclusion that such judgment tells a lot about them & maybe they are the ones no worth knowing.

painting 'Appearance' made me ponder about this & in applying those rich colours & sparkling light to the painting, it reminedednot only me not to judge, but to not be bothered if someone judges me. It is their issue , not mine.

If we open our eyes & see the beaut & worth of the somple things around us, life becomes much richer.