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This plein air was painted at the Arboretum in June. I wanted to continue my experiment with abstraction so painted this while looking down at the reflections of the trees in the pond. The idea was not to Name the reflections as Trees and Grasses, but just paint the shapes and values. After bringing is back to the studio I have been walking around the painting and making changes in lights and colors because I wanted to make a painting, not just copy what I saw. I have no idea if I am successful or not, but want to continue experimenting while alone. Loneliness does have advantages. Should I paint this bigger?

 I feel powerless to stop this Pandemic, however; not hopeless. It"s a marvel that I ever thought I had the ability to control anything outside myself. Don't we all, to some degree, think we are masters of our own fate, able to plan for tomorrow? Naturally our life will unfold along similar lines as past generations! In this time of advanced medical discoveries, the very idea that a Global Pandemic would shut down our world seemed positively medieval! Yet, here we are! And as I continue to scramble and feel powerless, I also see blessings in this "New Normal". Instead of painting in Europe, this summer, I am painting the neighbor's garden. Instead of teaching art, my studio is quiet. Life is more stressful, but also slower, and I am learning to live one day at a time. And I so appreciate the efforts of my gardening neighbors! With so much death and suffering, beauty gives every day a different perspective. Gratitude for every breath, compassion for all those who are sick and suffering, a depth of sympathy for every person who knows the fear and powerlessness I feel. We are all in this together. Every day we are still alive and well, is a blessing. I pray for us all and that is the only thing that keeps me from feeling hopeless. God that passes all understanding is in this with us. We are not alone.