The Joy of Rainy Days

 

Goofy  family selfie

Hello! My name is Sommer Proden. I am enjoying life in Valdez, AK, with my family. They keep my life interesting with all the activities and interests they enjoy. I have a 15-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son. We lived in Fairbanks, where I homeschooled them on our beautiful hobby farm in the Goldstream Valley. In 2021, we moved to Valdez, where we have been enjoying the outdoors, fishing, hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing in the winter. I still homeschool my daughter, who has always been an artist and out-of-the-box thinker. My son decided to attend public school last year with his new friends and has been enjoying school immensely. I grew up in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, and met my husband on a ski lift in Montana. From there we married in Hawaii and moved to Alaska, adventuring in life every step of the way.

Stroll in an Autumn Rainy Park 

Palette knife oil Painting by Leonid Afremov

available at https://afremov.com/stroll-in-an-autumn-rainy-park.html

    I love art; I love getting lost in the different worlds, stories, and emotions artists bring to us. I don't consider myself an artist, but I dabble in drawing, painting, felt arts, and pottery. The art collection in my house is of my children’s art. We celebrate their art by framing it and, in my daughter’s case, using her digital art as a screen saver on our devices. We also love supporting our artist friends and buying and displaying their art in our home.  

    I came across a painting by Leonid Afremov while searching the web for art to share. I'd never heard of or seen his work before, but I immediately fell in love with this piece. Mother and child enjoying a fall walk, possibly just after the rain, or perhaps there is still a light sprinkle of rain, slowing as the clouds begin to clear. Instead of hunching down and braving the weather, they seem to be leisurely walking under umbrellas, as if they are embarking on an outside adventure of exploration. The puddle stomping and Great Earth Worm inspections are about to begin.  The bright and warm colors warm us, and the colors blending as reflections remind us of the fun rainy days can bring. I’m reminded of the early fall days in Fairbanks at Creamer’s field, walking the trails where puddles abound.  Or the fall days here in Valdez, where rain is pretty much expected every day.   Rain is too often looked upon as a hindrance or a day ruined.  Those of us who live in a rainy area come to appreciate that you can't let a rainy day keep you from doing what needs to be done.  Even more, we understand how refreshing it is, how much it helps our gardens, and most importantly, it becomes the best excuse to stay home and do nothing, staying warm and cozy at home, perhaps with a cup of tea and a good book or puzzle.  

   Leonid Afremov is a fascinating artist.  His website features his oil paintings.  I have fallen in love with so many of his paintings just browsing his website.  He worked hard, and for most of his life, he faced prejudice and hardships. Despite this, he was innovative and creative.  He spent most of his artistic life painting limited themes for Lenin, local farms, and galleries in Russia and Isreal, where he and his family migrated in the 80's and then to the US.  Finally, selling his paintings on eBay helped him find the freedom to paint what he wanted and explore his artistic capabilities.  I encourage you to check out his website and get lost in his online gallery.