Morning in Cades Cove by Mark Keathley

This particular morning in Cades Cove I was behind a line of cars crawling down the one lane blacktop. Brake lights were all on, maybe off for a couple seconds, then on again.

The morning mist was thick and the air was thin. I remember wishing I had a warmer jacket as I strolled away from the line of cars hoping to find a vantage point that just might get it all in. It rarely happens - where everything comes together and I hear music in the background as I take a photo! This day was no different, but the sun was eager to shine its light on the landscape, and that is what caught my attention. Everyone else was there to see the fall color or an illusive bear, but I was after the light. I took this photo, and smiled inside when I reviewed it on my camera screen.

As you can see, it was the "mood" that I was interested in when starting this painting. I arranged and re arranged some barns and a cabin, and decided to make it feel like I felt that morning, walking on my own through this picturesque countryside - nothing was planned. There was no "center piece." Just the randomness of nature and the addition of a family farm which I would see in a few minutes around the corner.

Then out of my imagination and longing, stroll a herd of deer into the pasture from a thicket on the left. Oh, did you hear that? It sounds like turkeys in the woods over there. Maybe they will come out too. There is something about these dawn moments that stirs the soul and helps us anticipate excitement and adventure in our life.  With Morning at Cades Cove, I want to invite you to your new day. It is bursting with color and sound, and light - so go ahead and enter it with anticipation. 

~ Mark Keathley