Forest Trees (with moose 🙂‍↔️)

[Grapes]

I went to a forest to paint on Sunday. This forest is quite far from me 2 hours or so. I was interested in the tree trunks and of course the forever challenge to try to paint the branches. Maybe one day I get them right.
When I was nearly done l heard some movement behind me .. only 5 meters away. I looked back and saw a head of something bigish .. is it a horse .. no, it is a moose, a mom moose with her little one! Didn't they hear me standing there right in front, why didn't she smell me! I certainly didn't hear them coming! I was of course in panic. Luckily she turned to the left and ran fast to the nearest tall trees and her very tiny baby after her. It was more scary than cute moment. After all these are big wild animals but didn't have horns.
I never ever expected something like this to happen when painting pleinair!

I will later work more on this piece. It probably will loose some of it's pleinair mood but canvas is good.

 

[Artyczar]

Very well done on these trees and branches. Good work!

 

[Grapes]

Arty, thank you so much!

 

[Donna T]

I hope you decide not to do too much more with this, Grapes, because it has a wonderful fresh plein air look as it is! The branches and the shadows on the trunks are gorgeous. Was your cat with you this time? The moose would have terrified me!

 

[Grapes]

Thank you, Donna!
So true. It will change if I touch it. They always do.
The cat wasn't with me this time because the place was far and I wasn't sure about the weather and place. I just wonder what would have happened if she was with me when meeting with the moose.
I did freak out, also I wasn't sure how many more moose are there behind me. Besides, l heard moose mommas can be aggressive when they are with their calfs.

 

[Sanlynn]

Lovely painting. Good thing you stayed safe.

 

[Grapes]

Thanks, Sanlynn!

 

[Joy]

Perfect example of the serenity of nature. It seems finished to me, and I over work so much! It could be a photo of the scenery here in Western Pennsylvania. Of course, we don't have moose, but black bear. Several times we have seen one in our yard, once right near our deck attached to the house.

 

[Grapes]

Oh my goodness, a black bear close to your deck!

I think I need to start preparing better for pleinair days like this maybe turning music on to make noice so that wild animals know to keep away. Because this is scary. That being said, this weekend I'm going to another forest to paint, it's towards east and there could be brown bears. Possibility is very small but like I said l never thought I'd meet a moose either.

Joy, same for me, I tend to overwork and if I finish this piece more I'll post it but I'm now changing my mind little bit after many comments and might leave it to it's pleinair atmosphere.

 

[Jo Castillo]

This is beautiful. I love it as it is. Your story is scary. Animals are so protective of their young. My sister-in-law was attacked by a deer in New Mexico. She was walking her little dog and it wouldn't quit barking. She was trying to pick up the little dog and protect them with her walking stick. Evidently the deer didn't like the dog. She was near the house so our friend saw her and we all went out and the deer went back to the baby. Close call. Happy you had no problem...

 

[Grapes]

Jo, thank you! It's nice to hear your positive comment about this pleinair.
Glad your sister-in-law is ok and the deer went away. These are scary situations.