Cloud, clouds everywhere

These nimbostratus clouds covered Virginia on Friday, October 28th. Nimbostratus are our frequent rain clouds that cover the sky and provide day-long showers. That is in contrast to the nimbocumulus clouds which are associated with thunderstorms and sudden, violent showers.


I painted these clouds at 6 pm facing the west. The air was so cool (about 36 degrees F) we also had sleet in the early evening, just before this painting was made.


Since clouds are so amorphous, it seemed a good time to quote part of Goethe's poem "To the Honoured Memory of Howard" honoring Luke Howard, a Quaker, whose 1820 classification of cloud types inspired so many artists and scientists:

     But with pure mind Howard gives us

     His new doctrine's most glorious prize:
     He grips what cannot be held, cannot be reached,
     He is the first to hold it fast,
     He give precision to the imprecise, confines it,
     Names it tellingly--yours be the honour!--
    Whenever a streak (of clouds) climbs, piles itself  

     together. scatters, falls,
    May the world gratefully remember you.

And, we do.