Bennington, Vermont continues to inspire me as an artist. This year I returned to Art New England, a Mass College of Art workshop program that convenes on the Bennington College campus each summer. It is a remarkable gift to work every day for two weeks without other responsibilities, far from the madding crowd. The focus yields incremental but essential changes in my work, especially while guided … [Read more...]
ANE / Benn — Conclusion
I was happy with the long sought efficiency of my painting field equipment. The Soltek easel proved to be extremely versatile. It was able to hold two stretched linens at once, providing stability to both while simultaneously painting across them for the diptych shown above. A helpful musician from the "Chamber Music Conference & Composer's Forum of the East", the group that is on campus with … [Read more...]
ANE / Benn — Final Week
Wednesday brought a day-long rash of phone calls so I didn't start to paint until 4 pm. I was glad to complete the red roof shed in a few hours before the day ended. The painting of the observatory was done the next morning. Throughout my time at Bennington College, I noticed how valuable it was to return to the same spots for the fifth year in a row. Even though I'm working on my own in an … [Read more...]
ANE / Benn — Aerial Perspective
On Tuesday morning it was too hot to stand in the sun but extremely comfortable in a naturally cool spot between two small groves in the south field. While I painted, appearances were made by a marmot, deer, rabbit, squirrel, flock of bluebirds, and harrier chased by a crow. A low flying helicopter made repeated noisy sweeps across the area, possibly taking off from the airport five miles to the … [Read more...]
ANE / Benn — Monday
I decided to extend my extended stay another week to continue to paint outside doing landscape. The final group of door slamming adult students arrived yesterday and began their classes today. It was an extremely humid day. The morning sounds were of oboes and violins coming across the field from Jennings. It brought back to mind a sublime Saturday night free concert of a Shostakovitch quartet by … [Read more...]
Mass MoCA & Middlebury
One of the advantages of attending summer school at Bennington College is its proximity to great collections and exhibitions in the region. The Clark Institute in Williamstown, Mass MocA in North Adams, and Middlebury College Museum in Middlebury, Vermont, are all within a day trip's driving distance. Clark has El Anatsui and Pissarro's People. My favorite exhibit of many good ones at Mass … [Read more...]
ANE / Benn — Week 2, Friday
This is the last day of painting before open studio, held on Friday evening each week of the program. My little paintings are lined up in a row. This is an opportunity to see what everyone else has been doing this week, and to connect with the community of fellow artists, musicians, and visitors from the area. ABOVE: Red Barn, oil on linen panel, 8 x 10 inches (20 x 25 cm), 7/29/11 Open … [Read more...]
ANE / Bennington — Week 2, Thursday
No painting is an island — good follows bad follows good. I'm doing two paintings a day at ANE. Sometimes the morning's is best, sometimes the afternoon's. Everything is either 8x10 or 9x12 inches. Sometimes the small one is better, sometimes the large one. In my mind's ear I keep hearing George Nick say, "I doubt the tree looked like that. The sky was not that dark. I don't believe the grass was … [Read more...]