Chicken Coop, oil on paper, 9 x 10.25 in, (22.86 x 26 cm), 9/9/09 Elm Bank Garden, no.2, oil on paper, 9 x 10.25 in, (22.86 x 26 cm), 9/6/09 … [Read more...]
Charles River, no. 5
Happily this week, a quiet respectful family admired but did not interrupt four painters working outside. Another father enthusiastically fished with his two young kids, frequently reminding them to lower their voices because "the artists are working." Thick underbrush in this area restricts desirable river views and access to a tiny stretch of beach. When I arrived, I was angry to see litter on … [Read more...]
Charles River
Today's 50% chance of rain turned out to be benign light showers. The weather changed frequently back and forth between overcast and brilliant sun. It was a perfect day to be outside working next to a slow flowing river. The antique stone bridge crosses a small stagnant side channel. Cars within the park continue to travel on it, somewhat incongruously, and so far too fast to record in paint. … [Read more...]
Charles River
It turns out painting has a few things in common with fishing. Artists look for similar choice spots to set up and don't like newcomers to crowd it. The best catch is often the one that got away. The first painting I did looked great about a half hour before I finished work. The experience reminded me of a joke heard this summer: How many people does it take to make a painting? Two. One to paint, … [Read more...]
Charles River
My current intention is to create atmosphere in my paintings; atmosphere in the sense of air rather than mood. My clay-like paint handling makes air easier to come by on rainy days, when the substance of space approaches a solid. On those days, forms appear smudged, presenting themselves that much closer to open-form non-linear representation. Yesterday was crystal clear, a perfect summer day to … [Read more...]
Elm Bank Garden
Elm Bank, oil on paper, 9 x 9 in (22.86 x 22.86 cm), 07/11/09 … [Read more...]
Elm Bank Gouache
Elm Bank no.3, gouache on paper, 7 x 9.25 in (17.78 x 23.5 cm), 7/4/2009 Elm Bank no.2, gouache on paper, 7 x 9.25 in (17.78 x 23.5 cm), 7/4/2009 Elm Bank no.1, gouache on paper, 7 x 9.25 in (17.78 x 23.5 cm), 7/4/2009 … [Read more...]
Elm Bank Fountain
First day painting outside this season. Flowers not yet emerged. Bare trees. A few things went right: being outside in 60 degree weather, not cooped up inside for those hours; spending an afternoon pursuing the trial and error process of developing a body of work. I'm willing to let the process show me the path, and show it to others along the way. There are worse ways to spend an afternoon than … [Read more...]