Damon Point in Pink

At the very end of Damon Point Road in Marshfield, there is a sturdy commercial pier/dock that overlooks the North River just east of Route 3A.  The river is really rushing here as the opening is at a narrow point.  There are a few parking spots, a nice place to walk, and as it turns out, a very scenic spot for painting.  The late summer sunsets were really starting to get more warm and colorful.   

One evening, along with my walking, I set up my gear (unusual for this morning person!).   It was nice that there was some decent color, but I have to admit, there was not as much color in real life as is depicted in this painting.  I used my memory of the more vibrant sunsets to paint the sky and to fill in the orangey golds of the mudflats.   I painted the hardscape of the scene, tree lines, seagrasses, docks and perching branches with what was in front of me.  Other than seeing spots for the rest of the night from staring at the sun, it was a perfect evening!

Damon Point in Pink

Grand Town Hall

It's mid October and the Nemasket Plein Air Festival is in full swing in Middleborough, MA.  

Their town hall is such a beautiful old building.   There are many ornate features that would be deserving of a painting, but I focused on the tower so as to include the sky and folliage.  I set up in the far side of the parking lot next to a row of gloriously yellow maples.   The sky started out cloudless, then milky clouds drifted in.   By the end of the painting session it was completely overcast, ahhh, the fun of plein air.  Luckily, I locked the sky down about 40 minutes in.  The trick with the tower was to simplify with the shadow patterns and a few highlights.  Not perfect, but definitely plein air!

Grand Town Hall

Nemasket Water Station

Nemasket Water Station

The Nemasket River weaves its way through Middleborough, MA and because of how densely populated the area is, there are several roadways that pass over the water and afford some very scenic river views.  One such place is an area known as The Herring Run on Wareham Street. 

I set up my gear right on the sidewalk next to this little brick building that apparently serves, or served, some purpose related to water. The pristine photo of the bubbling water and autumn colors and reflections belies the actual experience.   There was no Zen.  hahaha.  I could not have picked a worse spot.   There was an active construction site to the left with a constant roar of backhoes and tractors.  As a main town thoroughfare, there were trucks, busses and cars screaming around the curve where I was, a little nervewracking.    I liked the visuals though and I tried to concentrate and paint quickly.

 

Nemasket Water Station

The little brick building was a puzzle.  I guessed it could house equipment, or a water gate/dam, work or assist somehow in the herring run system just 100 yards to the south of it.   I just liked it because the shape and red brick of the structure was an interesting contrast to the autumn trees and rushing water!

 

 

 

Low Tide Cove

Along the stretch of shoreline between Scituate, MA and Plymouth, MA there are many tidal rivers and streams.  The many inlets created by this natural topography provide safe places to tie up and launch boats.   The bordering salt marshes are a natural buffer between the water and the uplands.  This little cove in Duxbury was as picturesque as can be on this warm, summer morning.

I framed my scene so that the beached boats dotted the inlet side and the old house on stilts sat on the wooded side.  In the foreground, the (very common) greenhead fly box sat amid the bright green seagrasses.  These boxes really do work by reducing the numbers of aggressive, biting "greenies".    I can attest to the fact that I only saw one!

 

Low Tide Cove

Fishing from the Beach

Fishing from the Beach

Today's painting was done at the base of the Powder Point Bridge in Duxbury, MA.   I arrived at this spot ahead of the summer beach crowd and actually painted right out of the back of my parked vehicle which overlooks a little beach on Duxbury Bay.   Before long, the summer bustle picked up with lots of pedestrians and cars crossing this remarkable bridge.  Multiple people were fishing about halfway across the bridge, where there is a stronger current and a boat underpass.   Power para-gliders put on a show as well!

As the tide got higher, one fisherwoman in boots and waders came over to the beach just below my painting location and began casting.  I decided to make her figure and the bridge the two primary focal points of the painting.

First Cliff from Scituate Light

Scituate Lighthouse is wonderfully accessible with free public parking, always a valuable feature for plein air painters.   I've painted the lighthouse on multiple occasions in the past so on this day I framed a different scene.  This composition is south facing across the Scituate Harbor inlet toward what is called the "First Cliff".   There are jetties on either side of the inlet which are depicted.  The "cliff" on the far shore is encircled by some amazing oceanfront properties.  There was so much going on in this scene between all the people and various boats that I found it hard not to include at least a few of these elements in the painting.  What I liked most about the day was the fair weather clouds. :)

 

First Cliff from Scituate Light

 

Peachy at the Beachy

Peachy at the Beachy

It was a delightfully warm summer day - not too humid with a midday tide.   After my winter beach painting experience in Florida, I wanted to practice some of the color-work that I had learned.  Specifically, warm peachy colored sand looks magical when contrasted with deep cornflower blue shadows.  

The scene was facing south and included the shoreline houses of Marshfield's Fieldston area and a wide expanse of Rexhame Beach.   I wanted to include the lifeguard stand and and myriad of beach parasols that dotted the shoreline.   I worked from the top and soon discovered that I had a lot of canvas at the bottom with little interest.   This was composition issue that I wanted to correct, not by including more beachgoers or the rocks, but by way of bolder brushstrokes that would offer shapes and shadows typical of a dunes beach.  Perhaps even more bold strokes are needed!?  What do you think?

Garden Tour Along South River

Garden of an Expert

One of my favorite paint outs of the year is the annual Cliff Rogers Garden Tour.   On the third Tuesday of each June, I get to paint at one of the many stellar Marshfield home gardens that are literally 5-10 minutes away from me.   

This year I painted at a very special garden just a few yards from the South River.  The home is situated just across the water from Humarock.   The master gardener who lives here was as welcoming and gracious as could be, and not just to me, but to all those who walked through.   I heard her answer dozens of gardening questions, from very basic to impressively advanced.  She took the time and energy to explain, and her love of gardening came shining through.   

As I set up, I looked for shade and fortunately there was a good source of continuous shade  spot under some thick, old thick cedars.  I began painting in all the dark areas, holding of on the vivid blossoms. Most people who came through on the earlier side were probably wondering how in the world this canvas was going to turn into a colorful lush garden scene.    If only we could somehow capture  moist air, floral fragrances and constant movement of bees, butterflies and birds.  I decided to include the garden's creator in the painting as she was just as integral and constant part of the garden as the anchoring shrubs.  I feel like this painting does not do justice to this lovely gardener's botanical work of art.   My thanks to her for hosting all of us.

Special Olympic Park

Special Olympic Park - First Cliff

 After crossing the bridge on Edward Foster Road, there is a small triangular traffic island as you enter the First Cliff area.    There is a sign that names this lovely spot, Special Olympic Park.   It's part of the "Adopt a Lot" program where citizens or organizations take responsibility for a public land parcel.   I had trouble uncovering who is tending to this particular spot, but the person(s) is doing a fantastic job.   I set up under the big old apple tree which has two benches and beds of flowers under it.  One purple iris bed was in spectacular full bloom.  In the course of the two hours I was painting, two groups of people came along and sat for a few minutes, no doubt enjoying the view of Scituate inner harbor, and the cool comfort of an old shade tree adorned with surrounding flower beds.   I was doing the same!

Fishing Friends at Dusk

 

Fishing Friends at Dusk

Have you noticed how often I paint the water?   I can't resist the colorful movement of the waves, the moist air.  I like watching and painting other people enjoy the water too.   This is the view from Buoys Restaurant, where we we enjoyed a Valentines Day dinner at sunset.   We had a great table right at the water's edge.  These fishermen were set up across the inlet at the southernmost tip of Treasure Island, a part of St Petersburg, FL.   I snapped this photo because I loved the poses of the men and most of all, the egret that stood watch behind them.  I had plenty of this year's gulf sunset paintings to use for color references too.

Cool Greenish Morning - St Pete Beach

There is a main thoroughfare that runs north/south along the interior shore (east side) of the St Pete Beach barrier island called Pass-A-Grille Way.   Conveniently, the parking and the sidewalk are right along the inlet where I saw dolphins, pelicans and all kinds of egrets.  It was early when I set up to paint and the shore of the "mainland" was barely visible because of the mist.   

A walker who lives nearby told me that the foreground dock that I was painting had just been completed when Hurricane Milton hit.   There was enough damage (and more pressing repairs on the island,) that it remains unusable - that is - unless you are painting it. haha  The dock beyond the closest pier is the functioning Merry Dock and that is where the Miss Pass-A-Grille fishing boat was docked.   Luckily that boat did not move while I painted.   

As for the painting process, I tried to stay true to the misty morning, making sure that everything had a greenish tinge to it.   If I had had chromium green with me, it would have been useful, but instead I made do with Sap Green, Viridian, and Emerald.   The seagulls and pelicans were also very cooperative!

Merry Dock

Memorable Day - St Pete Beach

 

Beach in High Key

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunset Over the Gulf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On our winter getaway to Florida this year, we routinely took a long but leisurely bike ride each morning .  On this particular day we decided to walk the beach instead and what happened next made me so happy we did!

Along the shore there was a large group of plein air painters.  We stopped to observe and started chatting with one of the students.  She pointed out the teacher's painting, and I instantly commented to my husband that it looked just like Roos Schuring’s work.  Roos (pronounced Rose) is a painter from the Netherlands who I have followed for years.  In my dreams I thought maybe someday we would travel to the Netherlands and participate in one of her plein air workshops.  (Additionally I envisioned us visiting the homeland of Dutch masters like Rembrandt and Vermeer whom I admire so much.) 

Yellow Beach Umbrella Morning

Well here we were in Florida, and there was Roos in the flesh!   I was so excited that I had to approach and introduce myself.  Fast forward..we hit it off immediately and she generously invited me to paint alongside the class.  

I was mesmerized by her setup, process, colors and results.   It was truly a God-given gift to stumble upon the group and observe Roos and her students.   Although I was not an official class participant, I was welcomed by all and got to connect with my favorite "celebrity artist" who I now consider my friend.  It was an experience I'll never forget!

 

 

 

 

Favorite Hangout Area

 On St Pete Beach, there is a fun and funky place right on the beach that draws a big sunset crowd each evening.   It's an informal fish fry type place called Paradise Grill where you order at the walk up window then sit to dine at picnic tables or on the many colorful Adirondack chairs that are at the edge of the beach.   Both of the paintings in this post were done at this spot.   The first was an afternoon capture of the pretty tropical water as a backdrop for the two rescue surfboards that lean on a tall rack.   Fortunately they never moved as far as I could tell during the trip.    The orange life jacket popped out against the turquiose water which caught my eye immediately.   The board was actually a black underpainting and maybe that is why the colors look extra bright.    

Rescue Boards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The small but colorful sunset painting has a high key chroma for me and I'm going to say it took less than an hour.   My husband and expert consultant came over and implored me to stop right there and leave it as loose and colorful as it was.    I actually listened this time.  hahaha.   I do like the wild strokes and it has a nice tropical feel.   Hope you like it too!

Fans of the Sunset

 

Sunset And Shell Hunting

 

Sunsets are probably what Saint Pete Beach is best known for, and from what I’ve observed, shell hunting is a close second. So that’s why the first two paintings I did while staying there this February capture those two topics.

Each evening people are drawn to Florida's west facing coastline to enjoy the show, no two ever the same.  This fiery sunset happened from our closest shoreline, which was the Pass-A-Grille Beach. The high contrails and low horizon clouds were lit up in a full spectrum of orange, peach and yellow. As the sun sunk lower, the sky was more vivid and the sand and vegetation became cooler and bluer.   My canvas was a black board to start with and I was able to carve the shape of the figure with my scrape out tool, essentially leaving the substrate unpainted.   I feel like this is exactly the type of painting that will remind me of my favorite part of this getaway.

 

 

Fiery February Sunset

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The second painting was done at the 1st Ave Beach Access at the southernmost tip of the St Pete Beach barrier island.  A very popular spot for shell hunters, people wade in and out of tidal pools looking for the holy grail of the shell world (sand dollars and spotted junonia).   I'm more of a seaglass gal, but I can certainly understand the theraputic benefit of just wandering through sand and water looking for treasure.

  

Shell Hunting at the Sandbar

As for the painting, I was attracted by contrasting shapes of the barrel shaped palm, slabs of concrete and the humans on the sand. I probably applied 80% of the paint with palette knives leaving thick, barely blended strokes.   I intentionally left much more warmth in the undergrowth and vegetation to convey a tropical feel.

Snowy Stone Wall

Snowy Stone Wall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just before leaving for a warmer place, I painted this scene from a photo I took.    To me, the prettiest winter scenes happen right when the snow stops and the sun is starting to emerge.  That was the case here.  It was clean and bright with maximum snow and shadow contrast.   

Bzzzz

I took a beekeeping class a few years ago and came away just astonished by the amazing societal world of bees.  Since then I can't help but watch them closely and study which garden flowers attract the most activity.  This past growing season, ornamental allium and coneflowers seemed to be their favorite pollen sources.    With the winter temperatures plummeting, I decided a floral painting would just the topic that would give me a break from the winter, black, brown, gray and white palette outside.  My color temperatures mimic a midday cool skyblue light and warm shadow undertones.

Bzzzz

Catskill Mountains Paint Outs

I've always been fascinated with the Hudson River School Painters and although their painting style was only "in vogue" for a generation and a half, the epic works of Fredrick Church and Thomas Cole still hang in the country's finest museums, many of which are works of epic proportions.   These two painters along with a group of painters known as "The Ten," made pivotal contributions to the American painting movement. 

This fall, we drove to the Hudson Valley, traveling through the picturesque hills, ravines and riversides that inspired Thomas Cole and Fredrick Church.  The Cole Homestead was modest but beautifully situated on a hillside where his veranda had sweeping views of the Catskill Mountains - inspiring scenes he had painted.  

We toured the home, the grounds and his studio.  Here we got to see the four 1840 studies he executed in preparation for the renown paintings at the National Gallery in Washington, DC that comprise the "Voyage of Life" series.

Thomas Cole Voyage of Life Studies in Cole Studio

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

There is something special about standing in the same physical spot as a historical figure who lived, worked and touched the very work you are looking at!  

Thomas Cole's protege, Fredrick Church built his homestead nearby.   Not modest!  It was a hilltop mansion across the Hudson from Cole that was enormous by comparison. Church was a wealthy world traveler and collector.   The emphasis of his estate tour was more his status and lifestyle, but there were many beautiful paintings to see as well.   We painted from the location of Church's studio, a west facing vantage with views of his property leading down to the Hudson River.   

These two painters made their mark on the entire area.  When we hiked at the Kaaterskill Falls some of the trail markers had images of their paintings.   One Cole painting spot in particular was at the very lofty (scary!) overlook where we stood.  Great trip and of course, when we get to paint - even better!

  

Catskills View

Fredrick Church Studio View

Middleboro Paint Outs

 These three paintings capture scenes in Middleboro, MA, a mostly low lying area with ponds, lakes, streams and cranberry bogs.   True Grit Art Gallery holds an annual painting event where painters capture scenes from within the town boundaries for a month long exhibition of the masterpieces that result.

The first scene is from Lolans Farm in mid-October.   The displays are bursting with harvest bounty with every kind and color of pumpkin you can imagine.   It was a brisk and mostly cloudy day when this woman walks through scanning for the perfect pumpkin.

Scanning for the Perfect Pumpkin

 

 

 

 

 

The next painting was done along the Nemasket River next to the Oliver Mill.  This spectacular old stone bridge was first built in 1859 and was referred to as the Muttock.   It was repaired/rebuilt a number of times since but the structures' sturdy, rustic design remains true to the original.   The bridge was a visual  magnet for a painter like me - love of water and Irish roots.   The gorgeous reflections of the stonework and autumn color doubled the magnificence of scene.

The Muttock

The third and final plein air exhibition painting was done at an area called Betty's Neck.  It was a perfect day for enjoying the fall color.   I met a couple who were scoping out the spot from where they were going to watch the Northern Lights that evening.   They agreed my very spot was going the get the nod once it got dark.   For me, it was very much the bright sunshine, water and peak foliage getting the nod.

 

Causeway View - Betty's Neck

 

Tybee Island Getaway

Last winter we visited Tybee Island, a barrier island between the Atlantic and Savannah, GA.    We drove from New England to this winter adventure. Traveling by car means we bring the "stuff" that would not make the cut if flying was involved.   For us, that meant our full complement of painting gear came along too.

I've procrastinated in posting these five paintings so I've decided to just share all the images in this one post, sparing you the details.     Potentially I would be making things up about the paint outs - since I can't remember a lot of details now that it is months later.

The exception is the painting with the angry looking clouds which was done from a photo I took.  We had taken a beach walk and we received alerts on our phones that there was a tornado watch (warning? see, I forget...the worser of the two).   It was so dark and stormy looking, and being from New England, we didn't know if it was something to be alarmed about.  I took a photo of the swirling clouds and dark water as we raced back to our VRBO - quite a vivid memory!   I felt it was worthy of a painting as the photo shot captured the beach, the sky and the water in various "unnatural" shades of green and gray.

 

Tybee Dawn from Deck

Tybee Pavilion Pier

Tybee Tornado Watch

Tybee Boathouse Tidal River

 

Tybee Lighthouse

 

 

 

Quincy 400 Marina Bay Festival Plein Air

On July Fourth weekend, I was invited along with other painters to create some live works of art of along the boardwalk at beautiful Marina Bay in Quincy, MA.   Quincy was founded in 1625, a mere five years after Plymouth, so its 400th anniversary is here and it was celebrated in grand style.   There was a full three days of programming including great music, patriotic parades, children's events and even John Adams made an appearance in vintage garb.  

The heat was a factor and remembering to drink while immersed in a plein air painting is always a challenge.   The event company who invited us took very good care of us though, and we were even treated to a gourmet lunch (albeit in a box).  I created two paintings that day which were part of a mini competition on Sunday.   Amazing artist Morgan Davis took the top prize with her painting of the clock tower.   (far left in the picture)  That's me with my eyes closed :).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The complex dock scenes below would have terrified me not too long ago.  I have since learned to let the details go and concentrate on the big shapes and concentrate on painting a few key elements well.   The viewers' eyes and brain do the rest as they digest the painting!   All the American flags were done with my palette knife with one very loose, long stroke.  

 

Marina Bay Boardwalk - West Q400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marina Bay Boardwalk - North Q400