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.

Garden Tour - North River

Each year I am invited to paint at a property on the Garden Tour organized by the Cliff Rogers Library.   It is their biggest fundraiser and it draws an impressive number of people.   Who wouldn't want to stroll through the very prettiest gardens in the local area and support this lovely small independent library as well.    I look forward to tour day each year and getting to capture the beauty of these gardens. 

I was assigned an expansive garden in North Marshfield that abuts the North River.   The mature plantings were perfectly balanced with many of the specimens in full bloom.   I chose a border planting that had a black wrought iron fence and gate as a backdrop.   I included this lovely woman as she admired a very unusual clementis that had purple bell shaped flowers.  As for the painting, the thick paint application that I like works particularly well for lush and vibrant garden scenes like this one.

Garden Border Bells

Evening Paint Out After Rain

Evening Paint Out After Rain

 I recently painted en plein air along Littles Creek which is behind the JPH Organization in Marshfield.   It had been a very rainy day and it really did look doubtful that this paint out would happen at all.   As I set up it started getting brighter and brighter.   Clouds did dominant as you can see in the whitish sky.   The sun broke thru a bit however!   

It is interesting to note that when everything outside is wet, the dark values like shadows and underbrush are
very dark so that the value range just about covers the whole spectrum.   The wild June roses were spectacular so I pumped up the color in the painting.   Enjoy!

Garden Tour Paint Out

Side Garden Dogwood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was that time of year again.   June means garden tours in some places.  Painters are often invited to set up in the gardens for an added cultural dimension.   I love participating in them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, this is a redwood tree.  I was lucky enough to score a painting location on a spectacular pond with shade from a WWII era redwood tree.   The gardens at this home on the Cliff Rodgers Library Garden Tour were just beautiful, and truly, the star of the show was this unique tree.  They are rare in Southeastern Massachusetts.  In fact, the property owner shared that she believed there were only two others in the area, one in Braintree, MA and one at the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain, MA.    

Funny thing is, I did not paint it.  How could a 11x14 canvas convey its size and majesty.   I am including a picture with human figures so you get an idea of the mass.  As for what I did paint, it was a peaceful garden vignette from the side of the home.   The Koosa Dogwood was in bloom and had the maximum contrast against the shadow side of trees along the road beyond.

As always, the experience was so pleasant with dozens of garden tour participants, and unsurprisingly, a fair number who painted as well. 

Frontage

 I recently painted the frontage view of my house.   It served as a warm up for the Garden Tour paint out that was taking place the following week.   I was most interested with mixing up the best greens for late June and I figured the nearby garden where I would paint was be similar.    The color of the greens was where the similarity stopped!   It was a glorious expansive garden.

This is a kidney shaped bed that has an old (not visible) tree stump in the middle of it.   We created this planting bed after the tree fell in a storm.   We opted to be lazy and just build up the soil around it and plant some shrubs.   My lamppost and planter frame the entrance to the driveway and it will always be that way.  :)

Frontage

Garden Tour Splendor

 

 

 

 

 

Words cannot describe the beauty of the gorgeous garden where I painted recently.   It was part of a garden tour and deservedly so.   The garden lovers, myself included could not get over the many stunning scenes at this riverside oasis.   Peonies were the star as it was the third week of June and there were hundreds of blooms decorating every square foot of garden space.  I stood along a small pathway that led to the backdoor of this cedar shingle antique (circa 1740).  The underbrush mulch was dark and warm, yet the walkway was also bright and warm - sort of breaking the color temperature rules of painting.  I wanted the garden to dominate, but the house was so enticing that I gave it a bit of attention too.

Garden Tour Splendor

Happy Days

Of the many lobster boats that chug in and out to sea via the Green Harbor River, the one that is always most recognizable to me is "Happy Days".   I always loved the dazzling reflections from the afternoon sun on the shiny, bright, crimson bow.   Usually a trail of seabirds can be seen escorting the vessel as it entered the channel.   I'm thinking these seagulls on the shore have heard the racket and are on their way to join the party too!

Happy Days

Late Light Bog in Winter

Late Light Bog in Winter

 

 

This bog is just down the road from me so I pass it all the time.    I've painted it before and I think I had become blind to how pretty it can be.   In winter, the cranberry plants become dark alizarin in color, which is part of the crimson/purple color family.   Dramatic long shadows were cast on the bog from the western trees.   Last week's snow was still piled up in a few low-light places.   All of this created an interesting scene, and the fact that it was a balmy 55 degrees made it perfect.    Since I was losing the light to early sunset, I painted quickly and somewhat wildly and was happy that I ended up with a very usable color study.

Floral at the Fair

Oil Paint

 

 

 

These paintings were done at the 2021 Marshfield Fair.   At noon, twelve floral designers set out to create a ribbon winning design.  At 2PM twelve painters were assigned an arrangement to capture in paint.

 

 

It was a fun experience and so interesting to see how different painters approached their floral creation.   The floral designers seemed to basically have the same flowers, so to me, the color schemes of each were so very similar.   But as you see,the painters' works were vastly different!

Acrylic

Watercolor

Morning at Sea Street Bridge

Morning at Sea Street Bridge

Our closest beach is now Humarock, presenting variety of nice views for plein air painting.   The vantage point of this painting is from the ocean side of the Sea Street Bridge looking back across the South River.     The small buildings on my left provided deep foreground shadows on me and the beach roses at the base of the bridge.   I made sure these rosebushes were dark enough to contrast with the dazzling sunlit boats and buildings across the water.   Does it look hazy, hot and humid?  Because it was!

Rocky Overlook House

The shoreline between the Esplanade and Bluefish Cove in Brant Rock is as rocky as can be.  Boats coming out of the harbor swing wide of this area, so I assume the rocks are just as plentiful out in the water as along the shore, as is depicted in this painting.   I can get creative with color and design with a subject like rocks.   As long as the big ones are in the front and the distant rocks diminish in size, they'll look real, no matter what colors I make them!   And why not make the sky match and turn the ocean green!

Rocky Overlook House

Dinghies at Town Pier

Dinghies at Town Pier - Phase One

It was a picture-perfect, glorious, early June day at the Town Pier, Brant Rock, Marshfield, MA.  Plein air painting was the goal, which is always plenty of enjoyment, but it was not my only entertainment at the busy dock.   As I was setting up, to my left there was a lobster fisherman loading traps onto his boat.   He was sliding the traps off of his truck trailer, to the retaining wall and onto the boat, which was nearly the same height because of the high tide.     He certainly demonstrated a great way to take advantage of the tide. 

Dinghies at Town Pier - Phase Two

To my right was a Mom who pulled in with her two girls.   The girls wore wet suits and life jackets and without hesitation, jumped into the water which was probably fifty degrees, and swam with glee for an hour.   (They paid me a visit after their swim.)  Right in front of me were two men fishing.   No bites - I don't think, but a fitting addition to the scene.

As for the painting, I framed out the composition with the pier itself, the Green Harbor houses across the water and in the foreground, the dock where several dinghies were tied up.   The blue dinghie sitting on the dock was to be the center of intere

Dinghies at Town Pier - Final

st of the painting, but it got demoted to second place once the white haired guy in the vintage wooden dinghie rowed right toward me.  

Stetson Woods River View

Stetson Woods River View

Less than two miles from home, we found a new set of trails that are "hidden" behind an old cemetery.  Thanks to online maps, we discovered that there are many woodland areas along the North River in Marshfield.  We've walked four trails so far, my favorite an area called the Stetson Woods.   It actually has a riverside beach (tire swing and all) and a large picnic area.   Of course since it was December, we didn't meet another soul, never mind swimmers or picnic people. 

This painting depicts the northernmost edge of the woods where the marsh opened up wide to reveal the North River snaking beyond.   The expansive marsh was bright gold, but the shadiest spots were dark and frozen.    Tall marsh grasses and cattails help the composition by bridging deep shadow and bright winter light.

This painting took a while as it measures 24" x 30".

Summer Sunset at the Marina

Summer Sunset at the Marina

This painting depicts a favorite spot where we typically eat our Sunday night ice cream cones.    With one hand on the camera and the other on my cone, I would often capture the same scene which you could characterize as everything from peaceful to pretty to downright breathtaking.    This little 4x4 attempts to capture a particularly spectacular sunset.

Brant Rock Union Chapel

Union Chapel

The Brant Rock Union Chapel is a pretty little church on the edge of the Brant Rock esplanade.   Did the "fieldstone" walls come from the fields or the shore - which is just a stone's throw away?   It is a picturesque scene, even when the sea water inundates it.  It is enjoyed by all denominations and is open during the summer months.

Brant Rock Market

Brant Rock Market

This sweet "little market," is a family owned business in the Brant Rock section of Marshfield, MA.   It is a bakery, a butcher shop, a convenience store, sub shop and lottery outlet - but really so much more.  It has an old fashioned feel, staffed by super nice family and locals who serve and enjoy all of the "regulars."     The aroma of fresh bread hits you at the door, usually resulting in me getting much more than I had planned.   I even get my Thanksgiving turkey there.     The exterior is not exactly beautiful, but those who frequent this place no doubt, have a fondness for this scene. 

The market is only a street way from the open ocean and in the painting, the summer morning sky is moist and tropical looking.   Always there seems to be a steady stream of cars and customers; we love supporting this small local business!

Breakwater

Breakwater - Stage One

Have I mentioned lately how happy I am while I am outside painting?   Add to that being a location like this breezy seaside view, gentle, rolling waves - pure bliss.    As I set up, I was convinced that this would be a boring repeat of a scene I've done before.   As I dug into my Gamblin Radiant colors (radiant pink, lavender, teal) to create the sky, I was more encouraged.   Next I mixed the various sea-grays and spread it thickly with the palette knife, I was very happy with it.  The actual painting is so much more colorful than these photos with streaks of pink and lavender in the sky and sand.  Maybe you'll see the original sometime.

I did meet one of my faithful readers who bought a Green Harbor painting a number of years back.       (S - It was great to see you!)  Nice paint-out all around!

Breakwater - Brant Rock

Harbor Park - Willow and Ospreys

Willows and Ospreys - Harbor Park in Progress

More and more people are starting to use Harbor Park on Dribeck Road near Marshfield's Marina.   When the park was first completed, I could paint there and in two hours, never see anyone stop or stroll through.  Today, people steadily passed by, some taking a break under the gazebo and some asking about my painting.

Willows and Ospreys - Harbor Park

The scene is somewhat typical of a tidal river, cedar trees, willows, marshgrass, stone retaining walls and of course, seagrass.   I was most interested in the osprey nest built on a wooden platform on a tall pole in the middle of the inlet.  If I were to paint it to scale, the nest would be but a speck in the grand scheme of the painting, so I made it much larger.   The nest that sits out over the marsh grass was very active with two adult ospreys bringing fish for the two (large) chicks.   You can view my scene and a bit of drama when another osprey harassed the nest in the video.

Surfing Ocean Bluff

Surfing Ocean Bluff - Final

It was a beautiful windy day and the surf was way up along the shore in Marshfield, MA.   Yes, the sun was out!   I was amazed at the number of surfers who were fearlessly braving the waves as well as ocean temperatures in the low forties!     These athletes came and went as I painted, all smiling and exuberant with the "perfect conditions." 

I took many pictures along the way both of my painting and the surfing action.  Here is a painting progression.

Surfing Ocean Bluff - Stage One

Surfing Ocean Bluff - Stage Two

Surfing Ocean Bluff - StageThree

Surfing Ocean Bluff - Stage Four

Sea Street Bridge

Sea Street Bridge - In Progress

It was a mild February day and a perfect for mid-winter painting outside.   I bundled up as if it was zero degrees though - you never know how cold and damp the ocean air will be.    As usual I wandered east as I'm naturally drawn to water.  There is a bridge that connects the coastal barrier island, Humarock, to the mainland, the Sea Street Bridge.

Color Matching the Sky

It's nice when the sunlight is from behind because color comparisons are easier.   I mixed the color, scraped it up onto the palette knife, and held it up right next to the element being matched.   In this example, I show the sky color. To me, there is no better way to be accurate for both the color and the degree of lightness than putting the paint and subject side-by-side. 

Sea Street Bridge

With the bridge in the background I devoted most of the surface to the pretty winter flora.   The beach grasses were dried and bleached out from harsh winter conditions.   They were a stark contrast to the thick scrubby cedars - maroon-green - if I had to name the color.  Despite being in full sun, they were very dark, and as such became the dominant feature in the painting.