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. 

Frozen Feeder Spring

Frozen Feeder Stream

It occurred to me that one of the main reasons I like to paint sunny snow scenes is that it fulfills my desire to span the entire value spectrum (where value = lightness to darkness).  Whereas a foggy scene would have no super darks or super lights because everything is muted, a bright sunny day in the sun is another story,     Like in last week's Wilton Winter Mill, the darkest darks in the water occur because of winter's low sun angle, yet the snow can be brilliantly light because it is translucent.  

Of course the other reason I like to paint snow is that - usually - that is our reality for at least three months of the year.  Why not embrace it?!

Today's painting is a similar color palette, and has that same wide value range from darkest to lightest.   This painting is my favorite so far this season and was done on an aluminum panel.   On the painting's surface, the metal shows through and where it does, it looks a bit shimmery.  I also scraped off paint with the tip of my palette knife revealing aluminum to represent dry grasses.   

This is a New Hampshire scene along the edge of a pond where a little brook traveled under a footbridge.   Over to my left, there were people ice fishing and even a few vehicles sitting on the ice. Yikes, but this end looked melty and so picturesque!

Summer Lilies Fading Glory

Water Lilies Fading Glory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do the topics of waterlilies and oil paintings bring impressionist painter Monet to mind for you?    I personally love those paintings and as many times as I've seen one of the many renditions of waterlilies by Monet I marvel.  Up close they seem like chaotic dots of color, but step back and the real thing emerges.  Did you know there are at least 250 known waterlily paintings by Monet?    Amazing!  

There is great freedom and fun in painting water and water lilies.   Monet's paintings have exactly what mine lack- a casual looseness and variety.  I wouldn't be able to paint the same subject dozens, never mind hundreds of times.   I wonder if Monet's free flowing brushwork comes from  his being so familiar with the subject that his psyche practically paints it without conscious thought?

These are not south-of-France waterlilies, but rather New England pond lilies done in a "zoomed in" stilllife style.  As the end of summer approaches, the pads start to change color with more read and gold, similar to our foliage.

Pond in August

Pond in August

On this August day at the pond, wild things that grow seemed to be peaking.    There was honeysuckle that smelled heavenly, purple spikes that grew from a pond plant that I didn't know, and of course loads of water lilies.   A double trunked tree that leaned over the pond reflected its V-shape in the water.

I was standing on the little dock, and not only did the scene look nice, but the sounds were mesmerizing.  I heard peepers, frogs, birds and the lapping of the waves under the dock.   Could all this sensory stimulation be the reason I used so much paint?   I have actually been using up all the paint on my palette lately.   If you zoom in on this one, you'll see what I mean.   

This painting was very busy - just like the actual view.   I think once back in the studio, I'll established a stronger center of interest and downplay some of the chatter.

Jacob's Pond

Fishing at Jacob's Pond - In Progress

Norwell is the next town over from us and they have a beautiful pond with open green space called Jacob's Pond.    A couple of weeks ago we took a long hike following a trail along the pond itself to the furthest northerly area and then back on a more wooded trail.   We loved this adventure and decided to come back the following week for a paint-out.

The day was delightful and there was a variety of scenes to choose from - and lots of shade.  Entire families were kayaking and people fished from the docks and shorelines taking full advantage of this very pretty spot.  

Fishing at Jacobs Pond

In my painting I decided on this small walking bridge that led to an island that sits in the middle of Jacob's Pond.   I included the young guy fishing from the bridge.  When he was done fishing, he walked by me and noted that he had just seen an otter, so I was watchful, but never saw him.   We did see snakes...
three sightings, or maybe I saw the same snake three times.     Nice spot to visit though!

Leaning Pond Trees

Leaning Pond Trees

Another pond paint-out this week.   I was standing in the same spot as last week but turned about 30 degrees to the south.   These two trees lean toward the pond, and away from the small pond-side cabin - thankfully.   Some dead branches dip down toward the water and out toward the water and the sunshine.   I included the white lilies and lily pads this time.   The goal was to convey a sense of dappled sunshine that makes my time there so pleasant.  Perhaps it still needs more sunshine...
 
What do you think?