Blair Road and Bush

Here are two versions of the Blair Road barn and shed, first in oil and then in pastel. I think the oil helped me with the pastel.

The bush drawing is the last thing I did today late this afternoon. The bush is quite imposing, especially from this view below looking up. They are all 8x10.

Garden and Barn

This pastel is another visit to Pat's garden. It might be called 'breakthrough or travesty' but it's more breakthrough for me. It represents very early morning when the sun is peeking over the trees way behind me on the right. Things are growing so fast in the heat that the 'tent' will soon disappear. Pat tells me that John gets full credit for the tent, a rustic but sophisticated architectural wonder.

This barn and shed are located on Blair Road in Williamstown, MA. They are an odd combination but with interesting angles. I hope to either do an oil or a pastel, or both.

Gardeneer

An 8x10 oil version of the garden tent.

In the Garden

This black and white hard charcoal drawing is what's up next. Another variation with the tent structure (for beans), and the Victorian house in the background, two distinctly different domiciles.

This is an 8x10 version in oil of a similar view. I used the tetrad of blue and orange, and red and green.

Second Pass and Exhibition

Maybe this one is over the top. This morning while looking at Pat's garden, I thought of a garden long ago. When I was a kid, my neighbor behind our house had a labyrinthine garden, with nooks and crannies, cool shadowy areas under fruit trees, wet pavements, exotic plants and vegetables. I was always thrilled when I was invited to look or help. Her name was Sofie. She was a wise woman.

I almost forgot. The Bartges book focuses upon using a color chart to consider the six color schemes when composing a picture, or rescuing one: monochromatic, analogous, complementary, split complementary, triadic and tetradic. More later.

Also, I am participating in an exhibition called "common places" at studio21south in North Adams, MA., which opens this weekend. Here's the link: http://studio21south.blogspot.com/p/common-places.html

First Pass

This is a first pass. I am going to try another color variation tomorrow.

When I was at the library yesterday, a book threw itself off the shelf at me. I picked it up wondering what it could be. Color Is Everything by Dan Bartges. Ok, I needed that.

Pat's Garden

I'm working on a pastel version of Pat's garden, just up the street, but I am just getting started.

Wet Field Entrance

This is another 8x10 oil sketch of a puddly entrance to a farmer's field.

This is an 8x10 oil sketch made yesterday morning on the canal.

Ancient Ones

Ice-contoured hills and barn-serrated fields. This is the third iteration. I don't know if it's getting better or worse. Time to move on.

Wavy Barn Visit

This is an 8x10 oil on panel of the wavy barn. Of course, painting it was one thing, and photographing quite another.

Pownal Barn

This old barn is part of a farm complex that is falling down. Visually fascinating, but somewhat sad. I am slowing down a bit, because I am doubling up, that is, I am also doing small oils, but don't have anything to post yet. Soon.

Three Tractors

Well, I thought it would make sense. You will have to forgive me, but I love this farm, its smells and sounds, its typical messiness, its just plain beauty, which I hope I have hinted at.

Farm Geometry

This scene will have more appeal in the next version with red and green.

Side Porch in Color

The side porch in color, a window into another world.

Side Porch

Back to the old building in Bennington. The side porch.

Still on the Shore

The pastel is on black colourfix paper. I'm not sure I want to use it again in this way. It might be better next time with a wash first. The location depicted is where a stream enters the river. I have done this site before, but this time I can stand where usually there is rushing water.

Low River

The Delaware River has been low lately, though tonight it's raining. When it's low, I can walk out into it on the exposed rock bottoms, especially early in the morning.

Back to the Edge

Back to the edge of the Delaware River. I tried to be a lot looser with this one.

Return to the Old Building

I can't stop reworking the old river, but I stopped working on the old building as soon as it started to...work.

Old River

The old river has been calling for the last several days. In the morning my side is in deep shade, while the other side is lit up from the rising sun. I'll get back to the old building again.

More Old Building

The first time I saw this building I remember thinking that it must have a fascinating history, just in terms of its still being around. It's overly neglected today and thus even more attractive visually.

Once Was Grand

The old building on Route 9 in Bennington. I'll have to find out what it once was. A hotel? I hope to do more with this subject.

Old Building

This is a portion of an old building in Bennington, Vermont that looks like a Piranesi. It's a complicated image that I tried to simplify for the anticipated pastel painting.