Even A Cloudy, Dull Day

At one point last week on the hill behind the Clark Art Institute, the clouds thickened and it started to sprinkle.  I painted as fast as I could.  This is a view looking south from where the sloping pastures are seen to run in opposing directions, upset just like the sky at that moment. I guess this is a self-demo that one can paint anything, even a cloudy, dull day.  9x12 oil on panel.

Under The Tree On Top Of The Hill

A 6x8 oil on panel from the top of the hill behind the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA.  It won't be long before all this leafage disappears.

Stripes Eastward

Yesterday mid-morning I set up my painting gear at the top of the hill behind the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA,  right where the gravel path ends.  That was because when I arrived there and I looked eastward,  I saw this view.  9x12 oil on panel.

Uphill At The Clark

Yesterday morning I painted behind the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA.  This painting shows the path that goes uphill to the cow pasture.  The cows were there.  It's a great view that composes itself, and offers many variations.  8x10 oil on panel.

North West

A painting I did over three weeks ago on Luce Road above the farm in Williamstown, MA:  the view looks north west towards the Taconics.  9x12 oil on panel.

An Old Part of Aix

Here's a view of a side street in the old part of Aix in Provence.  The morning light was bouncing off the sun lit buildings across the narrow lane to those in shadow. This is a studio painting I did about three weeks ago.  12x12 oil on panel.

Matera

A studio painting done in the last couple days while it was raining: it depicts a surreal view of Matera, a town in southern Italy.  In Matera, people lived in caves until quite recently.  When I was there I saw an exhibition of paintings by Carlo  Levi, who wrote Christ Stopped at Eboli, a book worth reading just to find out what he meant by the title.  He was a sort of an Italian Alice Neel, painting fascinating portraits that capture the sitters' personalities.  12x12 oil on panel.

The Simplicity of Land and Sky

A second painting from this past Saturday afternoon when the sun did not shine: the view east towards the Savoy mountains from the Chenail farm on Luce Road in Williamstown, MA.  Not much happening here but I like the simplicity of land and sky. The composition is similar to the day's earlier painting, a tree slightly off-center pushing up.  I balanced the two trees, dark on light on the right, with two trees, light on dark on the left.  It's not that I planned it that way, but I somehow emphasized some things that I was looking at.  The rest, the bands of land and sky, just fell into place.  I also used the Stobart limited palette.  9x12 oil on panel.

Looking North On A Cloudy Day

Waiting for a sunny day may mean that you don't go out and paint.  On a cloudy day yesterday I went to the top of the hill behind the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA to paint this view looking north into Vermont.  I love those glacier-scoured, round-topped mountains, a sure indication that you are in New England.  9x12 oil on panel.

Quickly Disappearing

When I arrived at the end of Hopper Road in Williamstown, MA the other morning, this is what I found.  Straight ahead are the trails to the mountains, and the light.  I used a tiny panel because I needed to paint quickly to capture what would disappear in a short time.  6x8 oil on panel.

Trying Mightily

An afternoon painting from a couple days ago at Haley Farm at the end of Hopper Road in Williamstown, MA.  I found this view intriguing and unorthodox, so worthy of a try.  If it didn't work out I could just ditch the painting.  It wouldn't be the first time.  There's a pull to the right, but I try mightily to keep you within the confines of the painting.  8x10 oil on panel.

In The Shade Of An Apple Tree

Because of the heat I set up yesterday in the shade of an apple tree in the middle of the recently mowed pasture behind the barn at the end of Hopper Road in Williamstown, MA.  8x10 oil on panel.

Looking Past The Barn

Here's a painting I did one afternoon last week, while standing in the shade beyond the end of Hopper Road in Williamstown, MA.  I'm looking west towards the Taconics.  8x10 oil on panel.

Goldenrod Hill

The goldenrod is everywhere on Sheep Hill.  This view of the mountains is from much farther away and higher up than the end of Hopper Road.  A 9x12 oil on panel plein air that I did yesterday.

Just Look Around

This is a mid-, late afternoon view across a couple hay fields at Haley Farm at the end of Hopper Road in Williamstown, MA.  The middle ground trees seemed to be fading into the background.  9x12 oil on panel.

If you were look at a contour map of the end of Hopper Road, you would see that it ends at the beginning of a marvelous valley surrounded by steep mountain sides.  Sometimes we painters think that if only we were somewhere else we could make great paintings.  But you only have to look around where you already are to find wonderful views to paint.