A Rare Phenomenon

Hoosic River, Williamstown, MA. 12x16 inches, oil on canvas panel.  From my wanderings along the edges of the Hoosic, my guess is that this overhanging willow is a rare phenomenon.  

Hearing Voices

Hoosic River, Williamstown, MA. 11x14 inches, oil on canvas panel.  As I was setting up to paint in a secluded spot on the river today, I heard a voice.  It came from the river.  I heard it again.  Only then did I see a pontoon boat appear around the corner with three people in it: one person in the front fishing, another in the middle rowing, and a third at the rear along for the ride.  I told the rower pilot that I was going to paint and that I thought the river was speaking to me when I heard him talk. He said, "I hope that it does speak to you."   Then the fisherman in front yelled "Plein Air!" a couple times and the boat disappeared around the next corner.

Looking at the Water

Hoosic River, Williamstown, MA. 9x12 inches, oil on linen panel.  Here I am looking at the water to the other side of the river.  

Reacquaintance Drawing

Hoosic River Tree, Williamstown, MA. 9x12 inches, pencil on paper. Since the weather is not cooperating, I will do a studio painting of the river.  I went back this afternoon to reacquaint myself with this location. 

Perilously Close

Hoosic River, Williamstown, MA. 11x14 inches, oil on canvas panel.  The river flows perilously close to the old footpath's edge, which is caving in at some places.  But it's a great view.

At the River Bend

Bend in the Hoosic River, Williamstown, MA. 11x14 inches, oil on canvas panel. I went out earlier today. I was surprised when a walker asked if I was "Robert".  She said she's seen my paintings on FB.  Thank you, Lisa.

Never the Same

Hoosic River, Williamstown, MA. 11x14 inches, oil on canvas panel.  There aren't too many spots where the river is easily accessible for painting like this one right now, so pardon me for returning to a familiar site.  As the greenery expands and the water goes down, other views will become available for painting.  But even the same place is never the same.

 

On Top of the River

Hoosic River, Williamstown, MA. 8x10 inches, oil on linen panel.  Trees leaning over the river are on top of the river in a painting so they tend to blend together.  I did this plein air painting this afternoon.

Study of a Tree

Study of a Tree at Field Farm, Williamstown, MA. 12x16 inches, oil on canvas panel.  I've been working on this one for a while. It's a real study in the sense that I am trying to do something different and learn from it. When I first saw the tree three weeks ago, it was like Annie Dillard's tree with the lights in it. Time will tell what I've learned.

Up Close and Moving

Hoosic River, Williamstown, MA. 9x12 inches, oil on linen canvas.  Today, I painted at the river.  The river always has more visual drama than a mountain view.  You are up close and it's moving quickly.  Also, exotic ducks fly by.

Painting Away

Mount Greylock from Sheep Hill, Williamstown, MA. 9x12 inches, oil on linen panel.  This beautiful afternoon the faint sound of the traffic on Route 7 drifted up to where I stood high on the hill painting away.

The Dome from Stone Hill

Stone Hill View, Williamstown, MA. 9x12 inches, oil on linen panel.  From this vantage point on Stone Hill, the horizontalness of the Clark constrasts nicely with the beautiful arch of The Dome in Vermont.  I once climbed The Dome.  The exact top was glacier-scoured stone, but the trees around it were so tall that no view was available.

Spring at Sheep Hill

Mount Greylock from Sheep Hill, Williamstown, MA. 11x14 inches, oil on canvas panel. Yesterday afternoon I painted at the top of Sheep Hill.  The mud conditions are gone, but Bee Hill Road is still rough. Trees are starting to leaf out.

Drawing in Grafton

Pond, Grafton, MA. 9x12 inches, pencil on paper.  When there's no opportunity to paint, one can always draw.  

A Lively Tree

Tree on North Trail, Field Farm, Williamstown, MA. 8x10 inches, oil on linen panel.  I saw this lively tree the other day and came back to paint it on site this afternoon before the clouds appeared.