Dreamscape

A painting that I am currently slowly working on. 12x24 inches, oil on panel.

Re-Opening of the SVAC

This the invitation for the reception for the Solo Shows and the re-opening of the Southern Vermont Arts Center next Saturday, July 4th from 3 - 5 pm.   If you are in the area, and are willing, please come.  The event will be set up for social distancing, and wearing masks is required.  Otherwise, you can visit on other days when there will be fewer people.

A Simple Landscape

While painting yesterday I noticed for the first time that I could hear the whirring of the ten windmills that sit atop the mountain.  I've left them out of the paintings.  Too much detail.  Instead I've simplified everything.  9x12 inches, oil on panel. 

Something New, Something Old

At an earlier time I wrote that making a series of paintings is beneficial, at least, to the artist.  I can experiment by starting  paintings differently, or mixing colors differently, and I can stumble across the unexpected.  Accepting accidents doesn't mean something superficial like letting paint drips show, but instead recognizing that you've made visible what you had not seen before.  This variation is larger, 12 x 16 inches, oil on panel.

A Landscape

Lately, I've only been painting water, but the other day I painted at the farm on Luce Road in Williamstown, MA with painter Thor Wickstrom.  Here's my effort, a 9x12 oil on panel.  Thor ably covered twice as much canvas real estate in the same amount of time.  We did practice social distancing. 

My Solo Exhibition at SVAC

Here are photos of my solo show at the Southern Vermont Arts Center, which opens on Saturday, July 4th.  The exhibition will run through Sunday, August 16th.   There are 27 Brooklyn and European urban paintings.  This is the first exhibition that I have installed while wearing a mask.

Across The Pond

From the remote beach at Mauserts Pond, one can see the public beach across the pond.  Yesterday's painting.  9x12 oil on panel.

Illusion Of An Illusion

Ensconced at the edge of the shore, I painted a different view of an inlet at Mauserts Pond.  If my panel had been 18 by 12 inches, instead of 9 by 12 inches, I could have included the trees and clouds and sky instead of just their reflection in the water, an illusion of an illusion.

While At The Beach

The painting from yesterday's time at the remote beach at Mauserts Pond. 9x12 oil on panel.

It Didn't Rain

For this view of Mauserts Pond I set up not too far from the car, since rain was in the forecast.  Of course, it didn't rain.  But there were magnificent clouds, and it was peaceful.

It Pays To Ask

The view west at the remote beach at Mauserts Pond.  I had to stop painting because a large, noisy airboat started driving in every direction creating big waves, and destroying the tranquility.  It pays to ask: it turns out that the boat was performing a bi-yearly water treatment to prevent the pond from scumming up.   It's necessary but it was awful.

At The Other Beach

As the drawing indicates, the water surface changed by the time I completed the painting.  Actually, I had a variety of water surfaces to choose from.  The drawing and painting were done at the other beach at Mauserts Pond, which requires a 3/4 mile hike to reach.  Both are 9x12 inches.  The painting is oil on linen.

Keeping It Simple

This painting of an inlet at Mauserts Pond I did quickly trying to keep it simple.  I stayed with the initial blocking-in instead of chasing all the changes in the water surface caused by the slight breeze.  12x9 inches, oil on linen mounted to panel.

Down The Hoosic River

A view down the Hoosic River at the Ashton Avenue access in North Adams, MA.  I painted what is visible under the bridge, but left out the bridge. 9x12 inches, oil on panel.

A Reflection On Mauserts Pond

This rather abstract reflection in the water with lily pads at Mauserts Pond appealed to me, so I returned yesterday to try it.  9x12 inches, oil on panel.

Mauserts Pond

Yesterday afternoon I painted at Mauserts Pond at Clarksburg State Park.  12x9 oil on panel.

Dynamic View

This dynamic view of the Hoosic River and the Taconics from the Protection Avenue bridge in North Adams, MA,  I've wanted to paint for a long time.  I went there this morning.  I will return when there are different skies and foliage. 9x12 inches, oil on panel.

I Like The Drawing

This afternoon I went to a new spot, the Hoosic River in North Adams next to Noel Field.  I'm not happy with the painting, but I like the drawing.

Sticks And Dried Mud

The painter Neil Welliver gives me permission to paint beaver lodges.  I was calling them houses.  I shied away from it at first, but it's just a bunch of sticks and dried mud with an interesting shape that contrasts with and echoes its environment.  9x12 oil on panel.

Atlantic Avenue Shuttle Bridge

This painting, started three weeks ago, has been noisily demanding attention until yesterday when I completed it.  It depicts a view of the Shuttle bridge at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn.  12x24 inches, oil on linen canvas.

Field Farm Drawings

A couple of recent drawings done at Field Farm in Williamstown, MA.  8x10 inches, pencil on paper.

A Big Beaver House

A big beaver house at Field Farm in Williamstown, MA. 12x9 inches, oil on linen.

The front door is under water.

This morning at the Field Farm pond painting the newest building, which has a great view of the pond and the mountains. The front door is under water.   

Pond Heaven

The painting from yesterday morning at the pond at Field Farm in Williamstown, MA.  A  heavenly spot for a moment: tadpoles and catfish at the edges of the pond, a heron stalking at the opposite shore, and the frog chorale.

Flowers

Flowers in a vase by the window. 12x9 inches, oil on panel.

Same Place, Different Painting

Yesterday morning I went back to the same spot at the Field Farm pond, since the light was different.  The bull frogs performed their chorale again.  The heat became oppressive so I packed up after one painting.

While Listening To The Bull Frog Chorale

From yesterday at the pond at Field Farm: the drawing came first.  At some point the bull frogs felt undisturbed and started a chorale, with dozens of bull frogs calling to each other from all over the pond.  9x12 inches, oil on linen; 9x12 inches, pencil on paper.

Painting At The Beaver Skyscraper

At the pond at Field Farm in Williamstown, MA. with my painting and a skyscraper beaver house that I was told went up in four days.

River Squeeze

Right now I'm juggling three paintings, but if the weather is nice and I have a couple hours free, I have to go out to paint.  Standing on a sand bar in what is the middle of the river but easily accessible, I painted this view this morning where the Green River bends and gets squeezed into whitewater.  9x12 inches, oil on linen.

A Calm View of Pacific Street

A studio painting of Pacific Street looking towards Classon Avenue from Franklin Avenue, with the Shuttle bridge.  It's been sitting around the studio for a couple weeks, so I decided to finish it.  12x24 inches, oil on linen canvas.

River and Rocks

Two recent river drawings.  8x10 inches, pencil on paper.

The Unseen Exhibition

Real Eyes Gallery in Adams, MA exhibited twelve of my landscape paintings during the months of March through May.  Sadly the exhibition coincided with the Covid-19 shutdown and was not open to the public for very long.  Here's what you missed.