On Main Street

 A view on Main Street in North Adams, MA. 9x12 inches, oil on panel.

Settled In

What's currently on my easel: the old house on Chase Hill in North Adams, MA, which has settled comfortably over time, but maybe I've made it too comfortable.  I do want to suggest that the house is still very much alive. 12x16 inches, oil on panel.

Once More

Three paintings I've posted before, but I've since tweaked them a bit. 12x9 inches, oil on panel or linen.

 

Like The Stealth Bomber

Trying to work out ideas for a painting of the Chase mansion in North Adams, MA, I turn to drawing.  One cannot step very far away from the front of the building, so I've been drawing on site to try to capture what the contours of the building really are from as far back as I can go.  The front porch roof is shaped like the stealth bomber.

Tweaking

When painting loosely, lettering has to follow suit, or they will appear odd, but at least I can center them.  So I tweaked this painting in the area of the lettering.   That message, by the way, was actually on the marquee.  12x12 inches, oil on panel. 

Mondrian With Windows

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Here's the sunlit sideview detail of  the Chase mansion in North Adams, MA taken further along: it's like a Mondrian with windows, or variations upon a grid, an asymmetrical symmetry.  And I'm tackling the proverbial problem of suggesting clapboard without painting any lines.  10x20 inches, oil on pane.

A Pile Of Blocks

A mansion is sometimes called a "pile," which makes me think of a pile of blocks, each stacked one upon another coming out of the ground.  The Chase mansion in North Adams, MA is certainly a pile. Next time I paint this view I have to use a larger panel.  9x12 inches, oil on panel.  

Completed Painting or Bust

A quirky, ambitious painting that I think will take some time to complete if it doesn't become a big bust first.  This is the first pass started on site at Chase Hill in North Adams, MA.  10x20 inches, oil on panel.

Looking East On Main

Main Street looking east towards the intersection of Eagle Street in North Adams, MA.  12x12 inches, oil on panel.

At The Same Time

The Flatiron Building and Eagle Street in North Adams, MA have a special appeal.  They offer a view of the past in the light of the present moment.  The view can be a delight and a disappointment at the same time.  16x20 inches, oil on panel. 

Flatiron Stairs

The result of today's painting session of the Flatiron building stairs in North Adams, MA.  This is the view from where St. Francis Church used to be.  16x20 inches, oil on panel.

Church Street

Here's a view of Church Street in North Adams, MA that replicates part of an old postcard.  Church Street is famous for its Victorian mansions reflecting an older time.  Their present conditions might also be a reflection of our time, and how much we care about our heritage.  12x16 inches, oil on panel.

Two Bridges And A River

A painting from a week ago not previously posted: it shows the confluence of two bridges over the Hoosic River in North Adams, MA.  The river, as it goes through the city, is mostly confined to a concrete channel. 9x12 inches, oil on panel.

Two Old Mansions

There are two old mansions at Chase Hill in North Adams, MA.  Chase Hill is actually an isolated plateau partway up a larger hill.  Though it is surrounded by houses above and below, it feels out-of-the-way and calming to be there.  12x9 inches, oil on panel.

Into The Bright Ether

Here I'm demonstrating how difficult it is to paint a tower rising into the bright ether.  Chase Hill, North Adams, MA. 12x9 inches, oil on panel, charcoal on paper.

Sketching The Tower

In the morning the tower at Chase Hill catches the sunlight.  I wanted to include the opposing "v's" at both the bottom and top of the image.  It's like a mountain, except one has to stay close by to see it best.  12x9 inches, oil on linen, charcoal pencil on paper.

Chasing The Light

Light makes things appear insubstantial.  Houses imperceptibly move in the breeze, or is it the light that moves?  Another side of the Chase mansion on Chase Hill in North Adams, MA.  9x12 inches, oil on linen.

A Tower

Chase Hill in North Adams, MA is the site of the George W. Chase estate.  The main mansion with a tower, dating to 1870, overlooks the city.  Plein air painting, 9x12 inches, oil on panel.

Eagle Street Light

At certain times, the light on Eagle Street is magnificent.  This #8 in the series of small North Adams paintings.  8x6 inches, oil on panel.

Big Caboose

For now I think I'm done with this view of the caboose, until this summer.  But I did want to do this larger one.  I like how the bridge thing balances the caboose thing, an intentional, hidden symmetry. 12x24 inches, oil on panel.  

Entrance Steps

Entrance steps on Church Street.  6x8 inches, oil on gessobord.

Next To The Tracks

Pan Am Railways building next to the tracks in North Adams, MA: a slow painting.  We received enough rain the other day to keep the puddles filled.  12x16 inches, oil on panel.

Greek Temple

A Greek temple located in North Adams, MA.  The sixth in the series of small NA paintings. 6x8 inches, oil on gessobord.