D & R Canal

For the past couple weeks, I've been working on a commissioned painting.  It depicts the Delaware & Raritan feeder canal, one of my old painting subjects when I lived in Titusville, New Jersey.  30 x 24 inches, oil on linen canvas.  

A Wintry View

A wintry view from Stone Hill behind the Clark Art Institute.  6x8 inches, gouache and watercolor on mixed media paper. 

Susceptible

This stretch of Stratton Road in Williamstown, MA is unpaved and always susceptible to mud conditions. 6x8 inches, gouache on mixed media paper.

In Between

This is Stratton Road in Williamstown, MA after the snow has disappeared and before the snow will reappear tomorrow.  The poet Seamus Heaney wrote, " Here is the great paradox of poetry and of the imaginative arts in general. Faced with the brutality of the historical onslaught, they are practically useless. Yet they verify our singularity, they strike and stake out the ore of self which lies at the base of every individuated life.  In one sense the efficacy of poetry is nil--no lyric has ever stopped a tank.  In another sense, it is unlimited.  It is like the writing in the sand in the face of which accusers and accused are left speechless and renewed."   Doesn't sound like much, but I'll keep painting despite the brutality.  6x8 inches, gouache and watercolor on multimedia paper.  

Broken Spell

All the snow melted away the other day, and then it came back, but the spell was broken.  I painted what I want to see.  This is a high summer view of Mount Greylock and the Hopper from Sheep Hill in Williamstown, MA.  6x8 inches, gouache and watercolor on multimedia paper.

Another Stone Bench

There's a small stone bench at the top of Sheep Hill in Williamstown, MA, not as well-known as the large stone bench on Stone Hill behind The Clark Art Institute.  18x24 inches, oil on linen canvas.

A "V" And A Treasure

Not too exciting but I was attracted by the "V" at the bottom.  Another Hopkins Forest gouache. Hopkins Forest, a treasure, is located in Williamstown, MA.  The snow melts more slowly in the woods.  6x8 inches, gouache and watercolor on multimedia paper.

Deep And Dark

At the most remote point of the figure-eight trail at Hopkins Forest in Williamstown, MA, there's a dark ravine with a deep, rushing stream covered over with pines.  6x8 inches, gouache and watercolor on multimedia paper.

When The Snow Melts

At some point I will stop making these snow landscapes in gouache, but that may be when the snow melts.  Here's another view from the upper part of the Hopkins Forest trail in Williamstown, MA.  6x8 inches, gouache and watercolor on multimedia paper.

An Interesting Experience

In winter the ground seems more unstable, not just because of the ice and snow, but because of the ever-changing gauze of conspicuous light and shadow.  Combine this with not seeing anyone while walking on the upper path in Hopkins Forest in Williamstown, MA makes for an interesting experience.  Actually, I did encounter one person at the remotest point.  He was moving quickly with two walking sticks, goggles, and earphones with music so loud I could hear it.  Unsurprisingly in retrospect he didn't even look at me when I said 'hello'.  6x8 inches, gouache and watercolor on multimedia paper.  

Up And Down

Another view from the upper part of the figure-eight trail at Hopkins Forest, which suggests the up-and-down.  6x8 inches, gouache and watercolor on multimedia paper.

Figure In Gouache

 A recent figure painting. 15x10 inches, gouache on crescent illustration board.

From The Upper Section

Over the years I've been to the figure-eight trail at Hopkins Forest many times but seldom venture to the upper section, which is longer and has more ups and downs.  Yesterday I did the whole trail, and this view is from the upper section.  6x8 inches, gouache and watercolor on multimedia paper.

You Can Tell

In this painting you can tell where the sun is located.  It's an afternoon view into the woods from the path at Hopkins Forest in Williamstown, MA.  6x8 inches, gouache and watercolor on multimedia paper.

A Shadow Falls

When the winter sun is out a shadow falls across the snowy path that runs along the edge of the woods on the north side of Field Farm in Williamstown, MA.  6x8 inches, gouache and watercolor on multimedia paper.

Top Of The Hill

This one represents the top of the hill behind the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA.  6x8 inches, gouache and watercolor on multimedia paper.  

For A Long Time

The abandoned cart at Field Farm has always appealed to me. It's filled with debris and has been sitting there in front of the Hopper waiting to be hauled away for a long time.  18x24 inches, oil on linen canvas.

No Favors

For an experiment I painted this one on black multimedia paper.  It depicts the path in Hopkins Forest looking toward the large field with the weather devices.  6x8 inches, gouache on multimedia paper.

Deep Contrast

There's a section of the path in Hopkins Forest in Williamstown, MA where you can look down into a deep gully. But what I like is the deep contrast in the composition.  6x8 inches, gouache and watercolor on multimedia paper.

Bridge In The Woods

A little gouache painting showing a footbridge on a path that descends from the Manton Research Center in the woods behind the Clark Art Institute.  6x8 inches, gouache and watercolor on multimedia paper.

A Persistent Theme

It surprises me that winter has been a persistent theme, but it is winter, and we haven't gone anywhere.  This is a view from the path at the top of Sheep Hill in Williamstown, MA, looking down towards the buildings.  Mount Prospect dominates the view with Greylock behind.  18x24 inches, oil on linen canvas.