The Middle

One advantage of gouache is trying something one might shy away from in oil, such as a composition with an "empty" middle, except here the middle is the point.  This is a view of the backside approach to Mauserts Pond.  6x8 inches, charcoal pencil and gouache on multimedia paper.

Gentle Lapping Sounds

A couple days ago I visited Mauserts Pond at Clarksburg State Park in Clarksburg, MA. While painting on the shoreline, the water made delightful, gentle, lapping sounds.  9x12 inches, oil on linen panel.

September At The Water's Edge

 A painting I did last week at Mauserts Pond at the water's edge.  9x12 inches, oil on panel.

A Little Painting

 A little plein air painting of the pond done a couple days ago.  8x10 inches, oil on panel.

Look At Me

Mauserts Pond was still and quiet when I arrived yesterday morning.  Visually everything was shouting, 'Look at me!'. 9x12 inches, oil on panel.

More Shore

Having to choose between the dusty corn field at my feet, or the quiet water of a pond, I opted for the pond.  The pond is smaller and shallower now than when I painted there a couple months ago.  I can see more of the bottom from the shore, and there is more shore. 9x12 inches, oil on panel.

Different Time Same Place

On the first day of July, which seems like a long time ago, I started this painting at Mauserts Pond.  I completed it yesterday.  The weather was similar though the season is not. 9x12 inches, oil on linen.

Sky and Water

A painting of Mauserts Pond at Clarksburg State Park from yesterday.  9x12 inches, oil on linen.

Adrift

Another painting from yesterday, while at Mauserts Pond at Clarksburg State Park displaying an inlet that slowly morphs into vegetation.  It's narrow enough that I was able to talk with kayakers who drifted in.  9x12 inches, oil on linen.

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.

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.

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.