From the Bridge

Hoosic River at Protection Avenue, North Adams, MA. 11x14 inches, oil on canvas panel.  With the temperature in the 70s, I was able to stand in the open on the bridge to paint this view.  I last painted here six years ago almost to the day.

Not In-Between

Hoosic River at Stony Beach, Williamstown, MA. 9x12 inches, oil on linen panel.  When I arrived, the sun was shining and when I finished the painting the sun was shining again, but not in-between.

Not in the Water

Hoosic River, North Adams, MA.  9x12 inches, oil on linen panel.  This time I went to the Hoosic in North Adams accessed via Ashton Avenue.  The beach area extends into the river, so it only appears that I was painting while standing in water.  

Mainstream Event

Hoosic River, Williamstown, MA. 8x10 inches, oil on linen panel.  While working on this one yesterday afternoon, I heard voices and laughter coming from down river.  I was on the beach at the confluence of the Hoosic and the Green Rivers.  A flotilla of over a dozen pool inflatables came by each with a person stretched out on them.  They were young Williams alums doing some alumni weekend event.  Two people praised my painting from the center of the river, a first for me: mainstream approval.

Smash and Crash

Hoosic River, Williamstown, MA. 11x14 inches, oil on canvas panel.  I haven't visited this spot in three weeks. It's now completely overgrown. While painting there yesterday afternoon I heard a loud smash and crash behind me, as if some large animal was coming through the thick bushes and decided to make an impromptu one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn around. I yelled and turned quickly only to see the branches still shaking.

Wild and Remote

Hoosic River, Williamstown, MA. 11x14 inches, oil on canvas panel.  The river is receding, so I was able to access another shore area seldom visited. The edges of rivers are often wild and remote.

From a Beach with No Name

Hoosic River, Williamstown, MA. 8x10 inches, oil on linen panel.  The river view from a beach with no name, east of Cole Avenue.  The water level is going down at this time making this beach accessible, but the coming weekend rain will inundate it again.

At Sandy Beach on the Hoosic

Hoosic River, Williamstown, MA. 8x10 inches, oil on linen panel.  I'm no longer in Spain, so I went out to paint this afternoon at Sandy Beach on the Hoosic.  

Many Paintings

Hoosic River, Williamstown, MA. 6x8 inches, oil on linen panel.  Testing out some pictorial ideas in a little painting.  The river contains many paintings.

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.

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.

Ahead of the Rain

Hoosic River from Stone Beach, Williamstown, MA. 9x12 inches, oil on canvas panel.  Rain is coming so I ventured out to paint before it arrives.  

Green Into Hoosic

Hoosic and Green Rivers, Williamstown, MA. 8x10 inches, oil on canvas panel.  Yesterday I went to the same spot as the day before but looked right instead of left. Here the Green River flows from the right into the Hoosic.