Even the Rocks

If I keep painting this river, eventually I'll figure it out.  Or maybe I won't. Constant change and turbulence, with some things changing less quickly.  Squint, squint!  Even the rocks change! At the Green River at Mount Hope Park in Williamstown, MA. 9x12 inches, oil on canvas panel.

The Rush of the River

Since I didn't want to be too far from the car, in case it started to rain, I took a more typical vantage point (for me) to paint the rush of the Green River at Mount Hope Park in Williamstown, MA.  But the weather report was more threatening than the actual weather. 9x12 inches, oil on canvas panel.

Churning Waters

For this painting of the Green River at Mount Hope Park, done this morning, I chose a different location just to the left of the bridge entrance.  A lot of water is churning from the recent rains. 9x12 inches, oil on canvas panel.

The Falls at Mount Hope Park

Another beautiful day, another plein air painting.  I seem to be attracted to water, in this case, the falls at Mount Hope Park in Williamstown, MA.  9x12 inches, oil on gessobord.

A Dry Spot Mid-Stream

The Green River at Mount Hope Park is so low that I stood in a dry spot mid-stream to paint this view facing north. 12x9 inches, oil on linen canvas.

Where A Brook Joins

Standing at the end of the spit of land where a brook that comes down alongside Hopper Road joins the Green River, I painted the view facing north.  I was at Mount Hope Park in Williamstown, MA.  9x12 inches, oil on linen panel.

Remnant

Looking down the Green River where it bends before an old stone wall.  Besides stone walls, there are remnants pedestrian bridges in this section of the river at Mount Hope Farm in Williamstown, MA.  8x10 inches, oil on linen panel.

Falling

The Green River falling just before the bridge at Mount Hope Park in Williamstown, MA.  8x10 inches, oil on linen panel.

A Deliberate Process

When I did this one I was perched on some rocks, so backing up to look at the painting had to be a deliberate process.  8x10 inches, oil on linen panel.  

Painted Looking Down

A bend in the Green River at Mount Hope Farm where an ancient stone wall contains the flow: I painted looking down from the wall.  8x10 inches, oil on linen panel.  

The Paradox Of Painting

Here I am trying to paint moving water in the Green River at Mount Hope Park in Williamstown, MA.

I've been reading the book Monet: Nature Into Art by John House.  He writes, "The idea of instantaneity, as Monet confronted it around 1890, reflects the ultimate paradox of the painter's practice, the point at which painting is forced to acknowledge its categorical disjunction from the perceived world: the work of art, produced over a period of time and viewed in time, transcends the instant which ostensibly it claims to capture."   8x10 inches, oil on linen panel.

A Natural Compositiion

The Green River at Mount Hope Park in Williamstown, MA.  When you look, you discover that the real world always offers a natural composition.  9x12 inches, oil on linen panel.

The Unsunny Side

The Green River at Mount Hope Park in Williamstown, MA.  One side of the bridge is sunny and inviting to bathers; the other side is not.  9x12 inches, oil on linen panel.

Past And Present

Large rocks reveal their molten, liquid past in their form, so to see water flowing between rocks makes for an interesting contrast, not only between hard and soft, but past and present.  This plein air painting depicts the Green River at Mount Hope Park in Williamstown, MA.  8x10 inches, oil on linen panel.

A Lot Of Water Or Maybe Not

This morning, before the rain, I went back to Mt. Hope Park and the Green River, where I painted earlier this year in May and June.  Even though the river has been low all year, a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then.  The painting is 8x10 inches.  The drawing is slightly larger.

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.

On Display

Usually these rocks at the river bend at Mount Hope Park are under water, but at the moment are prominently on display.  9x12 inches, oil on linen.

Usually Underwater

To paint this view, I stood on a strip of sand that is usually underwater.  When I arrived, I was the first one there.  When I left the lot was full of cars.  Interesting that people are parking with social distancing in mind, leaving large gaps between cars.  9x12 inches, oil on linen.

On The Rocks

Yesterday's painting: to position myself for this painting, I stood on some rocks at the edge of the stream.  The water is lower than I remember for this time of year.  9x12 inches, oil on linen.

White Noise At The Green River

Another visit to the Green River at Mount Hope Park in Williamstown, MA.  It's soothing to paint with the white noise of the flowing water all around.  9x12 inches, oil on linen.