Local Inspiration

For some reason I am fascinated by garages. This may be due to the fact that growing up we did not have one, or the fact that now that I have a two car garage, workshop and other stuff means that no car has been parked in it for the past 20 years.

When stopping at the dry cleaner's, I noticed this garage across the street, in the process of being updated. By the time I got around to taking a photograph, the doors had already been replaced.

But I was still intrigued enough to save it for reference, and did a quick watercolor sketch to cement it in my mind.

As usual, my first attempts always seem tentative in their use of color, and wind up looking insipid once dried.

I revisited the subject, using my artistic license (until it gets revoked) in order to add more signs of life and color. And best of all, it provided the image for this year's Christmas card!

First Plein Air of 2017

Picture perfect setting

Early spring means sometimes we have warm (for New England) days while there is still snow on the ground. Around the corner from my house is an old farm, where the owners have made the majority of the property conservation land, available for use by everyone.

Painters at work

This day, several members of the Artist Guild of Shrewsbury got together for the first plein air of the season.  We have painted here before, but this is the first snow visit. In addition to the scenery, as usual, I was attracted to what might not be considered the most scenic, in this case, the piles of logs being readied for removal.

Logs (and mud)

I find painting outdoors improves my work since I have to work fast (and when it starts getting chilly, you work even faster).

In the first painting, I tried to include too much. The second version reduced and simplified, making the composition stronger.

Overwhelmed by options

Simpler is better 

In the third, I wanted to work on getting more dark areas into my watercolor, so I forced myself to mix some very dark paint for the water.

That water feels cold!

After painting, back to the house for refreshments and critique. Looks like the weather will be warm all week, so maybe we'll get out again!

 

Critique session

The Snow Scene (In driveway and in watercolor)

The shady corner

As our horrendous winter draws to a close, the snow is melting rapidly (well, not that rapidly), and the scene changes with each day. I have been taking pictures, and the other day decided to sit in the back of the van (which was finally removed from its ice tomb) and do a plein air watercolor. I was intrigued with the partially covered flowerpots, and the shadows on the wall. I have taken many pictures, since the light, the shadows, and yes, even the snow level are all changing.

My first version, on a bright day, seems fresh and light, but not as exciting as I had hoped.

Version 1 in the van

Version 1

Version 2

Version 3

Version 4. I hoped a change to a vertical composition might help. It didn't.

But I was persistent. This is Version 5.

Tried again with version 6.

Finally, version 7. Not completely happy, but I don't want to prolong winter any more than I have to.

The day I was painting the shadows weren't as interesting on the wall as they are in the photo (also, some of these seem to look better on the computer than in real life).I'm sure I'll revisit this - maybe in the summer when I feel more nostalgic for the snow!

The Berkshires in Winter Part II

The second day of our December trip to the Berkshires was devoted to museums. We were anxious to revisit the Clark (Sterling and Francine Clark Institute) in Williamstown, as we had not been there since the opening of the large remodeling/addition project. The approach to the new wing is rather cold and sterile (perhaps it would have felt more welcoming on a day with better weather.

New wing at the Clark 

The new wing has large open spaces for temporary exhibitions. Currently on view was Monet/Kelley, showing how Ellsworth Kelley was inspired by Monet's work and environment during his 1950s stay in France. The "finished" Monet's in this particular exhibit were, I felt, some of his least successful. But the large oil sketches were electrifying, and had you not known the artist, you might have guessed they were contemporary paintings. Sorry that I could not take pictures in this exhibit.

Impressionist Gallery at the Clark

19th Century Salon at the Clark

Grant Wood: Death on the Ridge Road, 1935. Williams College Museum of Art

Our next stop was the Williams College Museum of Art, with its interesting and eclectic collection ranging from Early American to contemporary. I was surprised and delighted to see one of my
favorite Grant Wood paintings in the collection, Death on the Ridge Road.

One of the current exhibits was Franz West (Austrian, 1947-2012). His works were strange, sometimes funny, particularly his "adaptives" which vaguely resembled tools and appliances you may see in a dream or nightmare. In his original gallery installations, he intended for visitors to pick up and handle these items in order to interact with the art (we did not have that privilege in the museum).

Franz West

We then moved on to Mass Moca in North Adams. The highlight was the multi-story installation by Sol Lewitt. While not an artist I particularly care for, it was fascinating to see an art environment so large you wander through it, almost as if in a shopping mall of visuals.

When you visit Mass Moca, you may not care for the art, but the visit is so immersive that even if you feel contemporary installation art is some sort of con game, you still can enjoy the ride through the artist's vision.

Winter in the Berkshires

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This past year's tactic of making trips closer to home is paying off. Our second December 2014 trip was a visit to the Berkshires. We have passed through on quick visits in previous years, but this was our first winter visit, and in spite of the gray weather, we really enjoyed seeing the landscape when it is not leaf covered.

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Whenever I read Edith Wharton's "Ethan Frome", I can almost feel the bitter cold and stark atmosphere. Having been through some of these small towns on a gray and snowy day, I can see that she captured them accurately.

Reminded me of Wharton's line about "the rest of the Fromes in the graveyard"

We opted to stay in Lenox, so we would be central to the museums. This also gave us the chance to sample a terrific restaurant in Lenox, Nudel.

Well, I picked the hotel because of the indoor pool, as well. 

On our first day, we visited the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield. A combination natural history and art museum, this was also the time of their "Festival of Trees", where local businesses and organizations sponsor trees decorated with a theme (this year's was "Safari"). Some were quite clever, and this did make an interesting addition for the season.

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Some of the galleries were devoted to a new installation of items from the permanent collection. Called  "Objectify" it juxtaposed various objects, and was designed to look as though items were shipped in from around the world, with the viewer seeing the uncrating. They also provided this lovely frame for "photo ops"

Where's John Singer Sargent when you need him?

Snow Birds

The feeder by the sunroom window has been active (as it usually is when I throw a few handfuls of seeds on the snow). The small birds (finches, I think) gather to feed, and just my shadow in the window is enough to spook them.

There are a number of cardinals about. The female was picking up food, and she doesn't look happy about it.

 

The male was hiding in the bushes, so I had to take the shot through another window (with a screen), so it isn't as sharp..

 

 

This appears to be a robin. I didn't realize they hung around over the winter. These are tough individuals to be making it through the weather we have been having.

Happy New Year!

One of my holiday card watercolor paintings.

It's very cold, a "nor'easter" is predicted, and it is the first post for the first day of the new year.

Not planning to make any resolutions, other than, as usual, considering this a clean slate, and hope to do better with many things over the coming year.

So I look forward to posting more new projects and some new ventures, and seeing what the new year brings.

I wish the same for all of you.

Happy New Year!

The Driveway this Morning

We have gotten off pretty easy this winter, so we were due for some of this....

The Halloween Storm

The famous "Halloween Storm" of 2011 is now history, with power back on in most of our area. After a couple of days with no electricity, heat, running water and then the phone service out, plus my chain saw dying, we decamped for Maine. We returned Wednesday evening, and are now doing the cleanup both inside and out.

The Snow is Almost Gone

The longest, hardest winter in recent memory is finally at an end. but here it is April 9, and there is STILL a patch of snow in the driveway! And on a nice spring day with temps in the 50 degree range!

And snow again

I am getting tired of "snow postings", but you have to work with what mother nature sends us.

Yes, snow is predicted again. Best we can hope for now is an early spring.

Deer in the Back Yard

Deer (and other animals) have become accustomed to development, and are becoming less fearful about approaching. With the severe weather this year, they seem to be more fearless, and this group here were out at dusk (usually they wait until dark). Some of our shrubs have been pruned down quite a bit as they forage for anything remotely green and tender.

Snow Day

No school today due to snow (but it was lovely the next morning).

Spent time working on another mirror panel. I own the original of this one, as well. An interesting patriotic scene, with American eagle on a battlefield. The original had large areas of attempted restoration.

It doesn't look like much from the back. When dry and installed I will post updated photo.