Road Trip! , Owlkill, day 3!

Monday, mostly sunny 75 F

 So I go back on Monday and the creek water level had risen 1 1/2 feet!, I also went earlier than on Saturday and the sun was in a completely different place, so I had to wing it, and I just couldn't get a handle on the water.

I left out the brush in the foreground, because I didn't want it there I wanted to be able to get in the water and it got in the way, but the reflection on the water kept changing, big surprise,  I couldn't keep changing the water, so...  Later I worked on it tonight but didn't get a photo yet, I "broke up" the dark and light lines that looked like they were out-lining the water's edge. Those two fat awkward lines just stuck out. and I worked on the water, but I don't know if I fixed it or just kicked the can down the road.

Woah! that's a lot of water!  It's also more muddy and less reflective from when I  started, there is the next painting, soon.

Here is the panel carrier that I had in my mind to make, made.  a simple affair  with wood, grooved on the table saw, and 2-ply poly-carb panels.  I made 4 for my sixes, 12 x16,  11x 14,  9x 12, 8x 10, four slot, three primed and ready panels, and one plexi-glass pallet to fit.  It's all stuff I had laying around, including the handles,  I'm going here tomorrow: http://www.canandaiguaarts.com/index.html  so I'm getting all geared up to paint in rain!  Please if you see my dog, Ollie, or my kids, Hope and Emma, wandering the streets of Cambridge, tell them to go home!

Out back today

sunny and warm, 89  F  before the torrential rain and thunder

This was out back, and how I ended the session, about 1 hr.   I'll probably fuss with it  tomorrow. The flox doesn't stand out enough, so I'll bring down the grass, just enough to give the flox the lightest and brightest tone.  I'll also do something in the foregroun, butr I'm not sure yet what....

This is my backyard, the pond has gotten weedy, but it's a nice place anyway, no big vistas, but some nice intimate places.

There was something about looking through the pine tree and it's shadow to see the bright sun-lit flox and tall grass.

No commute!

This was just 1/2 hr. into it. This is 8 x 10 and once I got the big areas, it went quick, at least to where it got to,  I really think it needs more, but sometimes (most)  I think it's best to look at it a bit to see just what that is. 

Owlkill Creek, day 2,

Hazy and hot, 91  F

I went back for another 2 hrs today, It was later, between 3 and 5 and the shadows were better. There was also more haze and the far hills looked lighter and cloudier.

I find things in these photos that I didn't see in person, and with this being large (for me) I think I need to paint it standing back a foot or so.

Of course the light keeps changing, so it's hard to even try to chase it around. Notice the difference in the darks in the top and bottom pics here. I'm going to try and get back tomorrow and try and finish it.

From the freezer to the microwave & still half baked.

Sunny, hazy and hot!  95 F

This is on Carney-Cassidy  Rd., looking at Maxwell Rd. It's just about noon on Tuesday this week.  I had wanted to re-visit Maxwell Rd. but the view was wrong, so I swung around the valley and caught a view looking east. It wasn't quite as hot as today, and the sky was clearer and everything was more crisp.

Here it is after about 1/2 hr. I liked the streak of blue sky, and how it related to the other shapes. this stretch of road was real quiet, maybe one car passed.

Here it is after about 2 hrs. I knew I had a lot more to do and the sun was really starting to move around, and I was getting hot.

Here is a trick I learned from Stapleton Kearns, who has the most awesome blog,  I was going to link it but oh well, you can google him and find it that way. This is the "bargain shoppers" way to get rid of the nasty day old 1/2 dried texture that you don't want when you go back out to work again. It's a good idea and it works!

Here is how I save my pallet for a later date, It's crude, cheap, down and dirty, thank you.

It was hot today, 95.  Last summer I would try to find places that I could be in the shade, and that's good, but it takes that much longer to find just the right spot. Today was also a lot hazier than Tuesday, but I got some nice clouds on top of the haze, so I went over the sky.

Here is where I ended up today, and it's probably finished. I'm not sure if I like the foreground, but I'm also not sure how to fix it. I "went over" the whole thing, by adding color and mixing it into the still wet paint,

I was determined to start another painting, and wanted something near water, so here I am at Owlkill creek.  This is also large (for me, now) @ 16 x 20.  I planted myself right on the road, next to the bridge, and there's a fair amount of traffic. ( 7 or so cars).

 I did one last month 30' off the road, I was feeling that lazy! This picture has it all, water, subject bush, middle ground field, and far hills!

Here it is after maybe 45 minutes, having it back in the shop I can think about it, and hopefully get it back out there and really paint. I'm gearing up for two things, 1st, Finger Lakes Painting competition, starting next Wednesday and 2nd my show opening the 14th. Wow.

Lost, found and lost again, Sun, rain, parties; recovered?

The weekend started out really cold and rainy, it was Emma's 14th birthday, so we went to the cabin and had a whole festival of fun, kids and parents alike. by Sunday afternoon the clouds were starting to lighten up and it seemed like the rain had actually stopped!

This is north-west of the cabin (on 6th Lake), I am essentially on "6th Lake Rd." (not much traffic).

In the Adirondacks there are some huge vistas, if you can get to a clearing big enough to see it. There are so many intimate places also, this creek is one of them.

This little place is so visually rich in detail, I was totally lost in trying to organize it. this is the first 45 minutes or so.

 The sound is probably more important.

The light was pretty consistent for the stretch of time I was there, sorry about the glare.

It's kinda a bit nuts!









Monday just before noon, there was sun on the dock,

To begin with there were some nice contrasts, but I had this gnawing feeing my drawing and perspective weren't quite there, I's also tiny @ 5 x 7.

The sun was moving around, so I had to move my panel.

It's difficult to work this small, your eye wants to see more, it doesn't want to crop too small, but it's kinda slimy to get a hold of where you are.






Next up:  Later on Monday,  May, 27

This is Hess pond, otherwise known as the beaver pond, a short walk from the cabin, (the source of the brook  I painted the day before). I painted here a bunch last summer, why not?

This is the start, about 1/2 hr. or so.

This is where it ended up at the end of the session. I had a hard time getting the darks dark and the lights light.

I think this is what happens when I'm set up in a very dark spot, and it's otherwise blindingly bright everywhere else, You just can't see the paint!

I do like the feel and the texture overall, and I think the variety of greens is nice. but it falls short on shadow.

How I make panels

This is a must, I make these panels frequently, they have evolved, I now do what John Carlson suggested in his book on painting. It's a good read, and maybe time to re-read.

Here is a stack of "tempered hardboard" or the stuff formerly known as Masonite cut to size, tablesaw helps, I also have cotton fabric cut and ready. Sand the edges just a bit.  The smaller boards, up to 12"x 16" I use 1/8th" for the larger size, 16"x 20" I got 1/4". This is my current largest size and first time using 1/4" stock, I think if I go much bigger I'll start to stretch it.

I'm spreading white glue on the smooth side. I actually enjoy making these panels, I can work on them at night and when it's raining, and the material cost is super cheap!  I also like the product, and having total control of every detail.

Carefully lay on the canvas, try and get it centered, then press and smooth it down from the center out until all bubbles and wrinkles are out. If you find something trapped between layers lift up on that side or corner take it out and lay the canvas back down.. You want the canvas as smooth as possible.

Turn it over and paint glue around the edge,making sure you have glue on the edge. Fold the canvas over, I cut the corners a bit and add a bit more glue.

A nice fat X on the back in an attempt to keep it flat, like that's a good thing, fold over and smooth out, always double check.

Here it is ready to dry,  Later I will prime with oil-based primer (not pictured) two coats, sanding in between. I was using rabbit skin glue and might try that again with these panels, we'll see.

These panels are from a previous batch, ground color applied, dried and ready to go!  I always want this color to be dry so it doesn't bleed into my painting.

Hoosick River @ Buskirk, 2 Days: shadow dreams

Sunny with some clouds, 75 F

Here it is at the end of the painting session today, I had started mid-day yesterday, and got a perfect match in the weather today.

I found this spot along River Rd. I had painted in this area before, but not this exact scene, (I was able to work right from the back of the truck).  Notice the shadowed far hill, with the sunny foot hill.  I grabbed the camera when It was like this so you'd beleive me, because the clouds moved alot while I was painting.

This is into it about 1hr. getting the panel covered is the first hurdle to jump.  All the colors (and values) are so relative within the painting that I feel pretty lost until this is done, adjustments are better made after you have something to just.  Notice I haven't put in the trees on the bank.

 This is where I left off yesterday,  When I decided on this spot I knew I'd have to play up the reflection in the water, otherwise my composition would be too horizontal, I also lead the bank up a bit on the left, for the same reason.

This is where I ended up today,  My pallet remained  ready to go this morning, which is a big help, I may play with it a bit more here at home.

This is Buskirk's Bridge, this view of it is just too straight on for me.

I did this in January of this year, from a spot just up the river.