Waits Hill Rd. and the centennials of Greenwich. What I learned from carpentry.

   I've been feverishly getting my studio ready for the grand opening. The building was a garage that I used as a carpentry shop, my occupation for the better part of 30 years.  In that span of time I did a lot of things, morphing from an art student, to an apprentice for a sculptor, to a series of other specialty building, architectural model making, sign fabrication, but mostly carpentry and in particular as a stand alone concern in my small town.  I learned a lot through those experiences, much of which informs my work today.   There is an inherent logic in the built environment, and the craft of carpentry determines what works and what doesn't. I learned patience and perseverance: if something didn't work, I'd have to fix it so it did. I learned that craft had to have a use, and that too much of it wasn't paid for, so don't do it!  I learned that it can take years and lots of mistakes to find what you're looking for, but that shouldn't stop you from trying.

Back to painting: last Sunday......

   I've been to this spot many times, and will often drive by to see how the light is.

   

          #891 Waits Hill Rd.                                      11-13-16                                  14x16

I also went out on Monday......

    Last week I had gone to the other side of the river where there is a path to the water, I painted the backlots, looking in the other direction, but had long wondered how I'd get to the other side, although I had a hunch and it involved a short hike in.

                    Ollie loves these spots too, but this time of the year we get attacked by ticks, so I'm waiting for really freezing temps.

   I had a fundamental problem with the values in this, and the only way to solve it is to return for a re-do, I'll wait until it gets really cold!

           #892  Battenkill at the centennials, Greenwich,  NY.            11-14-16                14x16

     This is from my hike back, I parked at the hydro plant and walked in along the river bank, there are lots more to explore. 

Along the battenkill and out the kitchen door. Yesterday

82  F  some clouds some sun

#778  The Battenkill @ Clarks Mills    6-1-16   11x12

       I've been down this side of the river a number of times, but not in this exact location, it gave me both a river and a factory including a reflection of the smokestack in the river, I liked that even if there may have been too much stuff in a relatively small panel.

          It wasn't a long hike down here, maybe a hundred yards or so from the parking area, I love places like this a few people, a good distance away, but mostly by myself.  My feet are still tingly so it feels weird to maneuver along the bank of the river, even with pretty well worn paths.

   "Money Shot"  for the morning.

   This is the view of my neighbors' house from just outside of my kitchen door, the light in the late afternoon offers a great play of light and dark, and I see this alot, so paint it, I must!

  #779  View from kitchen   6-1-16     9x12

    I think the lights are still not light enough and the darks are still not dark enough and that I fussed with it too much.

Tomorrow starts my Open Studio, I'll post photos of my studio/gallery as soon as I get it together, it's still a mess!

Thanks!

The paper mill, Glens Falls, NY

Thursday, April 28th  cloudy

      #763  Oakland Ave, Glens Falls, NY.    4-28-16    9x12

  This was Thursday,  and it's been a bit hectic, so I couldn't blog until now.

I wanted a factory to paint and this paper mill in Glens Falls, fit the bill.

It had gotten pretty cloudy, and I've hated to paint on cloudy days, and I still do, but it seemed to make less of a difference here.

The "Money Shot"

I don't think anyone would ever buy a painting of a factory, but no one is buying any paintings anyway, so I may as well paint scenes that I'm interested in painting, besides I've been wrong before.

Two fer' Tuesday!

34  sunny and windy.

                                                   #736  Scotch Hill Rd.   3-22-16   11x14

   

                                                           #737  Pearl St.  3-22-16   9x12

In the shadows of Salem, NY.

45  sunny with a few clouds

        #735  Vail Rd, Salem, NY.  3-21-16  12x16

                                Salem had an industrial past, hidden on the back streets.

      I follow my hunches, and if there is an idea I want to explore, I go ahead. Often times that leads me to some pretty poorly done work, other times it leads me to some cool stuff, today I don't even know where it lead me, at first I thought it was pretty bad, but I got it home ant I thought it was just a little bad, but had some thing worthy of future exploration.  The shadow was very dominant, but within the shadow was at least a little explanation, there was some indication of the windows, the paint, the pole, etc,  even if the contrast to the light was way bigger.

   As always thanks for reading my blog!  feel free to ask questions or leave a comment, thanks!