Surf and Turf

Well, the Connecticut River is hardly considered surf, but here's a quick one from the Glastonbury shore last week.  The middle painting was done at a friend's house, where it seems everything is now blossoming.  And the bottom one is yet another in an endless series of things with wheels, in this case, at Horton's Farm here in town.

Down River, 9x12 (click on image to enlarge)

Margaret's Roses, 16x12

Mr. Horton's Ride, 12x16

Big Rig

Just had to paint this big old rig at Carini's Berry Farm here in Glastonbury.  I liked the way the front bumper mirrored the surrounding colors.  Of course, I had to pick a pint of delicious raspberries before painting. The life of a painter is just so demanding.

Big Rig, 16x12 (click on image to enlarge)

Pillows of Snow and Under the Apple Tree

Pillows of Snow, 8x10 (click on image to enlarge)

Plowed snow formed pillows on the blanket of snow around these South Glastonbury tobacco sheds.    Warming air provided some nice atmospheric effect.  The blue sky reflecting off the snow, infusing violet into the red barns.

Under the Apple Tree, 12x16 (click on image to enlarge)

The arc of this snow-covered tree limb perfectly framed the farmhouse across the field.  It took a while to get this painting done.  When I noticed that the moon had risen over my left shoulder and street lights were coming on, I realized it was time to pack it in.  

I think it sometimes takes a bit of obsessive compulsiveness to stick with a painting.  Often, a painting gets off to a good start.  Then problems have to be solved, and there can be a period of frustration and distress.  But, provided that the composition is strong, generally it is good to stick with it until the multitude of challenges are resolved -- sometimes until the absence of daylight compels calling it quits.

Yale Skates to National Title

Pick Up Game, 24x48 (click on image to zoom)

OK, I actually don't really follow hockey.  But I thought that posting this recently-completed painting was timely after Yale's victory over Quinnipiac this week to win its first national title.  In painting this, I used some photos I took this winter at Eastbury Pond here in Glastonbury.  One of the guys happened to be wearing a Yale sweatshirt.

Roaring Brook

Roaring Brook - Upstream, (14x18) (click on image to zoom)

Roaring Brook - Downstream, (14x18) (click on image to zoom)

These were done just down the street from my house sometime in January.  The road which crosses Roaring Brook floods out several times a year.  I used to drive through the rushing water, not realizing just how strong the current can be -- or weather the road below was still in tact.  Now I take the slightly longer route rather than risk having to process a really stupid insurance claim.

It's a truly beautiful place.  If only I could incorporate into my paintings a soundtrack of the tranquility of the water chattering through the peaceful woods.

A Warm Day in January

Tracks, 13x24  (click on image to zoom)

Just before the recent arctic blast arrived, I grabbed some warm January sunshine at Horton's Farm.  Sometimes I can really get into all this global warming.

With the sun low in the sky, a line of trees off to the right painted their self-portraits on the land as long lavender shadows.  If all my subject matter painted itself, I guess I'd be out of a job.  Actually, that's how Peter Zalinger, one of the professors at The Lyme Academy, used to describe working from direct observation.  In life drawing class, he used to say that if you got enough reference points in the right places, it would "draw itself."  While I never achieved that level of perfection, I still hear those words in my mind when struggling with drawing issues.

Near Peak

Near Peak, 14x24 (click on image to zoom)

Here's one from October.  I've painted this farm in South Glastonbury for over a year now, from various angles and in all seasons.  No two days or paintings have been the same.  On this particular day, the sun lit up the greens of the recently-harvested fields, and the hillside glowed with golden autumn color.