Rooted Rock

There's a reason why New Hampshire is called "The Granite State". Rocks can be found anywhere and everywhere! Perhaps growing up and living the bulk of my life there contributes to my love of rocks of all shapes and sizes. I love to find trees that are seemingly growing from these rocks. Their roots are exposed and are so interesting to me. I'm drawn to their form and their ability to maintain the life of the tree despite the unusual growing conditions. Their shadows create the perfect environment for moss growth on the rocks that support them.

Painting this series of landscapes has allowed me to explore the variations of color that can be found in nature. Mixing batches of colors in advance and altering my base colors has enhanced my otherwise drab or flatly colored woods and foliage to give more meaning and depth. I'm finding that I absolutely love Pthalo Blue mixed with any number of colors including yellows and umbers to get my greens and earth tones. The time invested in the pre-mixing work has gone from being a dreaded step to one of my favorite parts of the painting process. Now, if I could only learn to consistently capture the colors of my paintings more accurately in my photographs I would be very happy!

Rooted Rock, 6 x 6 in, Oil on canvas panel

Beyond The Stone Wall

The bright sunshine on this field in New Hampshire cast such strong shadows on everything it touched. I imagine field hands have sat beneath this tree to stay cool and rest away from the sun.

Beyond The Stone Wall, 6 x 6 in, Oil on canvas panel

Along The River

I seemed to dilly-dally on this painting, and it sure was fun remembering the experience of being there. This is another area within The Gorge in northern New Hampshire. The scent of damp earth and greens and the constant sound of the tumbling water was so rejuvenating. Under the canopy of trees, the warmth of this August day was muted enough that I needed a sweater.

Along the River, 6 x 6 in, Oil on canvas panel

A Sun Dappled Walk

The Gorge was among the many natural land sites we visited while in New Hampshire. The days were sunny and dry. The strong shadows from the sunshine can often go unnoticed. But not on this day.

I took a bit longer with this than I have been on my daily easel paintings. My paint was just too wet to get the shadows the way I wanted, so I began this painting yesterday and completed it this morning.

Typically I choose the paint tubes of the colors I plan on using and just dive right in. But I've been unhappy with the greens that I've been getting. And I wanted to use a different color for the dappled sun and shadows other than what I've used in the past. Taking my time, mixing various colors and combinations prior to even starting was how I began this painting and will likely be the way I begin all of my paintings in the future. While mixing, I got a real feel for the variances in what I saw in my reference photo and what I wanted to feel in my painting. The frustration of trying to get a color (or fix a color) just the way I wanted while in the midst of painting was all but gone since I'd created most of my colors ahead of time. In the end, it probably took me less time making this another good practice to add to my journey in improving my artwork.

A Sun Dappled Walk, 6 x 6 in, Oil on canvas panel

The Hen House

When my parents sold our big house and moved into a smaller one, this hen house came with it. It hadn't been used for its original purpose in years, but had electricity and was dry and solid. As young adults, all of us siblings had secret ideas of what we'd like to do with it. But for the most part, it was used for storing seasonal yard items and our personal treasures. 

Tar paper siding and the same colored roof, we painted the trim "barn red" per my father's request. They didn't have the same color matching tools available today, so the color was more of a dark pink than red. The photo was taken in Spring before all the trees had filled out

I found myself tightening up again in technique and color in this piece. So I continued painting with a palette knife to add a bit more fun if not flair. If you are a painter and haven't painted with a palette knife, it is fun to work with. Like buttering bread!

Sunrise Seating

Waking up shortly after sunrise, the sun was slowly drying out the dew where it shone. The Adirondack chairs near the river at the lodge where we vacationed in Franconia, NH would soon be spotlighted and were beckoning to be occupied.

Sunrise Seating, 6 x 6 in, oil on canvas panel

Cloud Filled Lake

The cloud reflections on Lake Massabesic were so vibrant on this warm day in August. The sky was deep blue, giving them the perfect backdrop.

Cloud Filled Lake, 6 x 6 in, Oil on canvas panel