Mysterious Cottage

This little house looks pretty mysterious, like a little cottage in the woods featured in scary fairy tales. 

 But actually, it is just the little house at Lynch Park which now houses Beverly's Parks and Recreation Office. The little house has been featured before (see post of October 10). Today I used the same image with a different Prisma filter, and then use iPhoto's editing tools to make it look spooky. I added a vignette to complete disguise, and now it is ready for October 31st.

Red Bench in Snowstorm

It is truly inconvenient that it snowed. Last night around 11 pm I went out to pick tomatoes and peppers, although I was expecting a very light coating of snow at most. So this morning’s snowfall was quite a surprise. After a hurried search for gloves and hat, I ran outside to shake snow off of the blueberry bushes because they were bending to the ground with the weight of the snow. And I then shook snow off tomato and pepper plants, and picked some  tomatoes that I missed last night in the dark. 

Snow, what an inconvenience! But still, I am running around like a delighted child, taking pictures from every window

Fog and Waves at Lynch Park Beach

Here's one more image from last week's trip to Lynch Park. It turned foggy and windy in a New York minute.  The tide was high and the water came all the way up to the beach entrance.  I liked watching the waves, and so I took this picture.  Today I edited it to get this composition.

Sudden Fog at Lynch Park Cove

Here's another photo from last week's walk at Lynch Park. It was warm sunny as I pulled out of the driveway for the five minute ride to Lynch Park. But as I arrived, the fog was rolling in, the wind was picking up, and the temperature was dropping.  The walk wasn't as warm and comfortable as I thought it would be, but I love to take pictures in fog.  Today I cropped the original photo to get this image.

Four Paintings in Porter Mill Studio (October 2020)

Finally a quick trip to our studio at Porter Mill! It's been too long! I went there to pick up two paintings for my upcoming show at Galatea, and to replace them on the wall, I brought two  paintings with me. Here is a photo of the new arrangement. Even though I was only at the studio for a short time, it felt great to be there.  

Sudden Fog Lynch Park (Video)

Above Breckenridge (Acrylic Watermedia) FINAL

I know that yesterday I said this painting was finished.  But this morning I decided that it needed a bit more contrast. So I used translucent washes to lighten the gray of the mountains and lighten the darkest of the foreground shapes and give it a bit of a blue cast.  I added some highlights to add contrast to the tops of the hills in the foregrand.  And now I really am done with this one. It is time to start getting this painting -- and 16 others -- ready for the big trip into Boston for my show in November. 

Above Breckenridge (Acrylic Watermedia)

This painting began with a snapshot that I took in Breckenridge during a trip to Colorado in June, 2018.  I used Painter to turn that snapshot into a photo reference (posted here October 20.) Today I changed the color of the sky, revised some shapes on the gray mountain, and revised the colors of the green slopes in the foreground.  I made a lot of small changes, but now I think this is done. Of course, if I see stray marks or other problems, I will fix them.  But I am ready to say that this this painting is finished.  Not perfect, just finished. 

Above Breckenridge (Acrylic Watermedia) as of October 23, 2020.

Today I worked on this painting. This is based on a photo that I took during a visit to Breckenridge, Colorado, in June of 2018.  (My photo reference is posted here October 20.)  Today, using my photo reference, I worked on the shapes on the mountain: snow patches and shadows.  I plan finish this in next day or two because I am going to include this in my solo show, coming right up in November.

Above Breckenridge (Acrylic Watermedia) as of October 22, 2020

This is the painting I started yesterday.  This image started with a photo that I took during a trip to Colorado in July 2018.  I created a photo reference from the snapshot by cropping this mountain from the background and using Painter to modify the foreground. (My photo reference is posted here, October 20.) Today I modified the top line of the mountain and some of the other shapes. I also worked on the colors in the foreground.  Still some things to fix, but I plan to include this in my solo show, coming right up in November.

Above Breckenridge (Acrylic Watermedia) as of October 21, 2020

I started a new painting today.  This is based on a rescued snapshot taken in Breckenridge in the summer of 2018. (My photo reference is posted here for yesterday, October 20, 2020.) I intended to just rough in the composition today, but I went a bit further because I am hoping, against all reason, to finish this in time to include it in my November solo show.  To be continued. . . .

Above Breckenridge (Photo Reference for Painting)

I am going to paint one more mountain landscape for my upcoming show, "Colorado Memories", paintings inspired by family snapshots from trips to Rocky Mountains in my home state.  Yesterday I found a quick photo that I took during our most recent trip to Colorado, June of 2018. We were traveling with old friends; we were two couples, each celebrating 50 years of marriage. When we got to Breckenridge, I took a photo in the public parking lot, while rushing to catch up with the others. The resulting snapshot was crooked, and featured a row of cars and some buildings in the foreground, but still I had managed to capture those snow-capped mountains in the background. Although we did spend a lovely hour or so exploring the downtown, two of the four of us were not feeling great, so our time in Breckenridge was cut short and we headed back early to our Denver hotel.  I was sorry not to spend more time in Breckenridge, but as my friend Sandra says, "That's life, isn't it?"  Yesterday, when I found my disappointing Breckenridge photo, I decided to reclaim it.  I used iPhoto to do straighten and crop it,  and got rid of the parking lot.  Then I used Painter to crop it even more, and to create quiet hillsides over residential Breckenridge with digital pastel.  Now I have a photo reference for my next painting.

Path at Kelleher Pond

Today I took a walk on the path around Kelleher Pond, for the third time this week. But it is beautiful there right now. It's a quick get-away, just a few blocks from home. We can walk there in five minutes. Great leaf-peeping, without the travel or traffic.  Here is the path, inviting me to follow, and making me believe I am heading into the woods, having an adventure far from home. 

At Kelleher's Pond

Thursday and then again today, we followed the path around Kelleher's Pond, here in Beverly, MA.  I must have taken at least a hundred pictures! This is one of the best.  It's like having a nature trail just two blocks from the house, and the best way to go leaf-peeping, right here in the neighborhood.

Near Glenwood (Acrylic Watermedia)

Yesterday I thought this painting was finished, but realized after I put my paints away that there were still things I wanted to fix. This painting is inspired by a snapshot that I took during a 1980s family vacation to Glenwood Springs, Colorado (see posts for October 11 and 12). So today, working with my photo reference, I adjusted the top line of the mountains, and made many small changes.  I even turned the painting and my photo reference upside-down.  Now I am ready to say that this painting is finished. . . . and I plan to include it in solo show, "Colorado Memories", in November.

Near Glenwood (Acrylic Watermedia) as of October 16, 2020

This is the painting I have been working on, based on a snapshot that I took during a family trip to Glenwood Springs, Colorado.  (For original snapshot and photo reference, see posts for October 11 and 12.) Today I reworked the silhouette of the main mountain, and made a lot of other small changes.  I actuallly thought this painting was finished, but after I took this photograph, I saw a couple of things I want to fix.  But it's almost there. . . 

Near Glenwood (Acrylic Watermedia) as of October 15, 2020

I started this painting yesterday, and this is how it looked after I worked on it again this morning. This is based on a photo that I took near Glenwood Springs, Colorado, during a family trip. (See posts for October 11 and 12.) Today I revised the top silhouette of the mountains, and then began adding that Colorado sage green.  Still a ways to go and things to fix,  but I am optimistic about this painting.  I am hoping to finish this in time to include it in my solo show "Colorado Memories" at Galatea, coming right up (in November).

Near Glenwood (Acrylic Watermedia) as of October 14, 2020

I started this painting today. It is inspired by a family vacation photo that I took sometime during the 1980s, during a trip to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. (See posts for October 11 and 12.) I am hoping I can finish this in time to include it in my solo show next month ("Colorado Memories" at Galatea Fine Arts). But I am enjoying painting it anyway, even if the schedule doesn't work out. Today I roughed in the composition, and although I already see things I need to fix, it felt great to get started

Little House at Lynch Park (with Prisma filter)

Here's another picture from our recent walk at Lynch Park.  The little house now contains administrative offices for the park.  I added the Prisma filter.  I might try to paint this one. . .

Near Glenwood (Painting Reference)

I am going to try to paint one more landscape for my upcoming show ("Colorado Memories" at Galatea Fine Art in November).  This time, my inspiration is a 1980s era snapshot from a family vacation to Glenwood Springs. Yesterday I used Painter to do some digital editing to create a painting reference.  On the computer, I replaced the buildings in the foreground with some hills, just to see if my idea will work.  Even though I plan to use lighter colors in the foreground, the composition will work, so I will use this as my photo reference.

Near Glenwood (Family Photo)

Last May, I was scheduled to have a solo show at Galatea (in Boston), but it was postponed by Covid shut-down and a flood in the gallery. Although the paintings were posted online, the show was never displayed IRL. But now that show, "Colorado Memories," is back on and will be shown in the gallery in November. So I was thinking I might have time to paint just one more. . .Today I found this snapshot from a family vacation near Glenwood Spring. I decided to edit it in Painter and turn it into a painting reference, which I plan to post here tomorrow.

Afternoon Shadows at Lynch Park (with Prisma filter)

This afternoon we went to Lynch Park and of course I took pictures.  Later, I added a Prisma filter to this one, and cropped it to get this composition. 

Douro River from Dom Luis Bridge (Watercolor)

This watercolor began with a photo that I took during a visit to Portugal in July 2019.  On my last day in Porto, I walked over the Dom Luis Bridge with Mauro, and took this picture from the Vila Nova de Gaia side. The overcast sky seemed to make the colors pop. (My photo is posted here, August 24, 2020.) Today I softened colors in the distance and heightened colors in the foreground. I also made a lot of small changes. Although I will fix any mistakes that I notice,  I am now ready to call this painting finished. I have enjoyed working on this, and now I have a painting of a happy memory.

Douro River from Dom Luis Bridge (Watercolor) as of October 8, 2020

I am close to finishing this painting, inspired by a photo that I took during my trip to Portugal in July of 2019. (Photo posted here August 24, 2020) On my last day in Porto, Mauro took me for a walk over the Dom Luis Bridge, and it was spectacular. Today I added more detail, and added more color, changing the shadows on the hillsides from gray to purple. Just a few more things to fix. .

Douro River from Dom Luis Bridge (Watercolor) as of October 7, 2020

Here is the latest progress on my watercolor of the Dom Luis Bridge. (My reference for this painting is a photo that I took in July 2019 during a walk over the bridge. You can see the original photo posted here August 24 2020.)  This painting is heading toward the finish line. I have added detail to the houses in the foreground and the boats.  I still need to adjust the color on the distant hillsides, and maybe fix a few details.  To be continued. . .

First Red Leaves (Posterized Photo)

On a recent neighborhood walk, I saw some early red leaves, so I took a picture.  Tonight I opened the image in Painter and added some posterizing effect.

Blueberry Leaves (with Prisma filter)

The leaves on our blueberry bushes are starting to turn red.  About a week ago, I took  a picture. Later I added a Prisma filter and cropped the image to get this composition.

Douro River from Dom Luis Bridge (Watercolor) as of October 4, 2020

Today I continued working on this project, a watercolor based on a photo that I took during a visit to Portugal in July of 2019 (photo reference posted here August 24, 2020). On my last day in Porto, Mauro surprised me with a walk over the Dom Luis Bridge, and I took photos, from high above the scene, of the river and the cities on either side. Yesterday I added color to the sky, and am now readjusting the colors in response. Today I worked on the hillsides in the background, trying to suggest the buildings without putting in too much detail. This is taking longer than expected, but I don't mind lingering with the memories of this day.

Douro River from Dom Luis Bridge (Watercolor) as of October 3, 2020

This afternoon, I worked on this painting, a watercolor based on a photo that I took in July of 2019, during a visit to Portugal. (The photo is posted here August 24 2020.) My last day in Porto included a walk over the Dom Luis Bridge with Mauro.  The sky was overcast, but that made the colors pop.  Today, in my painting, I tried to capture that overcast sky. Once I made the sky darker, I also began to intensify some of the colors in the background, to try to capture that effect.

Douro River from Dom Luis Bridge (Watercolor) as of October 2, 2020

Today I only had a little time to paint, but I continued work on this project. I am painting this watercolor based on a photo that I took during my trip to Portugal in July of 2019.  On my last day in Porto, Mauro and I walked over the Dom Luis Bridge, and I took this picture on the Vila Nova de Gaia side.  (My photo reference is posted here August 22. Today I worked on hillsides in the background: lots of tiny little houses with tile roofs.  To be continued. . . .

Douro River from Dom Luis Bridge (Watercolor) as of October 1, 2020

Today I got back to this painting.  I am working from a photo that I took in July of 2019, during my most recent visit to Portugal. On my last day in Porto, Mauro took me for a walk across the Dom Luis Bridge. (My photo reference is posted here, August 22 of this year.) Today I worked on all those rooftops in the foreground.  Even though there is a lot of detail, this painting is not that far from finished.