Path to the Dock

Path to the Dock: Toward the end of the day, the sunset slants so beautifully onto the path from the dock.  I painted outside in the Adirondacks every day I was there.  I also used oil, which  I haven't done  since December of 2010.  I changed to acrylic and collage in January 2011 for the Daily Painters Project challenge.  But oil is so luscious when you're painting en plein air.  Design-wise, I took a mosaic approach.

Path to the Dock is 12x16", oil on canvas.

Lakeside Rhythm

Lakeside Rhythm : I wanted to focus on design, even en plein air.  This is always tricky, because time is limited.  So I tried to  simplify.  A strip of sunset across the path becomes  a strip of yellow.  The riot of trees through which the water sparkles becomes  one or two shapes.   To do this in limited time, it is so important to get your value sketch working before you get into the paint. 

Lakeside Rhythm is 12x16", oil on canvas.

Shoreline Rhythm

Shoreline Rhythm : Again, I'm trying to focus more on the "rhythm" than on the "shoreline".  Don't paint stuff.  Paint shapes and values.  For fun, I've posted the photo of this scene here, too.  Did I simplify enough?

Shoreline Rhythm is 12x16", oil on canvas.

Photo of Shoreline

Shoreline Photo:  For fun, here is where I was standing when I painted the two "rhythm" paintings.  

Near Green Bridge

Near Green Bridge: I paint here every year.  I think it might be the most gorgeous place in the Adirondacks.  

Near Green Bridge is 12x12", oil on canvas.

Shoreline, Noon

Shoreline Noon is 9x12", oil on canvas.

Opposite Shore

Opposite Shore is 8x10", oil on canvas.

Summer at Moose River

Summer at Moose River: The day was hot, humid and glorious.  It was almost too hot to paint outside.  But my daughter and I set up near the bridge and painted the river valley anyway.  I think the intense heat nearly splintered the light!   I was painting here one summer when my friend in her tomato-soup-colored  VW Bug stopped mid-span, and shouted out her window: "Betsy, look who's watching you!"  I turned, and gazing thoughtfully over my shoulder at my canvas  was a deer.  She pondered my work for a while, then ambled away.

Summer at Moose River is 9x12" oil on canvas.

Reflections

Reflections is 12x16", oil on canvas.