First Plein Air of Season

                                                                                       (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro

Painting a watercolor without water can be a challenge. This is the first plein air watercolor I painted of the new season. It is smaller than expected.

This was painted at Fort Dummer State Park in Brattleboro, VT. However, I discovered I didn't have any water or access to it and no paper towels to clean up with. What seemed to be a problem turned into an opportunity.

The only water I had was in a small spray bottle. This forced me to treat water as a truly scarce resource. I searched for any open faucets or stream beds but they were all dry or drained for the season. This experience required me to be more creative than usual. Also, I used a limited palette to make my painting practice as efficient as I could.

I did paint this from a picnic table looking across the only field at Ft. Dummer State Park.

 

Quick Painting

                                                                                     (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro
 

Quick painting with a loaded brush is fun and exciting. It is good to let the paint sit on the surface without fussing with it. Then you can add quick marks with a dark color if you want. This is how I got those dry brush marks in the center of the paper. It is important to drag the belly of the brush across the paper before you lift the brush off the paper.

These fresh pigment marks are striking against white paper. I was trying to blend phtalo green with sepia but the green just stole the show. 

For me this only works when you are painting on textured paper. I have come to appreciate this elseware 300 lb watercolor paper. I purchased several watercolor bound books of this paper at my local food coop.

One-Wash Watercolor

                                                                                       (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro

This is a one wash watercolor. Sometimes all you need is one wash. In particular, I like the combination of indian red and perylene green. A substitute can be made by combining pthalo green and sepia.

When I learn of a new pigment combination instead of just putting a swatch down I turn it into a little landscape. This way utilizing different brush strokes I gain a greater understanding of how I can place the pigment on the paper.

Also, from my perspective, there is a simplicity to this color combination which has a calming effect.

In the past I would draw or paint a trunk in on the right side where the tree is over the painted area. Lately, I would lift out the tree trunk with a damp brush instead. The great thing about watercolor is every day I learn something new which inspires and stimulates my senses.

LOCAL FIELD(Further Developed)

                                                                                            (C) Dale DiMauro
 

This watercolor of a local field on the property of the Brattleboro Retreat has evolved quite a bit. The varied sky and lavender-tinted hills got me off to a great start. The rich colors of the season and strong values in the foreground however, in my mind, make the picture.

Oh, by the way, the combination of raw sienna and winsor violet gives me the lavender-tinge on the distant hills. The pattern, direction and value of the tire marks bring your eyes into the picture.

I find it fascinating to go back to a subject matter I haven't painted in years. An artist sees things differently over time with a sharper eye and greater understanding of one's palette.

P.S. - I am still having issues with the cropping tool. For years I could crop a photograph of a watercolor painting quickly and move on. For some reason it has become a real challenge - but I am working on it.

Local Field

                                                                                  (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro

Many years ago I painted this local field in watercolor. The subject matter and colors are very welcoming even to this day.

However, I approach this subject very differently these days. Not that any approach is better one way or the other. 

My understanding of pigments and ever changing palette has broadened so much in the last few years. I find with just four or five pigments I can paint an entire watercolor. This may be the result of painting outside where time is limited and the changing weather is a real factor. Also, I have developed an eye for what I see outside and can match the colors of nature quicker and more accurately and in a direct manner than I ever could before.

I have begun to lift paint when the opportunity arises in a more successful manor. Effective lifting seems to be tied to good timing because the paper can't be too wet or too dry or you get these unsightly hard edges and large blooms. As a result the skies I paint have begun to evolve and become more diverse simultaneously.

In no way am I trying to brag or boast - it's just a reflection of looking at past struggles and becoming more adaptable to situations which arise when painting.

This leads me to this watercolor which I believe is off to a great start. I find myself focused and attentive at times when painting which seems liberating. When the painting moves along rapidly and I am decisive good things happen. There is less fussing around, overworking and a clear ending point.

I hope this summer season leads to more painting in this direction with results that are just as satisfying.

 

A View From Mt. Wantastiquet

                                                 (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro

 

Every spring for decades here in southern Vermont we have had something called Mountain Day. It is sponsored by Blue Cross/Blue Shield as an incentive to get people moving out in nature and as a way to improve their overall fitness. Annually, they give away t-shirts, apples, sandwiches and prizes.

Mountain Day usually happens on a a Saturday in May. This year it is on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

This is a watercolor I started a while back. It is inspired by one of the those mountain day hikes. However, it never got finished. In general, I feel comfortable or at least no hesitation in putting down some finishing touches. There is a freshness in this piece which I equate with spring as the the colors and leaves of the season emerge with a sense of joy.

Colors of Spring?

                                                                                                 (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro
 

Spring is coming. Or at least winter is ending.

I painted this watercolor shortly after a hike behind the Brattleboro Ski Jump. Even though the colors of nature are subdued they were vivid in the natural light. Some of the colors are actually alive with a richness such as that mud in the foreground or the blue of that sky.

The lengthening of day and warmth of temperatures are bringing an increased optimism which spring affords. It is so welcome considering the political environment we are living through. To that end I can't wait to be able to resume plein air painting.

To a fresh start to spring.....

Unfinished Watercolors

 

                                                                                  (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro

There are always some watercolors I and other artists don't finish. Often it is due to time constraints or the inspiration fades towards a certain subject.

Many simply become studies which I learn from one way or the other. Sometimes I wanted to experiment with a different approach or paper which yield differing results.

Often I will come back at a later time and add more paint to an unfinished work and even complete a watercolor.

This watercolor I started at South Pond in Marlboro, VT, after a summer paddle. I painted this from the shore on my easel.

Watercolor Palette

                                                                                        (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro
 

Even though I have been painting in watercolors for years I just discovered my folding easel fits nicely into a butcher tray. That may sound odd to the reader. However, it means I can carry around and store my palette much more easier than before.

I find the small folding palettes often drip or leak which leads to spillage in undesired locations. As the photograph demonstrates I can also transport a sponge and brushes all with one hand easily.

The butcher tray featured above is 11.5" x 15.5". Butcher trays are available in an assortment of sizes. I have several and they are very handy to have around.

When I paint outside I do utilize a folding palette as portability and limited space are factors in carrying my painting supplies.

People in Watercolor

                                                                                     (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro
 

Painting people can be a challenge. Much of the time I aim to capture their posture and sense of movement. A little color here and there can go a long way.

It is important to include people from the start in your painting process. In painting the people who I painted above I did not want to show much detail - just capture the essence of the scene.

I try to sketch and paint people on a regular basis. That way I can become better at it but also, more intuitive in capturing the human body in motion. 

In addition, at times I like to incorporate the white of the paper as part of someone's outfit. I feel the white of the paper provides a special quality which I can't come up with on my own.

Fabriano Artistico Watercolor Block

                                                                                                 (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro
 

Since late fall 2024 I have been experimenting with color lifting on some of my watercolor paintings. This is an exciting development I find when lifting color in a small targeted area. It may be the suggestion of smoke in the distant hills or the white trunk of a birch tree. 

This technique interrupts dark massing in areas with some contrast or introduces atmospheric affects to the overall picture.

This Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper has a reputation for being good for color lifting. So I purchased a block of this paper to see what I can do with this technique. This is one of my first paintings on this surface so I am learning as I go.

This is a watercolor of a local agricultural field off the West River Trail, in Brattleboro, Vt.

LOCAL FIELD

                                                                                     (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro
 

Often my subject matter to paint originates from going on a hike, walk or cross-country ski. Much of the inspiration comes from the natural light I experience in that moment. In the warmer weather I am fortunate to paint outside right in that moment. Otherwise, when there is challenging weather(ie.wet or cold) I take a photograph or have to rely on my memory of an experience.

Recently, we have had beautiful mild weather - which I am not prepared for. I want to go outside and do something active and then realize there is a pile of melting snow, ice and mud all over the ground.

So this watercolor is in essence a painting of the West River trail field a couple months down the road.

I find I like to experiment and welcome painting on all kinds of surfaces. This is a rough (140lb) Baohong watercolor paper but I also like using hot, cold and soft press papers. In addition, I like painting on illustration board.

Smith College Museum of Art

 

Last week I visited Smith College in Northampton, MA to view the bulb show on display in their greenhouses. As usual it was a lovely and needed exhibit to get a whiff of Spring as Winter marches on here in southern Vermont.

Shortly afterwards I visited the art museum on the same campus. The permanent collection has quite a variety of paintings and objects in their collections. In one of their back rooms they have a lovely collection of drawings on exhibit.

This figure drawing from the collection caught my eye and imagination ever since I saw it. The accuracy, gracefulness and mastery of the line work is amazing. With just a few lines of pen this artist captures the character, fashion and time period of the subject matter.

The Italian artist and architect sited is Lodovico Cardi(1559 - 1613) known as Cigoli. He trained in Florence and later moved to Rome. This is a study of Jacob from Jacob's Dream drawn with brown ink on cream laid paper.

West River Trail

                                                                                   (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro
 

The West River Trail in Brattleboro, VT is a lovely walk right after a fresh snowfall. The sun coming off the Connecticut River or from the East produces a lovely warmth with the local birds flitting about. 

I like the agricultural field which you soon pass by for it's color changes throughout the seasons. Also, the smaller water channels which parallel the Connecticut River add much value when I am exploring the sights and sounds of nature.

I like painting on this 'Master's Choice' watercolor paper. In particular, I like the 'rough' surface they have which has a nice bead to it. If you use your brush right you can get nice dry brush effects across this textured surface.

Tough Winter

                                                                                               (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro

Winter is a great time to paint watercolors. I find the snow a great source of inspiration with the light patterns and the landscape, in general, viewed from a different perspective.

However, this winter has been a real challenge, at least, for me. Days and days of bitter temperatures, the absence of snow and then frequent storms requiring endless shoveling has made this winter exhausting. 

This winter my house was so dry I couldn't keep my eyes and skin moist enough. I had to do an exhausting eye treatment of drops every fours for nine days or so and then I got not one but two respiratory flu-like colds which dragged on forever.

Other than that it was a good winter. I did get some watercolors painted but not nearly as I intended as the house was so cold. We had many gray days where the snow stayed on the roof and our solar panels become ineffective. However, I am beginning to appreciate the mid-day sun and increased length of daylight. Before long I will be able to paint outside again....
 

Monadnock Table Cover Artist

                                                                                      (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro
 

Since January I have been the featured cover artist on a local magazine called Monadnock Table. This magazine is published by the Keene Sentinel (Keene, NH) and primarily distributed in Cheshire County, New Hampshire.

Overall it has been a positive experience from the initial interview through emails and seeing it published. I relish the exposure it has created and the feedback from people who have seen it.

The theme of the publication was 'comfort foods', winter and snow. To fit this topic I supplied many watercolors of snow which were painted several years ago when we had snowier winters. Little did I know we would have a 'true' winter this calendar year.

Landscape Painting

                                                                                             (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro
 

When visiting coastal Maine last summer I noticed this woman in the distance dressed in red amongst a tangle of green. The green growth almost looked tropical in contrast to the woman's orderly appearance and behavior.

That flash of an image or memory sat with me for some time. Recently, I decided to put down that experience on paper. The mystery of what is happening out towards the ocean adds another layer of intrigue.

I like utilizing the complementary colors whenever I can. The red/green combination for me really balances out the composition.

LOCAL FIELD

                                                                                         (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro
 

There is a nice warm glow to this watercolor. I come back and can gaze at this picture endlessly. I don't know what it is - but I think it is that creamy yellow in the middle. There is warmth even in the shadows in the foreground.

Here in Vermont we have had a gray, cloudy, winter. Not to mention the coldest winter I can recall. So to look at that bright, sunny picture above makes me calm and focused.

I like the combination of yellow ochre/burnt umber for the woodland edge feathered up from darkest at the bottom. 

Experimenting with Painting Skies

                                                                                     (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro
 

Often I will turn over an unfinished plein air watercolor painting and just start painting on the backside. This is the case with this watercolor.

I keep developing my approach to painting the sky in watercolor. It is very easy or instinctive to paint a graded blue wash for the sky. However, most days are not truly full of blue skies. Also, the sky really conveys the mood for your scene so there is a large opportunity for me to seize.

In this sky I lifted out paint where the streaks of white are. Also, as the pigments dried I dropped in water or sprayed mist which created cloud-like shapes with soft and hard edges. These are some approaches I look forward to developing in the future.

Stepping back from this painting I can see how a J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851) influence may have seeped in. Turner was a landscape painter who left a vast quantity of watercolors, in addition to his oil paintings.

But no -I have not even thought of J.M.W Turner, in some time, even though I do find his work intriguing.

Landscape Painting

                                                                                      (C) 2025 Dale DiMauro
 

Nothing inspires me more than painting the landscape. The changing natural light and seasonal color can be endlessly fascinating. There are a limitless amount of techniques to adopt which can make your paintings evolve.

However, painting fast in watercolor is a thing. This approach is more about putting down pigment, minimizing detail and not fuzzing about.

This painting was done in about forty minutes. It was painting rapidly and very satisfying in execution. There is a directness and freshness which I like about this approach.