Groton State Forest

                                                  (C) 2020 Photograph Dale DiMauro

While on vacation in northern Vermont my wife and I discovered Groton State Forest. On the map I noticed there were several state parks in close proximity, which is unusual. Little did we know that Groton State Forest consists of 26,164 acres of largely undeveloped land. The forest occupies land in several towns which include Groton, Marshfield, Plainfield and Topsham.

Vermont is well known for hidden jewels off the beaten path but this treasure was on a scale I was not prepared for. We saw sweeping vistas of distant mountains, lakes, ponds, hiking trails and vast tracts of pristine forest. Later on I learned there are seven state parks located in Groton State Forest. One, Kettle Pond State Park seems to be quite the gem. It has clean, clear water and is as beautiful as any body of water I have ever seen.

It is important to find inspiration in new experiences and broaden our horizons as we find our way through this pandemic. This trip heightened my awareness of our surroundings as we traversed territory we would not normally seek as a means to avoid at-risk COVID-19 areas.

Plein Air Painting

   C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

On Monday I was fortunate in joining the Saxton's River Art Group for one of their scheduled plein air gatherings. I had not painted outside with a group this year largely due to Covid 19 and other work conflicts. Needless to say it was a meaningful outing.

We met at Alyson's Orchard in Walpole, NH at 9:30 AM. By then the sun and humidity were increasing but I was able to secure a spot under a canopy of shade looking out into one of the orchards. 

This watercolor was done entirely on site. Overall, I feel good about this picture. The one area where I wanted more resolution was the contour of the field beyond the road which drops before reaching that first apple tree.

The quality of the light and fresh coloring of the landscape appeals to me. Even the treatment and warmth to the sky were reminiscent of the atmospheric qualities that morning.

Great Blue Heron

                                                             (C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

This large bird in the water is hard to miss. I believe it is a Great Blue Heron. This was spotted in the middle of the day on Saturday in the Ashuelot Park in Keene, N.H. It was close to the boat landing, as you can see right in open water.

This Great Blue Heron just stood in the shallow water, by itself, occasionally shaking the mud off it's lower leg ever so gingerly. It seemed to be hunting for fish in the shallow waters. I was amazed as there were plenty of people around going about their business and making all kinds of noises.

These large birds make a great focal point no matter what the setting they are found in. They just stop me in my tracks. In addition, for their size they seem so graceful.

Andrew Wyeth @ the Farnsworth Art Museum

 

After a nearly two week vacation my wife and I rolled back in to town. We planned our trip to avoid any real concentration of people. With the threat of COVID-19 that can be a challenge, but overall we saw some great sights and broadened our horizons, which was much needed.

We hiked, swam and caught some limited cultural events along the way. When we left we were not sure what to expect economically or health wise, but everything seemed to work out. We did expect to acquire more masks and better fitting ones as most places we visited had mandatory mask requirements.

The Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine has an exhibit titled, Andrew Wyeth: Maine Legacy, which was a highlight for me. This exhibition features paintings in watercolor, dry brush and egg tempera, completed during Wyeth's seventy plus years in Maine. This watercolor by Wyeth, titled Walt & Henry, was one of my favorites from our visit. It was painted in 1942. 

Late Summer in Vermont

                                                               (C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

Vermont is a state full of such green foliage. Even at this time of year when many areas in the country experience droughts, Vermont somehow continues to remain green. If you happen to leave the state for a period of time you really notice this characteristic upon re-entering the region.

Even lawns which were verdant in the spring and then developed dry patches attain a different hue of green by late summer with crabgrasses and other opportunistic weeds moving in. This combination of lush growth and varied greens gives the river valleys and fields such an inviting sight.

This watercolor was inspired by a local paddle on one of the many quiet water bodies we seem to have throughout the state. It is fun to drift on the surface of the water into an inlet not knowing what's around the bend. Even on the surface of the water a paddler will come upon a growth of greenery like no where else. At this point startled frogs or turtles will often leap back into the water.

This is a summer if ever for paddling....

                                                                             (C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

This summer seems to be as hot as any in New England that I can recall. I have had to rearrange my work schedule to stay out of the heat as much as possible. Early mornings have been a mandatory start time with a mid-day hiatus to replenish my fluids and change clothing.

Local swimming is not often easily accessible if time is limited. The threat of COVID-19 makes it even more of a hassle. 

However, gliding on the water in my kayak has been quite rewarding. Fortunately, we have a diverse array of water bodies at our disposal. Somerset Reservoir in southern Vermont is one such place I like to paddle. 

Also, it gives me subject matter to paint. The color blue itself makes me feel refreshed.

ENTANGLEMENT

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauroPlants have characteristics that embody human emotions. In this time of great uncertainty, civilization itself can seem like it is unraveling. This watercolor study I did several years ago, for me, conveys a sense of disorder. Or is it a new order? The natural world has a way evolving and springing forth. There is beauty in nature if we see things as they are.

We have expectations from others which may no longer be relevant in the big picture and traditions which may be giving away to new habits. When I look back at this image all of these thoughts come to the surface.

In summation, I would say it is best to step back from your canvas or watercolor and pigments and see life with a fresh perspective.

Yellow

(C)2020 Dale DiMauro

Yellow is a challenging color to put down on the paper by itself. It can look out of place, weak or fake. On the other hand it can give warmth to a picture. 

Most of this watercolor has yellow in it. I use a lot of quinacridone yellow in creating the light green color of spring. There is yellow ochre in that warm patch in the middle. I used that because I wanted an opaque yellow which wouldn't get lost amongst all the greens. In retrospect, I could have pre-stained the paper yellow which would have projected a warmth or glow before I really started painting.

I like the distant tree with it's mottled shade projecting on the lawn. There is a bit of burnt sienna in that shadow.

As the summer season progresses I have noticed the yellow greens of spring become more blue greens until the foliage starts to turn. There are some exceptions to this observation particularly during droughts. In the early spring with the strong light some leaves actually appear transparent.

Pisgah State Park

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

Pisgah State Park is the largest state park in New Hampshire with 13,688 mostly wooded acres. It consists of seven ponds, wetlands and an old growth forest. Of most importance it resides in Chesterfield, NH which is only about fifteen minutes away.

Kilburn pond within the park is a popular spot for young people to take a dip or swim. Also, it is easy to get lost in this park if you veer off the labeled trails.

However, there are numerous scenic areas. I hope I captured one of those such areas in the above watercolor. This is a true summer scene with rich colors which can only be found in nature. This painting was done rapidly with no hesitation.

I feel this photograph doesn't quite capture the feel, texture and colors as in the watercolor. Regardless, there is a saturation of color which both draws the viewer in and is very expressive.