Allergies & Painting

                                                                             (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

The combination of the cool greens of the tree and the vibrant orange-yellow ground plane inspired me to paint this scene. I love the rising contours which add an element of mystery, too.

I feel like this is the best evergreen I have ever painted. Certainly, a bit more massing will it give more volume. However, I like the branching and colors and even the shadows. Also, it feels like it is rooted in the landscape.

After two months of allergies, preparing taxes and getting up to speed with a new computer my painting routine has been constantly disrupted. So it is feels good to get back to painting

Madame Sherri Forest

                                                                                       (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

On Friday I got in some plein air painting. After all it was a beautiful day.

However, this time I brought my full easel set-up, except I forgot my collapsable water container. Oops! I managed to adapt by using one of the deeper wells on my easel for water.

There were many people hiking the trails toward Indian Pond as well up to Madame Sherri's old remains in West Chesterfield. NH.

I took this photograph of my watercolor on my easel on site as it has much dappled light across the image. It was challenging with the changing light and rugged topography but the landscape was dominated with many layers of greens.

Hildene Estate

                                                                             (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

Hildene, the Lincoln family estate in Manchester, VT is worth the visit. Hildene was the summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln and his wife, the son of Abraham Lincoln. Robert Todd Lincoln was the president of the Pullman Company which manufactured customized rail cars for wealthy people.

The residence was occupied by Lincoln descendants until 1975. Recently, I visited during my wife's school break in April. The grounds of Hildene occupy 412 acres with over 1,000 peonies near the residence.

I painted this watercolor because I love the character of old apple trees and the vibrant green of the lawn which had recently emerged.

Spring on the West River Trail

                                                                  (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

After traveling south from Vermont for a few days I appreciate the quality of life that Vermont provides. All the congestion on the roads and overpopulation of people on a Sunday, no less, was real aggravating. Getting outside in the natural environment and breathing fresh air is important to me.

Painting outside seems best when applied on a watercolor block. The paper doesn't buckle and you can move across the paper rapidly.

I love the freshness of this watercolor. Colors are good, shadows are great and it is not overworked. However, the qualities of the light may be the most appealing aspect.

New Book

 

This book, the Complete Color Mixing Guide for Acrylics, Oils & Watercolor by John Barber I signed out from my local library. It was an older edition, however I didn't want to return it.

The way the book is arranged I find fascinating. The way the relationship of color is visualized I find applicable to use when experimenting with my palette. Thus, it has made me expand my palette which I find transformative.

I keep returning to the color charts when mixing watercolors. This book is such a great resource for painting that I am a much reduced painter without it.

Plein Air

                                                                              (C)2023 Dale DiMauro
 

This is one of my first plein air paintings I have done outside so far. It was both rewarding and a challenge.

I painted this while perched on the outdoor Shakespeare stage in Living Memorial Park. I was facing toward the woods out of the sun yet eliminated aspects the landscape in order to make a greater composition and to simplify my painting experience.

Painting outside you have to be willing to simplify your approach as time is limited and the light and scene will change on you.

As I left to go home the damp lawn slid out from under me as I took an unexpected tumble. I got up a bit stunned but had no real injuries so I walked it off.

Lately, for some reason I have not been able to import recent photographs of watercolors. I am still adapting to this new computer and the applications are confusing and I am yet to master the photo cropping software.

American Elm

                                                                             (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

Last summer when my wife and I went on our vacation in Maine we stayed not far from the largest American Elm I have ever seen. This location was in southern Maine along the largest wetland in the state.

You can see how large the tree is in scale compared to the individual standing near the base, by the trunk. It felt great to walk under the tree and be protected and shaded by it's layers of canopy. Also, it was exciting to look out across the field from this protected location.

This elm could be seen from just about anywhere on this landscape preserve which was a hundred acres or so in size.

Though not a watercolor this experience has inspired me to paint one of my largest watercolors to date.

Crowell Gallery Exhibit(@ the Moore Free Library)

                                                                            (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro
 

The Saxtons River Art Guild has a group exhibit at the Crowell Gallery(@ the Moore Free Library) in Newfane, VT. The exhibit is up for the month of May with nearly sixty paintings for viewing, featuring twenty two members.

One of my watercolors is on exhibit but not the one pictured above. Last week I helped hang a good chunk of the paintings.

Even though Route 30 is in the process of being paved it is worth the visit. There is such a variety of painters, subject matter and approaches which in total, makes the exhibit impressive.

Spring is the Time

                                                                                       (C) 2023 Dale DiMauro 

Spring is the time for change as they say. Well, I upgraded my computer and now I have a much better tripod for painting outside. 

Needless to say, I have to get up to speed on using these new upgrades. And boy are they time killers. They take time from painting but hopefully it will all pan out.

I like this new strada easel as it folds down and will fit into my shoulder bag. It also has a surface to lay my paper or watercolor block on for someone of my height which is over six feet.