Scott Farm

(C) 2026 Dale DiMauro

 

Often I go plein air painting by myself. However, I did paint outside, recently, with a group from the Saxton's River Art Group up at Scott Farm in Dummerston, VT. It truly felt like the end of summer with numerous seasonal changes in the air.

I was pressed for time but did what I could in an hour or so. This stark white farm building, with a bit of history to it, stood out amongst the lush hillside. The goldenrod was in peak bloom lighting up the ground plane in the outlaying fields.

The Scott Farm is such a memorable landscape with the Vermont hillside, collection of stonewall projects and orchards of apple trees. Where is there not a subject to paint?

Green River(VT) Swimming Hole

(C) 2026 Dale DiMauro

 

Swimming holes are challenging to paint outside. The light and shadows are so dramatic yet changing rapidly. The Green River, in Guilford, VT, with it's historic covered bridge offers diverse subject matter.

One of the challenges to painting outside is determining what to focus on. Usually I find a subject matter which I can easily embrace. On this day I wasn't so set on my subject, on the other hand how could I go wrong? There are so many beautiful sights. 

This watercolor was painted on Labor Day and boy was it a gorgeous day! I focused on the right side of the falls to simplify the composition. I do like the transparency of the water and the energy coming off the mass of overall green foliage. 

It is tricky in watercolor to not overdo it. I was beginning to cramp from an awkward painting location and needed to stop. So this was it.

Art-In-the-Park(Keene, NH)

(C) 2026 Photograph Dale DiMauro

This year's Art-in-the-Park in Keene, NH, was a lovely event. It ran this past Saturday & Sunday, just prior to Labor Day. My wife and I attended on Saturday. The weather was great and there was quite a flow of people at the event.

We saw and met numerous artists and vendors at the event, many we knew from prior years and others we know from a different context. For example, there were artists from the Saxton's River Art Group(VT), students from Keene High School and other artists from an art critique group I attended a while back.

One artist who paints with watercolor among other media mentioned she uses aquabord which is sold as a ready to hang in of itself panel. These panels are just starting to work there way on to the market, but are real handy for plein air painters. They even come with a mounting clip and hangar on the back. From the side angle they appear to be panels mounted on a wood frame.

Other artists come up with clever ideas which are quite inspiring. One woman developed a cover(with art on it) for these popular glass yogurt jars that many seem to end up with when purchasing certain yogurts.

Overall, the event seems to keep on growing. Even the National Park Service was present with a booth representing Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park(NH). It makes me consider putting a booth together for next year. However, it is a lot of work and the weather needs to cooperate.

The Maine Coast

(C) 2026 Dale DiMauro

 

The Maine coast is a distinctive landscape. The smell of the sea life with the crashing water and rocky shoreline is unmistakeable.

I painted this watercolor over two sessions. It is a sort of postcard, as I didn't get to visit Maine this year. I know many other people who couldn't afford to go to Maine this year, too.

The original inspiration was as a cloud study as the sky is so varied. However, the water and rocks are really captivating. Even the shadows within the rocks are descriptive of the the overall shoreline and the life that is hanging on, in the pools and eddy's of the changing tides.

The drifts of mist coming off the ocean is a quality I only attribute to watercolor. The importance of using a mister, and when, is of great importance, here.