Referencing John Constable

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

John Constable(1776-1837) was a noted English landscape painter who worked in the romantic tradition. He was credited with increasing the value of landscape painting.

This photograph was taken in Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro, VT, a view I often see from the  tennis courts which I have played on a bit, lately. This view makes me think of John Constable's The Wheat Field (1816) on exhibit at the Clark Art Institute, in Williamstown, MA, which my wife and I see every year when we visit the museum. Since the museum is currently closed due to COVID-19 this year may not happen for us.

Nevertheless, the qualities I experience at the park which remind me of Constable are the light, particularly in the sky, and the warm colors of the field. Other qualities in common include a distant tree line free of structures. In addition, a worn path leads the viewer into the painting. 

I realize these are rural characteristics but the parallels seemed striking. A little art history is good to keep things in perspective, yet expand our thinking. 

Living Memorial Park

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

Because COVID-19 has basically caused house arrest since late March, I have spent more time visiting Living Memorial Park in Brattleboro, Vermont than I ever have. By now I have played doubles tennis numerous times on their courts, by the ice rink. Prior to that I was limited to using the hitting wall which is mounted in the same area, as the nets at the tennis courts were not up.

Every time I play tennis at the park, which is usually late in the day, I look over at the fields and distant hills with its picturesque scene. The late afternoon light and the cloud patterns give life to this verdant landscape. However, it's always changing in some way. The greenery continues to grow and fill in, and the light and atmospheric conditions continue to evolve.

As a result of this experience, I kept promising myself I would paint this landscape. Finally, this evening I painted this watercolor basically from memory. Often I take a photograph as a reference, but I haven't had time to print out any pictures. I am also aware that in some way it won't be the exact same scene, which does make things interesting.

Ashuelot River

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

While playing tennis late this afternoon I regretted not having my camera with me. I was playing in a local park, while the sky was overcast amplifying all this green growth on the sloping field. The distant hills were a blue-green. With clarity I could envision how I would go about creating this composition and paint it.

This experience emphasizes that often we don't have to look far for subject matter. A shift in perspective can make us see things more clearly.

I had posted this watercolor at an earlier stage but keep coming back to this scene in my mind. The Ashuelot River is one of my favorite paddling areas with it's sandy banks, lush foliage and placid water. In addition, the exposed tree roots capture my imagination. Often there are downed limbs sticking above the water.

The white in the middle of the painting is yet to be painted drift wood.

Landscape Study

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

These are the kind of watercolors I learn the most from. Playing with colored pigments and dragging the brush across the texture of the paper gives the artist many ways to develop their skills. Often you don't need to have much pigment as you can achieve a lot with a little. By adding water you have a greater range of value to play with. 

Often I will begin experimenting with a new pigment in these studies and before long I will have figured out how I would like to include them in my painting. For example, in the last year I have rediscovered permanent alizarin crimson. When combined with cobalt blue it makes a lovely varied sky. Not a true blue postcard type sky but an atmospheric wash in which to set the landscape under.

I have to say I like writing these posts about my painting process because it makes me think about what I am doing or how I operate. Hopefully, these ramblings will give you some inspiration in your own creative pursuits.

Landscape of Greens

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

This spring I have become much more attuned to the bird activity around my yard and neighborhood. At times some birds or groups of birds are downright loud. Simultaneously, there are days when the automobile traffic is either absent or going at a much less hurried pace. Time can almost seem frozen.

This watercolor seems to sum up how I feel at this time of year. The rapid growth we see all around us is amazing. Everyday the landscape changes. I have observed the greens change from a yellow-green to a heavier version by summer's end.

Plein Air Painting

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

We have had quite a string of beautiful days lately. This weather has inspired me to get outside and paint. 

This plein air I started this afternoon near a local quarry. As I was pressed for time, I expect to finish it at home in the studio. I had a tennis date that was equally exciting.

I think in an abstract way this watercolor captures some of the dappled light cast from the canopy of the local forest. Also, I was struck by the greens and browns which I was seeing. They give this scene an earthy quality.

Spring Has Finally Arrived in Vermont

(C) 2020 Photograph Dale DiMauro

This weekend in Brattleboro, Vermont, the weather has been as beautiful as it gets. This past winter began with snow before Thanksgiving and thus a long winter with mild temperatures. It seemed like winter might end early. However, cooler than expected temperatures persisted right up through last week. Overlapping this seasonal change, of course, has been the stay at home order making winter seem even longer.

So I couldn't resist posting this photograph I took on a walk over the weekend. Deciduous trees continue to unfurl their leaves rapidly. Finally, my wife and I were able to open our windows.

Allergies which have bothered my eyes for nearly a month are finally improving. This week will be the time to resume painting outside and in with greater consistency and clarity.

A World Above Us

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

Painting clouds in watercolor can be a challenge. On one hand I don't really want to draw much attention to the sky. Yet on the other hand, the sky sets the tone for the landscape.

For the last year or so I have been working on achieving greater variation in the skies that I paint. Sometimes a subtle variation in value or color can go a long way. In most cases it is fun to play up the abstract shapes of a cloud pattern. Regardless, of the weather depicted, I try not to include many hard edges in my sky. 

In this painting I used a combination of permanent alizarin crimson with cobalt blue in the lighter areas. At the base of the cloud I tend to concentrate more ultramarine blue to enhance the perspective.

One last point to consider. By habit I paint my sky first and then move on to the landscape. You certainly can paint your sky last. However, it is important to establish some atmospheric  qualities before one is too far along in your painting. Watercolor, is after all, a unique medium, for capturing atmospheric conditions.

Out in the Elements

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

Recently, I was painting outside when all of a sudden it started pouring rain. As a result, I was able to find cover under the canopy of a hemlock tree. 

However, this changed the trajectory of my painting. The landscape in the background became much simplified and the foreground was abruptly halted.

For some reason I like this little watercolor. This experience lives on in my memory. The blue in the sky makes me think of the cloudburst breaking up in the distance. Also, the band of gray in the middle reminds me of all this fog which was lifting off the surface of the water.

This experience out in nature broadened my perspective which I have come to appreciate. In addition, painting outdoors makes you realize your work is not some precious little thing. The artistic process can develop in a number of ways which you have no control of, if you are open to it.

The End of Winter(Season)

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

Today was an exciting day. I was able to paint some this morning. For nearly ten days I have had allergies bothering my eyes to the point where it was hard to read, write or even paint. 

During this period a new watercolor brush arrived which I could not use due to the pollen from maple trees. I have been told invisible pollen such as from a maple tree can be the most bothersome. In contrast, visible pollen from say a birch, is not so troublesome, even though the cotton-like balls which blow around are irritating to look at.

This watercolor was inspired by a visit to Living Memorial Park, in Brattleboro, just before the state of Vermont was shutdown, towards the end of March, due to COVID-19. As the days continue to increase in length while certain deciduous trees are yet to leaf out, we can experience this special quality of light projecting on the landscape.

Spring Rains

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

This past week I took the same walk on two successive days with very different results. The results I am talking about are atmospheric. 

The first walk was last Thursday on a cloudy, gray day. As flat as the light was the glow of yellow/orange coming off the the reeds in our local river was stunning. It cast a lovely warm shadow nearly thirty feet across the water. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me.

So I settled for returning on Friday. It too ended up being a gray day with clouds. However, it turned into a rainy walk. I became struck by how green and brown the landscape is at this time of year. This time I had my camera but I was not met with a warm glow radiating across the river. 

This past week I have not painted as much as the pollen has been bothering my eyes. Hopefully, with drier weather I can get back to painting. 

Quick Sketches

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

Quick sketches are a recording of an artist's thoughts, compositionally. Is this a picture I want to develop further? Can I make it a stronger statement? Is the inspiration such that I cannot put it aside?

This pencil drawing is based on a waterfall and stream I experienced on a trip to Maryland several years ago. On one hand the sound and movement of the water was captivating, yet the spring burst of green growth and brown ledges drew me in. Often a new setting makes us aware of the differences from what we experience in our everyday lives.

The fun part is when you begin to simplify the composition or consider alternatives. In this sketch I eliminated the scrawny tree growth above the waterfall which made the falls have a greater impact. Also, I have considered tweaking the edges of the stream so that the viewer is in the path of the water.

As a result, I think when you draw from life you begin to see more clearly. Thus, perhaps, you develop better judgement.

Browns & Greens

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

This watercolor has progressed from the last posting. It is amazing how a wash can change your perception of things or clarify what you are seeing. The yellow-greens found in nature, in the spring, are something to keep an eye on. Just looking at these colors makes me feel the moisture in the air.

I don't know where I learned about the pigment combination of quinacridone gold with manganese blue. However, I have been experimenting with this pairing quite a bit, lately. It produces a lively green foliage color.

The other color combination which I have taken a liking to is ultramarine blue and burnt umber. It gives the artist a warm dark on the brown side which I used on the surface of the pond. These two color matchings seem like real Vermont colors.

I must say I like the shoreline in this watercolor. It has that meandering quality which breaks up the space on the page into a pleasing proportion. Finally, I don't mean to bore the reader with endless pigment names but certain combinations truly can broaden your horizons.

Greater Saturation of Color?

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

In the last year I have been told on numerous accounts that my watercolors have achieved a greater saturation of color. In particular, my landscape paintings have richer colorations. 

I take this as a complement largely due to the influence of plein air painting practices. Outside in the elements I really try to mix colors that I see in the natural light. It helps greatly that my knowledge and understanding of a more complete palette has progressed.

This watercolor which I started in the afternoon basically has one initial wash. While the paper is wet until it retains a degree of dampness I drop in loads of pigment. This is to define the edge of elements or seek a graduated mass.

These comments are not meant to sound like I am boasting. However, I opened one of my flat file drawers this evening and could see a transformation in the pieces over the last year. For example, I am mixing and using browns more than I ever could have imagined one year ago.

The Maine Coast

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

Since reading this book by Jordi Vigue, Great Masters of American Art, I have gained new appreciation for many of the Hudson River School painters. In particular. I admire the work of Alfred Thompson Bricher(1837-1908) who painted many coastal scenes of Maine. Some of his imagery comes to mind when I look back at this picture which I worked on last winter.

This is a study I did of the Maine coast, from a photograph I took. My thoughts keep coming back to this image. Like many other traveler's I don't know if I will be able to go to Maine this summer. That would be a first, for me as long as I can remember, summer in Maine, at some point, has been a family tradition.

The other thing about this image, is well, the image. The Maine coastline with it's rocky, erratic and undulating shoreline has such a strong element in the human psyche. The eye is drawn to where the land meets the sea. As a viewer the eye simply wants to follow the shoreline up to the horizon. And somewhere along the way one can smell the fresh fragrances from the life of the sea. By contrast, inland, we don't usually experience these qualities.

So much of capturing this landscape is getting the drawing right. It doesn't require much color. In fact, color will just compete with the quality of the light. 

Along the Ashuelot River

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

This year the transition from winter to spring seems to be taking an eternity. While the current outbreak of COVID-19 is certainly altering human life in unprecedented ways, I am more eager than ever to spend time out in nature.

In the last couple of days I finally got back to painting. This watercolor is not a final product but has progressed well of late. There is something appealing about a sandy beach with dark, fresh, clear water. The verdant colors of spring bring nature to life.

Artistically, this picture has challenged me to take on subject matter I don't see everyday. That is erosion or the effects of erosion. There are exposed roots holding the sandy bank together, yet to be painted and driftwood dangling over the edge of the water.

When I finish this painting it will be posted.

Watercolor Basics

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

This past week I started reading Charles Reid's(1937-2019) most recent book, Watercolor Basics: Learn to Solve the Most Common Painting Problems. Reid was a noted watercolor painter with a long career. 

As we honker down with this long home stay, due to COVID-19, I figure it is a great time to absorb any information or technique from Reid's decades of painting.

In this book there is a section just on brush strokes with proper technique. Above I practiced some of these approaches, whether it is painting with the belly of the brush or rolling the brush as you work your way across the paper.

It is a good practice to keep working on the fundamentals from time to time. Or at least that is what I find. It helps to broaden your perspective. Overall, it is amazing the range of marks you can make with a brush or even without one.

Plein Air Painting

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

This is my full plein air set-up. As you might imagine, it takes some effort to lug this stuff around. However, for me, this equipment is well constructed and dependable.

Yet, most of the time when painting outside I use less equipment. If there is a picnic table or bench available all I need is a shoulder bag to transport my stuff. However, with the threat of COVID-19 I can't sit on any of these public benches so I have to go all in carrying my stuff or paint around my yard. 

Fortunately, my wife and I have a magnolia beginning to bloom. We also have crocuses and tulips, in addition, to primroses, beginning to show their true colors. 

I am telling you all this because it is important to be mentally prepared to paint outside yet flexible to adapt to changing conditions. Earlier today I took a screen out of one of my windows because it seemed like a great vantage point to paint from. After thinking about it I had second thoughts and resumed studio painting. 

With this stay at home order I thought it would be too limiting to do any plein air painting but now I beginning to realize my magnolia tree offers plenty of subjects to paint in of itself. So, as they say, paint on.

Western Massachusetts in Summer

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

Living through this COVID-19 crisis has interrupted my painting routine, amongst other daily functions. My wife and I do not usually spend this amount of time together or isolate on the computer as now. Don't get me wrong it is great to have her around and we do get along well but my usual routine of painting in the early evening or late afternoon has been hampered.

This watercolor seems like it got a lazy start but earlier today I was pumped to move it along. In this picture there is a heavy dose of greens which gives it that summer identity. I particularly, like the abstract quality to the growth in the foreground.

Also, there is an accidental mark in the upper left corner which only can be found in a watercolor. If you look closely there appears to be a a low flying aircraft approaching above the landscape. These happy little marks I have learned to incorporate into my painting as opposed to maintaining any form of white knuckle resistance.

Watercolor Doodle

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

With the restriction of our lives these days due to Covid-19 it feels good to get out in nature if possible and to paint scenes full of warmth. This image reminds me of a carefree summer day.

It can be fun to play around with watercolor with no set outcome. I am always searching for interesting color combinations and new techniques. Is this watercolor done, probably not, but if it is I will learn from it, nevertheless. One thing I have learned to appreciate is the importance of pre-staining the paper when many layers of pigment are needed.

This watercolor was done in a Winsor-Newton spiral bound book. It is not a paper that I use on a regular basis, although I do use it on occasion for plein air painting.