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.

Watercolor Study

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

Between work demands and the heat of summer it was good to pick up the paint brush and move it around the paper. Watercolor is such a versatile medium providing such an endless array of approaches that each painting seems to be quite different on it's own merit.

This watercolor study is inspired from walking on the grounds of the Clark Art Institute several weeks ago in Williamstown, MA. Over time they have established trails through the woods and fields behind the actual museum. That is a depiction of me about to cross one of their pedestrian footbridges.

It is always good to try out new techniques when the mood strikes or when the situation seems appropriate. One of the low branches arching off the tree on the right side I created by using my fingernail. I like the free growth of the vegetation and the verdant coloring on the edge of the woods.

JOHN SINGER SARGENT: Portraits in Charcoal

When I last visited the Clark Art Institute over a week ago, my wife and I perused their gift shop, naturally, with our masks on. This handsome book stood out amongst all the other books on hand. I don't know if it is the black and white cover or the portrait but it simply drew my attention.

While sketching countless portraits of faces and figures myself, often in pencil from magazines or in person I felt like I could relate to John Singer Sargent. However, John Singer Sargent: Portraits in Charcoal by Richard Ormond is an impressive sample of one area of Sargent's productivity. It is hard for me to fathom that he did charcoal portraits of some seven hundred and fifty sitters. Most of his charcoal portraits referenced in the book are around 18" x 24" which is an impressive size that would command attention on a wall when framed.

On the same day when we were at the Clark Art Institute I learned that Sargent painted over two thousand watercolors in addition to all those large oil portraits and murals that he is known for. In contrast, Winslow Homer painted I understood around seven hundred and fifty watercolors. 

In conclusion, I have so much admiration for the quality of John Singer Sargent's artistic skills but maybe even more respect for the quantity of work he produced and so much of it while traveling. 

Homosote Boards

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

Homosote is a brand name for a cellulose based fiber wall board. These boards are often used for soundproofing floors, walls and ceilings. At least this is my understanding of the product.

So far this sounds like an unexciting post, right. Well, I often paint on various sizes of homosote when painting inside. I have used this particular board, as seen in the above photograph for years. These boards protect my table surface from moisture and hold up well. In addition, these boards are moisture and mold resistant against fungi.

By accident I found the value in using these boards. Someone I know was getting rid of wood scraps and encouraged me to try by mounting a sheet for painting on it. At first they feel a little rough to the hand but with use I find the fibers tend to smooth with age.

The Clark Art Institute

Photograph by Dale DiMauro

This weekend I was fortunate to visit The Clark Art Institute, in Williamstown, MA as it recently reopened to the public. It had been closed for months due to COVID -19. I consider this one of the top notch art museums in the country. However, this museum is not located in a major city, but in a majestic rural setting. So when my wife and I visit, the grounds are as important to experience as the great works hanging on the walls.

I must say the experience was quite different this time. When we first arrived we had to follow all the protocols which our modern society requires these days. That is we had to wear masks at all times in the building, wash hands frequently and keep a safe distance from others. The morning in the museum was rather quite barren of people as I passed through the galleries. However, it did become more populated as the day wore on.

One of the current exhibits is titled, LINES FROM LIFE: French Drawings From the Diamond Collection, in a gallery with lovely drawings of the human figure. The above image is from the collection of Herbert and Carol Diamond. This drawing of the The Sower, c.1850 is by Alexandre-Gabriel DeCamps(French, 1803-1860) with graphite and white chalk on paper(7 1/4 x 4 1/2 in.).

A guard in the museum informed me that numerous sculptures will be installed around the grounds in the coming weeks. After leaving the museum my wife and I took a hike through the aforementioned  trails and fields which sit above the institution. It is on this hike that you not only view the grand landscape with the Berkshires as the backdrop, but you amble through their golden fields with majestic trees in their natural environment as if out of a John Constable painting.

Sketching

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

When it is hot and humid outside or when I am becoming tired, drawing can be a great activity. It can be very therapeutic. To sketch freely, absent of expectations with the pencil pressed to the paper calms the mind. When you are done whether you finished a drawing or not becomes a record of where you were during this point in time.

These sketches were done while watching television in the evening. Often I experiment with different pencils or a range of softer pencils which I would not usually consider. I even experiment with these smear-free charcoal pencils that I have. It is also the time when I progress the most in trying to capture the human figure. During this period I feel like I am not trying to make a perfect drawing, just letting the pencil move around.

It has been said that drawing makes you begin see the world as you record what is going on around you. Along the way your perceptions of the world sharpen, along with your ability to communicate with others in a meaningful way. 

Red in the Landscape

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

It is important to include red in the landscape. That may seem like an odd statement. However, when red is actually portrayed in the landscape I believe it should be exaggerated. It adds a lot of feeling to a picture. And it's something I do not do on a regular basis. Now I don't necessarily mean pure red but somewhere in the color spectrum of red.

Reds on my palette include burnt sienna, cadmium red and alizarin crimson. Burnt sienna is one of those earth colors that mixes well with others. I often add it to my landscapes, particularly in the fields as without it, something is missing. Also, it suggests a time of year or even a degree of humidity in the air.

Cadmium red I use when trying to achieve a pure red such as a stop sign color. It it frequently used with other pigments when I make light skin tones. Since it is opaque it can appear a bit chalky, but looks great in contrast to complementary greens. Also, a touch of red added to a blue sky mixture will give it a grayish tone which can be quite lovely.

Recently, I have come to embrace permanent alizarin crimson. Regular alizarin crimson I have read is fugitive meaning the pigment fades over time. So the permanent version I use a lot in making low horizon sky's often with cobalt blue. When those two colors are mixed on my palette the colors come to life.

The entanglement of growth on the right of this watercolor was primarily painted with burnt sienna.

Taking A Stroll Down a Country Road........

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

During this COVID-19 pandemic it is important to be outside inhaling fresh air and getting some steps in. I have come to appreciate the lifestyle we live and the resources that we can utilize which less fortunate people cannot.

The subject of this painting is derived from a walk I occasionally take with my wife. She often asks which route I want to take when going on a walk. Since it is clearly mid-summer with high humidity and high temperatures a walk with shade, lovely vistas and a forgiving road surface are my preference.

I suppose this watercolor is of a lovely summer day in Vermont, which it indeed is. The color of the road drew my attention with all the greenery around it. The light in the distance and the shadows in the foreground were just as appealing.

It is always a great challenge to come up with a color which either matches what your eye sees or what you want to see. Particularly, when you are using a limited palette or out of a certain pigment in that instance. However, I believe the driving force for creating this watercolor is the warmth of colors found out in nature.

Stickney Brook Falls

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

Last week on the way back from work I set aside time to plein air paint. It was a hot morning so the mere thought of standing by a waterfall was enticing. However, I did not anticipate a burst of young children splashing around, as when I first arrived it was rather quiet.

The majority of this watercolor was done on site. However, I got tired of sitting perched on a rock ledge - so I did some finishing touches at home. At one point I got excited with how the green foliage was coming along. The leafy canopy is a nice backdrop for the drama of the rock outcroppings which really define the space.

Recently, I have been reading up on John Singer Sargent and his watercolor paintings. He was very direct in his painting approach to the point, where if needed, corrections were made all along his painting process. I kept thinking about his approach as this picture developed.

New Location for Plein Air Painting

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

Earlier this week I got caught in quite the downpour. The sky turned dark clearing everyone off the trail I was on. I ran under the canopy of these trees which led me to a lovely area for future plein air painting.

We have been in a cycle of rainy days which we certainly needed after drought conditions. Lately, it has been so unpredictable as to when the showers will actually come.

It was amazing how quickly the humidity cleared out. The clouds parted and the sun came back out with it's glorious rays of light. The rain seemed to enhance all the lush vegetation around us.

My Favorite Plein Air Painting

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

By now I have painted countless plein air paintings. However, this one stands out as my favorite. I like the composition with the backlit light, the colors and figure. A landscape painting captured in a vertical orientation.

I mention this because it sits as the top sheet on one of my watercolor blocks. It makes me pause every time I see it.

The other quality about this watercolor is that it depicts a scene from a local park. With the prevalence of COVID-19 many parks are off limits or their use is heavily restricted. During times like these, a pleasant picture can be reassuring.

Watercolor Doodle

(C) 2020 Dale DiMauro

Many artists use practice sheets which basically are any piece of scrap paper they have on hand to test whether a color they have mixed is what they want to use. These sheets are often used to work out any problems you may have with correcting your drawing before committing to a large sheet of watercolor paper.

This image has been developed on a test sheet of watercolor paper I have been using. I tend to use both sides of test sheets so as not to waste any paper. There often are marks on the paper over different time periods which are unrelated.

This little watercolor was developed as a warm-up exercise before starting on a painting. I like the clean washes and how they read on the paper. Particularly, as minimal color has been used.