Red Boats

These two boats are moored on the Herring River all summer.  They do not go anywhere.  In the winter I have seen a lighted Christmas tree in the smaller one.  I do know the person who owns them and built them.  He used to be in the fish shack but I have not seen John for a couple of years.  

The marsh land is very yellow at this time of year.  Currently, at this plein air painting, the tide is very high.  The sun is bright without a cloud in the sky.  It finally rained this morning.  I did this painting in an hour and half, working mainly wet into wet.  Things do dry fast here.

Quiet Streams

The Harwich Conservatory maintains many wooded areas and lots of streams. I escaped to one of them this morning and it was so peaceful. We do have a house that is filled with guests, young and old, and it is a bit chaotic. I love having all the grandchildren but the older ones are easiest. The yellow green of the meadows and the sudden splash of a fish is a welcome contrast. I don't know birds but there are plenty of them and different bird calls. The very distant trees have a white spacer so I continued this in front of the closer trees. Just little puffs of clouds were there at the start and then disappeared. It was a good morning and thanks for my bug spray which is needed in these woods.

The Cranberry Bog

Saturday was the Stroll. Artists and musicians spread out around the cranberry bog in Harwich. People come to this conservation site and meet you. They buy raffle tickets and drop them off with various artists for a chance to win the painting that is being done. The artist donates the paintings to the Conservatory to raise funds to maintain the area. I chose a spot in the shade and spotted a few birch trees. Birch trees are rare on Cape Cod. The white/black contrast of them makes a very graphic image and I used them for a focal point in the painting. It was another great day painting on Cape Cod.

Old Cranberry Bog

This was my final day of painting on Cape Cod.  I returned to the Harwich Conservation Area where I had painted earlier in the month.  The morning was crisp but sunny.  The area is an overgrown cranberry bog for the most part but has this water channel running through it.  There are birds chirping, crows squawking and even a fox out for a stroll.  It is fall and there are plenty of yellow and red colors to add variety.  It is a wonderful day for the senses.

The Herring River

Early morning painting of the Herring River as it moves up into the marsh.  It is quiet except for the bird chatter.  On this beautiful morning a couple of kayaks came by and also some curious walkers.  It is mysterious where the kayaks go as they meander up the river.  They disappear and reappear.  No bugs were out and I finished the painting on site. 
The light is from the right at three quarters.  The large tree on the right really popped out as it was back lighted or silhouetted.  It made me change my value.

Sunny, Cape Cod Morning

Got out to paint yesterday and it was beautiful. Some clouds above the marsh and the little red boat moored. This boat is always there. At Thanksgiving time it may have a pumpkin and at Christmas, a small tree. It is sort of mysterious, at least to me, how this comes about. There is some red in the marsh and some very dry trees hanging onto a few leaves. No birds around but a couple of kayakers waved as they passed by.
I painted on 300 lb paper by Lanaquerelle which must have less sizing than Arches paper. There is more blotting and softening of edges which is nice but unexpected.