A Rushing River

This painting of the Herring River was done while the water was rushing out. Often the kayakers get caught going up the river with the tide and then face the incoming tide and it is tough paddling. The wind picked up while painting and I hurried to finish. I wound up with a bold painting which happens when rushed to finish.

Fog and Damp on Herring River

We were out painting before the fog lifted. Instead of clearing it wavered between more fog and less. The dampness actually helped the painting since none of the lines were sharp. I did get cold and had no extra clothes to put on. With a shaky hand I dropped my rigger brush and it went right between the dock boards into the water. Couldn’t do that again with a lot of tries. Color appeared with nearer objects. The trees were so dark in the distance that I mixed my greens with violet and Paynes grey. It was challenging but I learned something about painting in fog on location.

Herring River Redox

There were only 4 of us painting this morning. We were at the Herring River. It was a very bright hazy day at the start. The morning then became a little foggy and then dark. The rain had come earlier and the humidity was very high. My colleagues seemed unsure about finishing and packed up early. I stayed the course. The water was challenging with its cast reflections that kept changing. It ranged from very much white to big dark cast shadows. I was interested to see the cast reflections were darker than the actual color of the greens.

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.

Riverside View

It hot here on cape Cod. The wind is really gusting and I keep watching my umbrella, as I expect it to go any minute. There are usually two cat boats moored here on the river but today, surprise...both are gone. I am always envious of the home owners on the riverside who can watch all of the activities. Water views have a real calming effect on me. I can even battle the wind gusts. There are squeals of excitement from the little ones jumping into the water. They keep asking their father to score their dive. I've been there.

Low Tide on the River

Back on Cape Cod. It is always relief to find my house just as I left it. My paints and easel are right where I left them. There is plenty to take care of at the house but I squeezed in a morning to paint down by the Herring River. The tide was out and a lot of mud was showing. One of the wonders of painting on Cape Cod is the brilliance of everything. Someone once said that is results from having water on each side of the land. This creates an 'umbrella effect'. Whatever, it is a great place to paint plain air.

Herring River Retreat

This is a large watercolor painting (28X34) that evolved from many smaller attempts.  I have sketched and done plein air paintings on this river at various times of the year.  It is a quiet, peaceful and rather lonely stretch. I suppose if I were a neighbor, I might witness some activities going on.  I tend to do my painting early and that maybe, is the answer for my description.

I like the eye path that the river makes to the focal point of houses.  The greenery is lush and that means mixing a lot of different greens.  I use pthalo-blue and combine it with my yellows, including raw sienna and burnt sienna.  That gives me plenty of green variation.

Autumn on the Herring River

There is a nip in the air.  The greens are now golden.  Birds seem to be more active.  We went to our spot on Thursday to paint.  The tide seemed to be running out and it was quiet but beautifully sunny on the river.  What a day to paint.  I captured the furthermost house with its boat in front and chose to ignore the few houses along the road on the left side of the river.  That way, I have a focal point that is not compromised.  The eye path has a reward at the end.  I finished the entire painting on site and have not done any more to it.  It was a great day of painting.

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.

Along the Herring River

While watching my 49ers in the playoffs on Sunday, I painted a scene that I remembered from Cape Cod. I live close to the Herring River and have painted sections of the river many times in the past. This one is from the brain bank. I had fun painting it on a half sheet and then went and painted it again on a full sheet. (Had to deal with the frustrations of a last minute loss to NY Giants.)
What I like about the painting is the eye path created by the river with the focal point almost at the end of the trip.

Cape Cod Fish Shack

This is a favorite spot for painting. I was out early and met only a few fishermen on this beautiful morning. The shack is for sale as indicated by the sign in front. It does lean back with its pilings all leaning toward the Herring River. Great location but has to be a 'teardown'. Over the years the shack has been modified and its tall superstructure for unloading fish is gone along with a ramp that went all the way around the side.
Today, there were lots of clouds forming but the sun stayed out as the clouds moved on. It was ideal for painting.

I Can Do It Myself

This is a scene from the Herring River on Cape Cod. I have painted the little fishing shack that tilts back from the water on many occasions. It is right down the road from my sister. There used to be a pianist practicing classic music with the windows open. Many little ones come to try out fishing for the first time and then, there are the little boys who crab. They set out their trap with a chicken bone and hover over it awaiting a catch. Plenty of reasons to paint here.

Rocks on the Herring River

Today our plan was to paint rocks. The day was sunny and a bit windy. The rocks are done with a base color, in this case raw sienna, and then, glazed with a darker color, burnt sienna and cobalt blue. The tops are scraped off while still wet and the shapes are developed. It is important to vary the sizes and create sharp planes. You do not want them to look like potatoes.
The area was active with lots of little kids fishing for crabs and everyone getting their last sail. What a beautiful weekend this has been. We finished at high tide, about 2.5hr after starting.

Herring River, West Harwich, MA

I hurried to finish before the rain came and I didn't quite make it. I started painting in full sunshine and put on plenty of sun bloc. Part of the plein air experience is talking to passersby. I love it, sometimes stopping and chatting. That happened while painting last weekend and then they came to my art show in the park on Monday.
My grandchildren left today and I will miss my beloved chums. We spent a lot of time together. Will have more time for painting.
I have been painting on Arches' 140lb cold press and find it wrinkling and never completely drying out. It is damp here on the Cape. I worry that it will wrinkle when framed. I will switch back to 300lb paper which I prefer for lots of reasons.

Sailboats on the Herring River

Today turned out to be ecstatic. I kept waiting for the sun and it was always promising. My scene was the Herring River, the home of these two wonderful boats. I pass them every day and they never seem to be out sailing. They have been here for as long as I can remember...12-15 yrs.
The beauty was not there due to the changing sky but it needed to be created. I loved putting it together and talking to all the joggers that stopped to critique.

The Fishing Shack

It doesn't get any better than this. When I am alone and painting I feel alive. It was such a great day on Cape Cod. Low humidity and sunny. I saw a little guy trying to catch crabs with his father and put them in the picture. Painted on location at the fishing shack on the Herring River, West Harwich, MA.