Rocks and sky

Rocks and Sky

8x8 acrylic on canvas

Spy Pond series

Last week I spent a few hours at my new favorite spot at Spy Pond.  It's off the path which parallels Route 2 and I can't get enough of it!  Unlike the hot humid day we're having today,  it was perfect weather for hanging out on the steps leading down to the pond and painting.  I used watercolor for a sketch of this scene and then painted this picture at home.  There were several men fishing on other steps and one came down by my spot.  I'm sure that mid-day there aren't a lot of artists so he was quite surprised.  Having them there lent an air of serenity to the whole scene.  I wanted to take a picture but felt that I had invaded their space enough.  There are many sets of stairs leading from the path and half of them had people fishing quietly.  

It's been a little hard to make time for painting for this blog as I've been traveling and working on other projects, including painting chairs for the Chairful Where You Sit event coming up July 22 on the bike path off Lake St and on the green in Arlington Center.  It's the second year we're doing this and it's so much fun!  The chairs will be on display for a week and are available for a donation of $100 to Arlington Public Art.  Come on down and check it out!

The wet look

photo

It's so wet!  Yikes! and getting colder.  Everything's wonderfully green though and the path by Spy Pond is a delight to be on.  Many people are out and even the crew team was practicing yesterday.  I hope to have them as the subject of my next painting.  They are from the local high school and I think it's so great to be able to take part in this team effort while in high school. I think it has it all-mixing socializing, exercise, cooperation, learning a skill, etc.  I'm jealous as in my school only the boys played sports-the girls could be cheerleaders only.  Well it wouldn't have been my thing anyway, except if it was rowing!  I'm determined to get my small kayak on the water and paddle around and paint on Elizabeth island.  I think that would be a hoot.

Lilacs

Lilacs

10x8

acrylic on canvas

spy pond series #20

The lilacs have been incredible and I was pleasantly surprised to find these bushes close to the shore of Spy Pond on a particularly clear and windy day.  Heavenly fragrance...

What a lovely morning!

Morning Path

8x10

watercolor on paper

The spring yellow-green has taken over at Spy Pond courtesy of the willows.  Other trees are wisely waiting for the good solid warmth of May.  It seems like a cooler later spring this year but the past few days have been spectacularly clear.  My first medium for painting was watercolor and this scene begged for a light touch.  

Spring Green! Let's hope for peace on this day of destruction and loss.

Spring Green

8x8

oil on canvas

I started this post right after I had finished and photographed this painting.  The willows are just leafing out at Spy Pond and elsewhere and I was struck by their beautiful light green color in contrast to the dark brown bark of the tree which is nearly horizontal on the shore.  A few minutes after typing I heard about the explosions in Copley Square, Boston, the site of the Boston Marathon finish lane and had to put this aside while trying to get in touch with people I knew who lived and worked near there,  and friends and family who texted me with concern.  Luckily everyone I know is ok but we're all so saddened by the deaths and injuries and uneasy, worried about the potential for more bombs elsewhere which haven't been found.  Patriots's Day 2013.  Let's hope the injured heal and that families who lost loved ones can also heal.

Morning sunlight

Morning Sunlight

8x8

acrylic on canvas

We've had such beautiful weather the past few days.  The still-low angle of the sun in April allows for some lovely lighting and I hope I've captured that in this painting.  Spy Pond is a busy place these days with everyone out on the bike path, playground and water.  The rowing teams were out practicing-a beautiful sight,  especially backlit.  Also I'm noticing the blush of red in the maples as they begin to flower.  Magnolias are in bloom in Magnolia field and they're quite fragrant.  I'll have to check out the far side of the pond and see what's up.  The houses in the painting are on the shore opposite Linwood Circle.

Last of the snow?

Rocks and Snow

8x8

acrylic on canvas

Well it's windy, warm and rainy this afternoon.  This morning however, was lovely clear and blue and I  had a quick walk along the path by the pond. The sun was brilliant on the houses on the other side of the pond so I snapped a pic, hoping to capture this soon in a painting.  Meanwhile I was still looking at snowy pictures and was taken by this one of the shore rocks and snow on the water.  The rocks were glowing and the shadows were deep--my favorite scene.