LATE EVENING - BLACKWATER

 

This study was part of a large series of works done in and around Blackwater near Cambridge on the Eastern Shore. I remember the long drive from home to get there but it was always worth the trip. In this painting, I was exploring the relationship between the land and the sky which is a feature in a lot of my work. Here the sun had already set but lingering color within the clouds kept me closely observing the gathering dusk. I never know what to expect, at times it seem as if the light show is over but then something else amazing happens and I wish I could capture that too! Unfortunately I can only paint one painting at a time but perhaps should learn how to jump between a few different ones at the same time. I think this was a 9 x 12 in, (23 x 30 cm), oil on canvas.

CRESTED GOSHAWK

 

This is another painting I did a while ago, I am slowly catching up on those that haven't yet made it onto my blog. I saw this bird in Hong Kong where it was kept captive for a while until it had recovered from an injury. They are relatively common especially around the forest of Tai Po Kau where I spent quite a lot of time walking around the many trails exploring and birdwatching. A fast and effective predator, we once saw it catch a bird almost the same size as it was. Size of the painting is about 7 x 10 in (18 x 26 cm), oil on board.

FOREST FLOOR II

 

Many years ago, I would simply walk out into nature, sit somewhere and start painting. I did almost all of my work outside and while this had its difficulties, I found that I always saw and experienced much more that way. This painting was an example, I was looking down at the multitude of fallen leaves when I saw this composition almost at my feet. So I started drawing right there on my watercolor paper. It took some time to complete but eventually I walked back home with something I felt was the beginning of an important painting. Much later and after many washes of thin watercolor, I finished what was for me a work that intimately connected me to the place I now call home.

EVENING OVER THE LAKE 1 & 2

 

Towards the end of summer, I walked down to the lake to observe the ending of the day, and to paint. I set up in hope of something special and was rewarded with an intense orangish light that settled over the lake creating a myriad of tones. I worked quickly before the effect was gone, fortunately the heat of the day dried the watercolor washes quickly so I was able to capture the islands shape and more distant land before all the light had gone.

This second work was done from the opposite side of the lake also looking across the water to the island where Great Blue and Green Herons nested. The light was similar to the other day but a bit of mist moved across the water breaking up the form of the furthest edge. I concentrated a little more on the reflections in this one trying to capture the mood of the day. Both are watercolors, sizes are about 7.5 x 11 in (19 x 28 cm).