I can’t believe the summer has come, and is almost gone already! Time does go by so quickly. While it was passing I tried to hold on to some of those summer moments, painting my way through them. Here is some of what transpired.
Rita
The Pond at Yaddo, 8×10 oil pastel
Queen Anne’s Lace, 810 oil pastel
Through the Plains, 8×10 oil pastel
Cascading Falls, 8×10 oil pastel
I am not sure where the time goes, but it certainly has flown by! Here are a few of my latest pieces, six in all. Hope you enjoy them.
~Rita
Adirondack View, 8×10 oil pastel
Rolling Thunder, 8×10 oil pastel
Winter Stream, 8×10 oil pastel
January Snowfall, 8×10 oil pastel
Louden Road Pond, 8×10 oil pastel
Winter Field, 8×10 oil pastel
Well, here it is Thanksgiving weekend, and in a few weeks it will holiday time once again. I haven’t posted in a while, and realized it is because I have really been making an effort to spend as much time as I can soaking up my favorite season, Autumn. It has been a beautiful season this year, and as always, one that seems too short. Here are a few of the pieces I painted to remind me of the season I enjoy so much. ~Rita
November Song, 8×10 oil pastel
My Kitchen Window, 8×10 oil pastel
Autumn Falls, 8×10 oil pastel
As most of you know who follow this blog, I mostly paint landscapes, and have a particular love for this area and the Hudson River School Painters. But every once in a while, I really get an itch to do something different, and often it is a still life that seems to be calling to me. Yesterday was one of those days, and here is the result of that calling. ~Rita
Still Life with Jug, oil pastel
Saturday, while the weather was nice, I went to a new spot to paint outside… a water canal park which is part of the Hudson River Canal System. There is lots of water, and marshy areas that are really beautiful. As I was walking along the path to set up my easel there was a four-foot heron who decided to walk a few feet in front of me on the path. Surprisingly he was not afraid of me, and we walked “together” for quite a way. As I watched him I thought what a wonderful unexpected guest! But as my day went on, I was quickly reminded that all guests aren’t created equal….
After I set up my easel and started painting in the late afternoon sun, I was attacked by a swarm of gnats! And when I say swarm, I mean swarm. They were getting on the painting, in my hair, and biting my arms. And, guess who forgot to pack the bug spray? Needless to say, the session was cut short, and the painting finished in the studio. Here is my painting, Canal Park, which holds memories of two of the most unexpected of guests. ~Rita
Canal Park, 8×10 oil pastel
I went out for a short hike yesterday, to find a new preserve that had opened up nearby. Most of the trails are currently under construction and not open for public use, and consequently there really wasn’t much to see. However there was one spot…. a boardwalk that opened into to the lake, which was surrounded by a spread of dense water lilies, quietly floating in the late afternoon sun. It was really quite a sight. As I looked at the lily pads and the glistening reflections on the water, I thought what a silent, peaceful sanctuary that I have stumbled upon. ~Rita
Round Lake Preserve, 5×7 oil pastel
Winter Sun, 8×10 oil pastel
Yes, I know it is June, and I am not sure what is going on in your home, but this time of year typically starts the thermostat wars in my house. I am always way too hot, and my husband is always cold. The thermostat is constantly in flux, with each of us pretending to get up to do something and quickly bumping up or down the dial as nonchalantly as possible. I have a feeling this happens in more homes than I can imagine. In any case, although it is June, and my mind should be on the beautiful summer season, when I sat down to paint the other day, this is where my palette took me. And if you lived in my house, it would be no surprise why. ~Rita
Lavender Fields….. I don’t think there are any in this part of New York, but I wish there were, as I find that they are truly breathtaking. The inspiration for this painting came from a photograph by photographer/ blogger Kim at bigwhitehouseonthehill.wordpress.com. Thanks Kim, for letting me use your beautiful photo! ~Rita
Lavender Fields, 8×10 oil pastel
I have always been attracted to water. All forms of water: from nature’s ponds, oceans rivers and streams to rain on the sidewalk, and ice cubes in a glass. My latest two paintings are both of water in two very different forms. The first is of the ocean’s powerful waves. And the second is rainwater, shortly after a downpour on town roads, reflecting the colors of the city . Whether it is water in its most natural form, or the interplay of water manmade color and light, I believe water is truly one of those gifts that is a feast for the eyes and nourishes the soul. ~Rita
Crashing Waves, 11×14 oil pastel
Early Evening Rain, 8×10 oil pastel
New York North Fine Art 