Sometimes inspirations for new painting pop up in my mind years after a photo was originally taken. A couple of years ago, on a hazy morning, the sun had just started to climb up on the horizon in a farm field. I was on my way to work when I saw this picturesque moment in my peripheral view. Unwilling to simply drive by, I took the photo, which a recently painted (below).
This painting can be found here for sale.
Have a great day!
What’s in the painting?
Not far from our house, is the Liberty Loop path! Located in Pine Island, NY, it is our go-to place for a walk. It is also part of the Appalachian Trail, but completely flat terrain. A hit with walkers (zombies included), this area is also popular among bird watchers and bird photographers, as it is a wildlife refuge with abundant waterfowl habitat. I hope to one day see the Northern Pintail Duck, which can be found here.
This 77-foot waterfall, located in Paterson, New Jersey was formed by the latest glaciation event, which also carved Glacial Lake Passaic. During the industrial revolution, the power of these falls was harnessed to power manufacturing companies and locomotives. Today, this area is preserved for its beauty and history. I decided to paint this waterfall not because of its history or size, but because of an idea I had for a sepia style silhouette light effect.
This painting is available on Etsy as a print or original.
My wife, Caitlin, fractured her ankle in three places (and dislocated it, too). I believe there is a medical term for that. As you might imagine, things got a little hectic; especially, with two little kids around. So, I took about a two month break from painting, but this painting was the one that got me back on track. The idea for this scene was inspired by a hike through the John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary in Ulster County, New York.
Burroughs once wrote about a man who reported that his vision improved after getting sprayed in the face by a skunk (or something along those lines). His observations in nature are as thorough as they are entertaining. I often wonder what it would be like to have that much time to observe nature and to spend an entire half a day sitting around outside, as he often did. Here’s to John Burroughs and a renewed zeal for painting in watercolor!
Always Wandering Art 