Tag Archives: Adirondacks

Float

16 Monday Jun 2025

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Whenever we drive up to the Adirondacks in New York State to see my sister, we stay at a hotel directly across the street from Lake Placid.

The scene changes with the weather and the time of day. People come and go. Passing clouds change it dramatically. I love watching it. And it always seemed to have that pink undertone, whatever the weather.  At least when we were there. Summer!

This was a tough one.  I wasn’t sure how I wanted to crop the scene.  Whether or not to put someone on the float. Or jumping in to the water from the float. Could the float be the star, but not compete with the patterns of the water? I knew I wanted a variety of swimmers to be at the back of the “stage”.

But finally I made the major decisions. I wanted the ripples in the water to draw you in. The figures on the “beach” were the chorus. And now came the really difficult part.  How to make it work as a whole, but save that special, unique viewpoint.

I worked at it a couple of hours each day.  Then slept on it so I could look at it with a fresh eye.  How much detail?  How to make the patterns in the lake move and have their own rhythm.

Finally. The curtain is ready to open.

Float, 30 x 24″, oil

 

Green on green

20 Saturday Jul 2024

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As the world goes mad, it just seemed like the right time to work on a totally soothing image.  This idyllic scene from a visit to my sister’s home area near Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks was the perfect choice. She knows the best spots!

It had all the right elements…rich color, gorgeous mesmerizing reflections and a global rock that seemed otherworldly.

I decided to start with the blue undertones.  The tree on the right had an almost ghost like quality and pointed towards the magical rock, reminiscent of the sorcerer’s apprentice in the old Disney film.

Layer by layer, like fine pieces of lace, I added the branches and patterns of needles to the trees.

And then, for the final element I concentrated on the stone and the reflections. Nature can be so elegant.

Wetlands; Rock, Water, Green,  30 x 24″

An Adirondack Pond

22 Monday Nov 2021

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Most people think of going to the Adirondacks to ski (think Lake Placid) or see the fall colors, but when you have the right guide, early summer is spectacular.

We went to see my sister Deb who lives near Saranac Lake, New York and teaches at Paul Smiths College.  The area is gorgeous, and she knows the secret of how to get to some very special spots. And June was the perfect time to explore.

She was familiar with my Wetlands series that address climate change, and when I told her I was looking for new reference from a northern perspective, she took on the challenge.

We left MBB (my Beloved Brit) behind to a quiet day on his own in our little rented house, and Deb and my older sister Ginny went out in to the countryside to find the perfect scenes.

I never would have found these hidden spots on my own, but with her expert knowledge of the area, and a deep love for her local countryside, we drove off and then walked to some spectacular hidden gems. The one I chose to paint is an enchanting pond where her students work on analytical and inventory studies of the environment. Can you imagine a classroom that looks like this!

This painting was a challenge…almost monochromatic in shades of green and indigo. The mirrored foliage in the dark water was particularly daunting.  But I loved it.  I’ve never mixed so many shades of green for one painting in my life.

I love this painting for so many reasons.  It recalls the perfect day with my sisters after the long covid year.  I got to see my youngest sister’s world beyond her public one.  And I got to relive it all again in this painting.

Wetland in Green,  30 x 40″, Oil