Spring Pond Colors

In spring, the colors of the lichen on boulders include soft greens and pinks... My attention was caught by the view through woods to the water at this reservoir. I sat adding drawing and adding color when a rainshower wet the paper. The next day I resumed in the same spot.

Tripp's Pond Ice Skating

Tripp's Pond is a local body of water with a long time tradition of recreation: ice skating in winter, and swimming in summer (https://hudsonlandtrust.org/pollinator-garden-in-hudson-massachusetts/). Following a sketch of the pond from the parking lot in winter, I returned to paint it in watercolor. The ice was unsafe but the remains of hockey games could be seen in the form of a hockey bench and net on shore.

I painted the pond as I saw it, and later, using figures from a different location, I added skaters to the painting:

Next year I hope to return to see ice hockey players competing if the ice becomes safe.

TC Lando's

TC Landos is a Hudson institution that's been serving wonderful sandwiches and creative pizza since 1968. Located in an iconic brick building, TC Landos has a clever and beautiful color logo.

18x24 watercolor on paper

A house sold and a new residence

When a family sold their longtime residence and purchased a new home, their considerate agent commissioned a portrait of each to memorialize and celebrate their changes.

J & K Tire Company: An Icon

Historic and beautiful architecture in Hudson features the iconic J & K tire company on Main Street. Open since 1984, this business sported a red Mustang in front, the day I did this sketch:

The Massachusetts State Police Horse Barracks in Concord, Massachusetts is a ranch that lodges horses that officers ride on patrol. An old farmhouse overlooks the pastures or paddocks where off-duty stallions and mares frolic.

Cars driving from Concord into Acton on Route 2 pass this beautiful scene. The Freeman Rail Trail foot bridge offers a grand view as well. In late March, as winter grass was just beginning to green, the horses were let out. I'd like to return when foliage is fully leafed.

The "Heart Field"

Driving on Route 62 in Berlin, passers-by will notice a large field with brush growing taller than the rest of the grass, in the shape of a giant heart. Two Adirondack chairs face the heart as if waiting for a couple to sit in them. This inspiring sight has become a much enjoyed landmark. This article describes its history: https://www.telegram.com/story/news/local/east-valley/2014/07/19/heart-flowers-testament-to-man/36818838007/

Village in Greece

A village in Greece is the setting of this 8x10 casein on board painting. A monastery set in the distant cliffs of the mountains watches over all.

Thousand Island Cabin

A painting for the relative of a client features this beloved summer cabin on one of the Thousand Islands of upstate New York. Cars are not allowed on the island, preserving its quietness. Painted from a video still, this wood board cabin features a cozy porch, surrounded by birch woods.

Housewarming Present

A client requested a painting of this house for a relative, as a gift after the house was purchased. The house is an interesting color, and the homes next door on each side show the context.

Grand Victorian House

This house was originally built in 1836. It received an update with Mansard roof in the 1850s and is rumored to have been featured in a Pepperidge Farm commercial in the 1980s.

https://youtu.be/_Q5tbO_qLcg

Watercolor on paper, 12x16 inches

 

 

The Old Town Bridge in Wayland, built in 1848

 

Water flowing through though four round arches reflects a beautiful stone bridge in Wayland, MA.  The Old Town Bridge built in 1848 is located near the Wayland Country Club in Great Meadows Wildlife refuge.  In June 2023 I arrived to paint, first removing some poison ivy with gloves.  After setting up the easel on shoreside mud, I put together a monochrome sketch, then added color.  Here is the result:   9x10 oil on stretched canvas.

For more information on the Old Town Bridge, the link below includes a history:

"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Town_Bridge_(Wayland,_Massachusetts)".

The final product

The painting was developed in color over several sessions.  It includes a commuter rail train headed east.  The river flooded on the final day and I was able to add a bit of water in the foreground.

309 12x20 oil on linen, Acton, Mass.

The burnt umber underpainting

To paint the farm on a 12x20 stretched linen canvas I began with a burnt umber monochrome painting.

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A study sketch

To prepare for a painting where the furrows were to become larger than in life I made a drawing of a farm which departs from reality in this regard.  The furrows were actually smaller in height from bottom to top.

This sketch took about two hours in vine charcoal on 14x16 paper.

 

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An Acton Farm

 The owner of this farm asked for a painting of his farm.  This watercolor includes distant white pines, a commuter rail train, crops in furrows, purple and yellow flowers, in foreground grass.

306, 7x10 inches

A 1921 Boston and Maine Railroad Blue Caboose

Painted en plein air, using pen, paper, masking tape and watercolor.  Blue caboose railway car with signal sign and trees in background.  Central Massachusetts Rail Trail along Route 62, Hudson, Massachusetts. 

304, 6x6 oil

According to this website: https://www.traillink.com/trail/assabet-river-rail-trail/

this piece of railroad history is a 1921 Boston and Maine Railroad blue caboose.

A house built in 1911

This house, white clapboard with three stories, was built in 1911. A real estate agent gave the painting to a client.

288, 11x9 watercolor

Gates Pond Resevoir and Pumphouse

Painted from life at Gates Pond on Taylor Road in Berlin, Massachusetts from a peninsula that juts out into the reservoir.  This is one of two pumping stations, brick, abandoned and standing in high waters.

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Small Painting from Hudson, Massachusetts

Hudson Massachusetts is a town that recently won an award for its vibrant downtown shopping district.* 

A couple of years ago longtime business Vic's Barbershop moved to a new locatioin and to record its original appearance, I painted a detailed portrait of the original location of Vic's Barbershop from a snapshot (https://assabetarts.blogspot.com/2021/06/barber-shop-has-been-in-downtown-hudson.html).

Since then I have painted several small watercolors scenes from life in this town.

Below, some horse paddocks and a red barn near River Road in Hudson with the Assabet River.

This watercolor is 6x4 inches. My favorite part was masking out the fence boards using thin tape.

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* References:

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/hudson-americas-main-street-contest/      

https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/business/2021/12/20/downtown-hudson-ma-declared-winner-of-2021-americas-main-streets-contest/8967423002/

https://www.mainstreetcontest.com/