Afternoon on the Moose River Plains

I'd like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year.  I hope it will turn out to be a happy and productive one for each and every one of you.   I'm hoping to spend more time painting this year, after a very busy Christmas season working part time at the ski slopes.  I'm also preparing for a solo pastel exhibit at the Widlund Gallery in North Creek, NY from January 26 to February 24.  I'll have approximately 40 paintings on display and will have a reception on February 16th.

 11x14 pastel - $150.00

I painted this a few days ago, from a photo I took late August from my kyack.  I've talked a lot about the Moose River Plains and the Cedar River Flow, of which this is the main body of water.  It's a wonderful place to canoe, picnic or camp.  The area is very large and very wild and, although it's a 20 mile drive to get there, once out in a canoe, you feel as if you are alone with nature.

Morning Glow

 16x20 - pastel (sold)

I put this painting on my facebook page but never included it in my blog.  I'm starting to get interested in painting Adirondack inspired still life. I have another on my easel right now, but haven't finished it.    I loved this pewter pitcher sitting near a window, filled with light, at Washington's Headquarters in Morristown, NJ.  I went to my high school reunion last year and visited some nostalgic tourist spots.  Washington's Headquarters was one of my favorite places to visit. It's just as I remembered it.  It reminded me of the Adirondacks - light-filled, historic and beautiful.

I'm not a painter who gets too inspired by detail, I'm too impatient to spend lots of time painting things to look exactly as a photograph.  Why bother?  This pastel is as close as I can get to detail!

Morning Mist

With all the rain we've been getting here in the Adirondacks, we've had some mornings where the mist has lingered over the mountains and lakes, creating lovely fall mosaics.  Last Tuesday,  I drove to Adirondack Lake and took some photos of that fog lingering over the water and trees on the shores of the lake.  It begged to be painted.

 16x20 pastel - $675.00

A week later, it's still raining, and only things that are begging are the dogs, who need their walk in the rain!  At least we don't have to worry about forest fires now.

Summer Chickadee

 11x14 pastel  $145.00

This summer we had so many chickadees at the feeder, in competition with the squirrels, I might add, and the nuthatches.  The chickadees are friendly little birds, chicka-dee-dee-deeing away.  They are not afraid of anyone or anything, as far as I can see, and will eat out of your hand if you're very still and very quiet.

Over the Hill to Home

 16x20 pastel


Autumn is the time of year when we like to travel around the park and leaf peak, just like other tourists.  We were traveling from Speculator when we climbed this hill on the way home.  The Adirondack Park is so special, because you can be in civilization, on a road to home, but be within a three minute walk into the forest and be lost forever!  I hope this pastel shows that kind of wildness at the edge of the road.

Along the Grassy Pond

 8x10 pastel - $125.00

Kayaking last week,  I hugged the shore near a friend's house.  The light was brilliant behind the trees and lit up their entire lawn, stretching down to the water.  This is a very grassy pond and as I was quietly enjoying the scene, a family of geese swam by.   Could life be better than this?

Autumn on the Moose River

 14x11 pastel- $145.00

During the plein aire paint out last week, I was able to paint three for the center and one for myself.  This is the pastel I completed the last day of the fund raiser.  I just didn't want to leave such a beautiful area on such a gorgeous day.  This was painted behind a canoe rental place on the Moose River, so I was able to people watch as I painted.  I took photos with all the canoes out on the river and may also paint that in my studio at a later date.  I can't even believe that it's only the first week of September and we have such brilliant color on the trees.