What I Did On My Summer Vacation 2014

What I Did On My Summer Vacation

This summer was really wonderful for me as an artist.  It was beautifully cool for the most-part, but pretty rainy.  Despite working at summer school, I still got out to paint as often as possible and was motivated to do some studio work when I couldn't work outside.

As a result, I managed to get a lot of work done, and even framed!  This is a photo of  the cumulative work from over the summer. I am very pleased by the volume and quality of the work. I am also a bit down in the dumps because I am back at school and my time and energy will be devoted to that.  I wish I could keep the momentum up, but realize that won't be possible to do both.

I will keep plugging away at it though, and will paint as often as my time and energy will allow, even if summer vacation is over.

Pastel Demonstrations - Sunset Marsh

Sunset Marsh - studio piece   Sold

Sunset I - a demonstration

Sunset II - a demonstration

Over the past couple of weeks, I've done two demonstrations.  The first was for the Batavia Society of Artists and the second was for the Penfield Art Association.  

In both demos, I used the same reference material.  The references I used were photos, sketches, on-site observation and an actual painting of an area that's fairly close to where I live.  I visit and photograph the scene often, in a variety of weather conditions.  I really like the scene, but it's along a roadway and isn't the kind of spot where I would just set up and paint on site.

Anyway, I was pretty interested to see all three paintings right next to each other for comparison. I think both are decent, especially in light of how quickly I painted the demo pieces (about one hour each), plus the fact that I was talking and explaining what I was doing at the same time. I may try to refine them and come up with a more complete painting, but maybe not.  I really like the looseness of each one of the demos compared with the studio painting although I see some things that would improve both of them.  We'll see.

Goldenrod and Loosestrife

 Got an early start one day in September.  The morning had started out clear, but clouds gradually made their way in.  Actually, I had spied this scene a year or so ago and had planned to paint it, as the beautiful colors were hard to resist.  However the morning I was planning to go there, a friend contacted me to say the town had mowed all of the beautiful flowers down!  Argh!  Nevertheless, I remembered the scene and timed things just right this year.  Got a keeper out of it!

9"x12" currently unmatted and unframed

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColetteSavage

https://www.etsy.com/listing/112633995/original-pastel-landscape-painting    

Fall Colors

 This pastel painting was done in Mendon Ponds Park on an unusually warm day in late October.  The sunshine through the atmosphere made the distant hills a beautiful blue color and gave a warm cast to everything.  It softened the edges on the hazy shadows that crossed the path where I stood.  I occasionally had horse-back riders pass by me, as this is one of several riding trails through the park.  

unframed size - 6"x9"

https://www.etsy.com/listing/107667895/original-pastel-landscape-painting-fall

Irondequoit Creek Waiting for Spring in Ellison Park

The beautiful blue shadows on the sandy bank on the opposite side of Irondequoit Creek from where I stood in Ellison Park caught my eye immediately. Lately the intricate things that I see when I look into water have fascinated me. There is so much going on on the surface, under the surface, the reflections of the sky, the surrounding vegetation, shadows... There's so much to see. Winner of a Merit Award in the Rochester Art Club's Fall 2008 Show.

12"x18", framed size is 18"x24"
Paintings come matted and framed under glass, ready for hanging.  Sold

Spring Green

Linnear Park in Penfield is a favorite spot of mine. The spring greens that are so beautiful were just beginning to really show and after a heavy rain a day or two before, the stream was really full and moving quickly. Winner of "Best of Show" award in Suburban Rochester Art Group's Fall Show. SOLD

Just Before Opening Day on the Trout Stream

Trout season had just opened and the fishermen were out all over the place. I did a terrible little sketch early in the day and drove to a new location in Powder Mill Park to try my luck again. The shadows in the creek really grabbed my attention and I set to work. It is done over a recycled painting and is a lot larger than what I've been using lately, as it is 12x18".


12"x18", framed size is 18"x24"
Paintings come matted and framed under glass, ready for hanging.

Lehigh Valley Trail

This trail used to be the Lehigh Railroad bed. On the day I was there, the snow was melting and the air was full of atmosphere as a late winter storm was approaching. The colors were very soft and muted.
Due to the humidity and isolated location, I painted in my car with only the radio on for company.  Unfortunately, when I was ready to go home, the car battery was dead.  Luckily for me, a workman in his van was there eating his lunch.  Neither of us had jumper cables, but he suggested that I just leave the car completely turned off for a few minutes, then try to start it again.  I did and miraculously it started right up!  What an adventure.

6"x9", framed size apprx. 11"x14"  Sold
Paintings come matted and framed under glass, ready for hanging.

Hojack Railroad Underpass in Charlotte

I was looking for a spot to paint in Charlotte and this view really caught my eye. It is where the old Hojack Line passes under Lake Ave., then takes a turn toward Rochester. Years ago, the line traveled straight, to where I sat and then over the Swing Bridge, which still stands in the Genesee River. The Hojack Line used to travel all along the southern shore of Lake Ontario at one time.

9"x12", framed size is 15"x18"
Paintings come matted and framed under glass, ready for hanging.