What a crazy week.
After a rather promising start last Friday, then a hasty distracted painting before my trip to Cable, I returned on Tuesday, Wednesday and today to get in three more paintings. Camp was hot, temps were always around 85 degrees and humid, thank god I had an air conditioned room (RHIP). The past two days in Oconomowoc were painter hell, lots of blazing heat (temps in the 90’s and today was 101 degrees), and lots of mosquitoes.
This is the piece I did on Saturday for the Quick Paint. We had a four-hour window to turn in a finished, framed piece. Quite frankly, I was more concerned with getting on the road for Cable as soon as possible, it was quite a distraction, but this turned out alright. This is 14″ x 11″ oil on panel. The view is of the peninsula garden at the church on Lake Fowler. It was one of several locations chosen this year for the Garden Quick Paint event. It was very popular. I had to omit several elements to get this composition, there were over hanging branches that just didn’t sit right.
Although I posted this earlier, I went back on Wednesday morning to touch up certain areas that I felt were still unresolved. This is the final version, the frame did wonders for it. As I set up to work on this, I noticed that certain things were no longer there to paint, such as the railings on the building in the background. Apparently, while I was away at camp, there was a storm that came through Oconomowoc, strong winds knocked down a rather large tree which wiped out this structure. I’ll post before and after shots later. 14″ x 11″ oil on panel.
Shortly after working on this piece, I went to a location I had painted from last year to try my hand at the lake again. This went alright. Then I went back to the Masonic Center to tackle a different perspective, looking up at it from the lake. I’ll post the images of these paintings later. The problem I’ve found in Oconomowoc is that it sucks for parking. I swear that next year I’m going to be more portable. I have been looking at mountain bikes with a tail rack for saddle bags. If I can manage to get a bike rack for my truck, I’ll be able to park somewhere and head out on two wheels to areas that would be otherwise logistically difficult. All I need is a new travel palette (something to make over the winter).
Today I went back for a last chance to paint. I was not looking forward to being out in the heat, it was pretty bad today. I didn’t realize how bad it was until I turned in my stuff – truck said it was 101! After a good deal of driving around and scouting locations, I settled on a view of the tracks from the corner of an historic train shelter, known as The Milwaukee Road. I have to admit that I completely underestimated the force of the gust of wind created by a freight train. It was all I could do to hold my steel easel and secure my painting as this mile-long train slammed by. I was close enough to touch the train with my outstretched mahl stick (frikkin’ awesome actually). The gusts knocked over my heavier Julian easel, spilling my turps and scattering my palette and brushes. Fortunately my palette closed itself as it landed (go figure), and like a proper boy scout, I had an extra can of Turpenoid in my truck.
Needless to say, the next time a train passed, I moved my easels away and held onto both of them. Shortly after this, railroad employee, driving one of those Ford F150’s with the steel wheels drove by on the tracks. He stopped and backed up to warn me to be careful, that there would be other trains coming, including an Amtrack that would be going by at a faster clip in a couple of hours. I thanked him and busted ass to get done before then. Fortunately I was nearly done. Now I have to do some minor repairs on my poor folding easel…such a workhorse.
Tomorrow is the artist reception and awards announcement. This event is the last week-long event this year, the one Downtown was canceled. Damn, I hope I sell something. Curious to see who shows, there should be a lot of familiar faces there, rather looking forward to it. This last piece was number 70 for the year, btw. Fall is coming, and none too soon. The best painting of the year is to be seen in the next two months. I’ll be glad for respite from the heat and bugs, and for the colors of fall. Bring it!
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These were the two other paintings I did for the Oconomowoc event. This first one I did mid afternoon on Wednesday, after touching up my Masonic Center painting. This is from a vantage point that I’ve painted before, thought I’d give it another go. Sometimes it’s useful to see a comparison, side by side. To see the one I did last year, click here. It’s the third one down. Much improved, I’d say.
When I got back into town on Tuesday, after driving for 6 hours, I decided to set up on the back side of the Masonic Center. It was around 5:30pm when I set up, the traffic I ran into just outside of Hayward really slowed me down. I started into this with less consideration than the earlier piece I did on Friday the week before, ended up struggling with the drawing, as the light died. I decided I would come back to this on Wednesday evening, which I did. This is where I left it. It’s a decent sketch, but I don’t think I’ll take it further, there are still too many problems with it.
Sage Arts Studio