Windy Day, Croton Point

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There were a few days last week when it was just too beautiful to stay inside. So I took my paints down to the river and held onto my hat.

Croton River at Quaker Bridge

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The Croton River is so lovely. I think because no matter where you are, you get a mix of glassy water and rapids, which makes for some nice light and dark contrasts. It’s especially apparent this time of year, when the leaves are off the trees, and all of those pesky colorful reflections are gone.

Sunset at Half-Moon Bay

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Sunsets over the Hudson are often just spectacular. I really should hang out there at the end of the day more. This painting and others are for sale this weekend at the Croton Artisans show at the municipal building. I have one spot left for a portrait today and a few spots open tomorrow. It’s going to be fun!

Black Rock Park No. 7

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Here’s a sunnier day, when the sycamores still had their leaves, looking downstream toward Quaker Bridge. There are the remains of an old dam (Croton people: a dam, right? Not a bridge?) going across here, which is why it looks like it was painted in the middle of the river. I’ll be selling this painting at the Holiday Boutique this weekend; until then it is for sale on my Etsy site.

Black Rock Park No. 6

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It’s getting cold out. I no longer have any urge to jump in the river. 

Black Rock, First Snow

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I was so excited about our first snowfall that I rushed right out first thing in the morning to take pictures. I’d like to say that I stopped to put pants on, but I’m not sure—I may have still been in my jammies. 

Croton Point, November

I know that a warm day in November is Not Right. But I took advantage of it anyway and parked myself at the edge of the choppy Hudson, in a spot without too much duck poop. The wind was really gusting, and the clouds didn’t know quite what they wanted to do. Down on the ground, the trees on Croton Point changed drastically every few seconds, as the sun passed from cloud to cloud. I love the wind on this river.

If you're interested in this painting, just send me an email. Alternatively, it will soon be for sale at Sunshine and Clover, in Croton.

Morning at the Beach

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Same little beach, two little cutie-pies, two sticks.

Hamptons Morning

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This is a view from a few weeks ago, on a tiny, hidden beach tucked into a little cove on the south side of Long Island. What a perfect morning—the crispness of early fall, with summer sun still warming us up. It had rained the night before, and the big clouds were still breaking up and blowing off. 

Morning on the Reservoir No. 2

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I was going to write about the calm, overcast day on which I painted this—leaves, ducks, fishermen, etc.—but now I don’t feel like it. I will donate the money from the sale of this painting to the World Food Programme’s efforts to get emergency food to the Philippines. Bidding starts at $100. 

Morning on the Reservoir

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A little woodpecker was working away directly above me as I painted this, chips raining down around me. I turned my face straight up and watched him for a while as he hung on upside down, tapping away—so beautiful. This was a changeable day—sunny when I started, with the clouds thickening as I worked. I like this one. 

Moving Downstream

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This is the end of the line—where the Croton River leaves the woods and empties into the Hudson. The Palisades were catching the morning sun on the other side of the river, and it was keeping me warm, too. Locals will notice one very big omission (intentional) in this painting…

Black Rock Park No. 3

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Black Rock was dark and COLD on this morning. The sun was touching only the hill in the distance; everything else was still in shadow. The blue heron swung over for a look at one point, croaked half-heartedly, and settled down to wait me out on the other side of the river.

Bidding for this painting starts at $100.

Mayo's Landing

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I had a little patch of sand at the water’s edge to stand on for this chilly morning painting. I figured eventually the tide would rise a little. It sure did. When I first noticed, here’s how I was standing. Note the water getting close to my right foot. (But my left foot is still high and dry on its rock.)

When that spot finally became untenable, this is how I was standing:

Croton River No. 2

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The compositions get more complicated as I move downstream. As does the footing:

Croton River

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Another one down on the rocks, this time almost underneath Quaker Bridge. It was shady and freezing when I started this morning. By the time I finished, I was considering a quick swim. I decided it would be too much work and settled for dangling my feet in the water.

Quaker Bridge

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I would just like to say that I love my Open Box M easel. I painted this standing on the rocks at the edge of the river, with my tripod partially in the water. And it was windy. And nothing tipped over! 

Black Rock Park No. 2

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A little farther upstream than the last Black Rock painting. Note the big turquoise rock on the right. I still don’t know where the black rock is. This day was overcast, with the wind picking up at the end.

Teatown Lake

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This was Teatown Lake yesterday. It was threatening rain, I was sitting though I prefer standing, and I was feeling uninspired. Then along came two wonderful, enthusiastic, friendly women, who sat down on either side of me, oohed and ahhed, asked lots of questions, and generally cheered me up and gave me the little lift I needed to pay better attention to my painting. So cool—I hope I run into them again!

And then today we took an advanced-placement art class from the high school out to Teatown for their first plein-air session. What a perfect afternoon it turned out to be—sunny and low 70s, with the fall colors really coming on. It was cool to see everyone’s paintings come together as they experimented with what the paint could do. 

Black Rock Park No. 1

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I like this stretch of the Croton River, upstream from Quaker Bridge. It’s serene and unpopulated. The fall colors are muted, with the sycamores being the first to change.