2023
24x18

The Woods Near Mann's Pond
Oils $350

Here's my brief 2023 painting trip. My original intention was to go to Niagara Falls. I even got my passport so I could paint on the Canadian side. But it didn't come off. I had car trouble all spring long and couldn't leave in any case until my wife got back from Maine (the cats!). I looked into an outright painting trip to the Bay of Fundy in Canada, but it didn't come off; maybe next year.

I painted in this area a few years ago and this trip was intended to clear up a few loose ends from that trip. I did the painting I came back to do on the third day of the trip. This is the first painting stop of the trip, even before I got to the campground. This is Saddle Ball Mountain, second highest mountain in Massachusetts and the highest point along the Appalachian Trail. I bought a video camera to record the painting process; after a few false starts, here's the result.

This is the view I came to paint, a beautiful little dammed lake along Kinderhook Creek in Hancock. I got up and ate breakfast, then headed over to this spot. It was little too early given the height and direction of the sun so I figured I'd head into North Adams and visit MassMOCA. I needed to put gas in the car anyway.

I got to MassMOCA and it was closed. So I drove back to this spot and painted. I ran into a local who recommended the nearest diner so I headed into Lansborough, a 15 minute drive. I arrived at the diner at 3. It had closed at 2 (the only day of the week it did so). I ended up driving an additional five miles to get to a ice cream place that also sold food.