June

The weather changes daily. I have been painting outside, most often with Dinah. Usually we find a spot around Concord . Sometimes it is hard to decide just where to paint. Decisions about where to paint are affected by whether it is a gray day or better to be left alone or we want to paint houses. Sometimes I spot a perfect location on a drive but when I return, the atmosphere has changed enough to reduce the location to uninspiring. Sometimes I want to paint without the interruption of people coming to look and ask questions. It is a curious sight still to see the easel set up. I am afraid I fill the characterization of an artist with painted pants, straw hat, french easel. Funny thing is all those things work for this particular form. One day while I was painting the corn field, an ice cream truck came by. The driver stopped when I waved for ice cream and then gave me some spots she found in her rambles that would make good locations. She said she thought it reminded her of Paris to see artists outside painting. I chuckle with delight. Yes, Paris, I think, transported. Being outside is a reward for me, but Paris is fine memories and aspirations.
My latest discoveries with paint are around setting up a background with a hue that helps me see the composition before I paint and still resides in the color after I am done. I have one more just finished but has not been through an inspection process. I like to review my work in the dark light of the studio without the grand beauty and detail of the outdoors. The collection I put here is the most recent work, or work from June.