I was ready to paint this! It had been two weeks since I got the rig out and set up, paints squeezed out, brushes in hand. We tried last week. We drove upstate in and around the New Paltz area looking for subjects, which were as plentiful as the rain that started coming down before we were even off the Island. I don’t mind a little bad weather, that’s just part of what I do. But I’m talking rain! The kind of rain my Aussie friend Avril describes as “pissing down with rain”.

So this week I was itching to get out and get something done. See, I’ve come to be very addicted to doing this, tossing the gear in the truck and heading out to look for something that excites me.   It bothers me now when I’m doing something other than pursuing the paintings. Everything else seems to be a waste of time.

This picture is actually the second of the day. We spent the morning on the grounds of Coindre Hall overlooking the elaborate boathouse and the Sound and I’m pretty happy with the result.

But this piece is the kind of view I’ve been looking to do since last week…well lit trees in hazy, late day summer sun. I didn’t want anything that looked to manicured but something that looked like it could have been out on the way to the mountain in Ulster County. And while I am not usually the kind of painter who finds that satisfaction comes easily, I am quite happy with this picture. It looks and feels like an on site painting and I think I was able to represent the kind of day that it was and that makes me happy. Not entirely satisfied mind you…but happy.