The weather forecast wasn’t grim. It just wasn’t calling for bright sunshine but rather for the chance of thunderstorms late in the afternoon which is precisely when I set out to paint. I checked the radar map on line before I left and assured myself that I would have time to get in a few hours.

I drive past this spot often on my way to Huntington as well as my class at the Art League of Long Island. It is on top of the hill leading out of Cold Spring Harbor toward the east, the land owned and operated by the Nature Conservancy. I usually drive past here in the morning and always think to myself that the light would be great on this stand of trees in the late afternoon.

I arrived to find bright sunshine and some rather gusty winds and was immediately impressed with the way the late day light illuminated and warmed the trunks of the trees. It wasn’t until I was faced with rendering the foreground that I noticed all of the cool greens and violets that lived in the shadows cast there. One of the things I love most about painting from nature are the surprise color harmonies that are there for all to see and, if you happen to have paint and canvas before you, to capture in your painting.