August 5 - 8, 2009
We later drove to Thomas Cole's yellow house. The tour guide was so pleased she had an artist on the property, she came over to me to invite me on a free tour of the home following the tour she was about to give. I was thrilled. But, I was so into the "zone" when she completed her other tour, that I just couldn't stop painting. When I finally was able to, she wasn't available. Oh well. But, I did create a very colorful piece that describes the feel I got upon entering the garden.
The piece is an 8" x 8" oil.

August 5 - 8, 2009

Jim and I took a mini vacation south of Albany, down in the Hudson River area. We visited some small towns, the "bedroom communities" to New York City, that are just vibrant. You could feel the energy slowly coming alive. People walking and experiencing all the shops, cafes, galleries all along the main street. It looked liked most of the buildings had been renovated...lots of handsome "brownstones" and colorful Victorians with their rainbow of trim.
I returned to Frederic Church's homestead, Olana, that had been under construction when I first visited it. I painted the view of the Hudson from that high point. The piece is an 8" x 8" oil and has very loose brushstrokes.