topiary cats

topiary cats

Sunday, August 10, 2025

Morning & Noon

I slept so well again! 
The hammock is the best thing ever!

After getting some morning tea, I went on a hike to find a good painting spot.
This morning I wanted to paint water, so I went on the Pond Loop Trail.

Except I somehow got off trail and ended in a rough spot with a great view.

This is a very buggy painting; the bugs like solvent more than they don't like bug spray.  I was completely covered except for my face and hands so they didn't get me!

6x8 oil





Breakfast on the fire:


I couldn't just do three paintings when I had 4 panels, so around noon I did my 4th painting to complete the set. Another 40 minute 6x8 oil:




The dining hall:


I liked how the flowers were glowy against the dark wall.


The rest of the day was swimming and hanging out with boathouse people.
It was nice to have all my painting work done.

There was cat at the Sloatsburg train station:

Saturday, August 09, 2025

Morning & Dusk

I can't believe how well I slept in my hammock!


Hammock with wet clothes from last night's swim....


And without.


More people are arriving around 10:45.

Of course the morning plan was get caffeine and paint, and that's exactly what I did, nice and early.

This painting was done about an hour after sunrise.
It was a fun painting to paint, and took about 40 minutes.
Dense woods foliage can be a challenge with composition, and this probably isn't my best one, but I'm still happy with it.

6x8 oil







The breakfast fire:

Then more people arrived.  
I went kayaking with some of them.









It was a nice day- nice people, nice food, nice nature, and just good to be here and get away for a bit.

Right at dusk, before dinner, I did another painting.
It's another 40 minute painting...the light changes so fast!
When I started painting the light was very golden, then at the end hints of pink appeared so I added it in.

6x8 oil


Aside from the box and tripod, this is my entire camping set up.
Everything fits in my small day pack.



All 9 tubes of paint fit inside my belly river box.
If I had to pare it down I could take 4 tubes, but I didn't have to so I didn't.

Sometimes people will pre-load a 7 day pill container or something, but I don't do that for 2 reasons:
1) I don't want to run out of paint, and I don't know what colors the situation will call for and
2) I use some VERY expensive paint and once it's out of the tube it's pretty much done. Yes the WiIlliamsburgs and Vasaris stay open for quite a while but I just think there is more potential waste and of course oxygen exposure and I prefer just taking tubes.

But Jessica, you might say, Why are you taking such expensive paint camping?
You could just bring cheaper paint.

Yes, yes I could do that.
but.... my snob paints LOVE to go outdoors and also I like using my expensive paint.
It handles differently and is so strong.

The Williamsburg cadmiums and cobalts aren't too terrible, they are about $33/tube.
(Williamsburg has an excellent Cobalt Turquoise PG 50) 

That tube of Vasari cobalt turquoise (it's a PB 36 but very close to PG 50) is $71.
It is so lovely to use!

The other thing about Vasari is once you are used to their prices, Williamsburg is affordable by comparison!



Aimee took my pic while I was painting.

Note to C who commented about it- if you are reading this which I do not know- large public group situation. And yes you still have to respect my wishes about this when I visit. It's a very big deal to me, it always will be, and this boundary needs to be respected. If you care about me at all you will continue to honor my wishes, even if you don't like or understand it.


Good boathouse people.


Tonight I did not go to sleep at 1am again....no midnight swim for me!
10:30pm came around and I was done for the day!
(Also was sooo looking forward to nesting in my hammock.)



Friday, August 08, 2025

The Amazing Hammock

This weekend is a boathouse camping trip!
A few of us went up to Harriman State Park today.
Sunday is the day open to all volunteers.

I need more nights in the woods in my life, so I invested in a camping hammock.
It is my favorite thing.
It is ridiculously comfortable!
My goal is to be able to go alone for a night or 2.

Some pictures from Friday night:

My hammock, with the adorable mini-hammock underneath to hold my gear!


Dinner... it was perfect....




There were 4 of us on Friday night.
We went for a midnight swim which was extremely fun.

I slept so well in my hammock..... like blackout sleep!

Monday, August 04, 2025

More after work beach painting

Today was a good day to go to the beach.
The water is warm and next time I might go for a quick swim before painting.

I feel like my ocean paintings need a lot of work........ I'm not unhappy with the painting but I always kind of miss the mark of what I aim for.

8x10 oil, Rockaway, just above Beach 116th.




I love the water.





Sunday, August 03, 2025

I really needed to paint.

Today I really needed to paint... I could feel it.
Normally on Sundays I am at the boathouse, but today... I just really needed to paint.
If I go too long without going out painting I start feeling wobbly inside.
So, today was a painting day.

It is ridiculously hot outside.
Because I am a heat wimp, it's good that I can work fast.

In this painting I was focusing again on a large shape block-in for the composition, then atmospheric perspective and variation in the foreground foliage.

8x10 oil


This is such a fun way to work.



Friday, August 01, 2025

Yeah it freaking better be!

Oh we just slid into August... I have Pigeon Risk Time on hold and ready to initiate, if needed.

Carey and I are together in solidarity, we are a good support system for each other, we'll get through this... again!