Saturday, May 29, 2010

Smoky Mountain Watermill

This mill is located in Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee. I painted it on site last year, right before the busy months arrived. It is located down in a "hole" where it is impossible to paint from a distance without altering the actual terrain. I met up with a large black bear near here; it saw my backpack and was convinced it was full of the usual goodies that hikers carry. A young man the size of a linebacker chased it away while I packed up and left.

Paine Creek Falls

These falls are located in Leroy Twp. and are part of the Lake Metropark system. A large mill complex once existed here, as was common where ever the power of falling water was harnessed.

Last year's hay


These hay rolls remain from last year and are flattened out from their standing weight. It's almost time to "make hay" again. Painted under morning light.
Feel free to join my "Follower's list". No salesmen will call; it helps me to see how many view my work.

Chairfactory Falls

I painted this view of the falls from the top of the gorge. It was mid-morning and the light was changing by the second.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Grand River island

This is a view of an island in the Grand River in an early morning view from high atop Indian Point.

Afternoon glare

Lake Erie in late afternoon.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Lakeshore Reserve maple


This large sugar maple sits near the bank at The Lakeshore Reserve of Lake Metroparks. The park features a giant stone sundial, along with other sculptures and great hiking trails along the shore of Lake Erie. .

Stonewalled

This great old sugar maple stands next to a stone wall that was built over a hundred years ago, which extends for about a half-mile. I painted this last fall, just as the leaves were beginning to turn.

Chair Factory Falls.


Lake Metroparks recently aquired this property in Concord Township, the site of a nineteenth century chair factory that harnessed the falling water to power the wood lathes at work in the mill. There was no trace of the former mill in my lifetime, as I used to camp next to the falls frequently in my youth. When I climbed down into the gorge to paint this scene, a friend helping me with the gear spotted the old iron waterwheel sticking out of the bank, having been recently exposed from bank erosion.

Old bridge, New bridge

This old bridge support was built in the 1800's, and was left in place when the structure was replaced in 1962.
It is now part of the Lake Metropark system on the Grand River.

Land Sharks


The combines angles and converging lines of these boats caught my eye and seemed to radiate energy.

Out of the Ice

The boating season here in northeast Ohio is shorter than coastal areas, and must be pulled out of the water by late October. The ice buildup here would crush the hulls otherwise. I treat these like still lifes, and their form is easier to interpret while up on stands than in the water.