Monocacy Island IV

 

Monocacy Island IV

6" x 6" oil on board

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My fourth painting of this same spot on the Monocacy River - I'll just call it my spot, completed almost immediately after the third painting of the same spot. Remember how I said there was a heat advisory in effect and it was 95 degrees? Well, I felt like I had to get one from the same vantage point I've painted before, so I took a dip in that exact spot there in the shade before I worked up the energy to do my next painting. It was about 2:30 when I started, and the sun was starting to angle down to the west, which meant it was directly in my face. Hot. 

Just like the last time I painted here, there were thunderstorms approaching, also from the west. And even though I called it my spot, a Gator-load of the property owner's kids drove up while I was painting, along with their dog who gave me a good sniffing before splashing through the pool right in front of me. He was too fast to paint, though. The kids were friendly, and they told me that there is a bald eagle nest in a tree across the river, which I had not noticed. They swam a little while and then drove off.  Technically, I think my spot is below the low water mark, so I'm within my legal rights to stand there and paint. 

Just as I got everything packed up, the clouds started to build. I was about a mile upstream from the ramp where I put in, and I thought I had time to make a few casts before paddling back downstream.  My "spot" is also right upstream from the best stretch of fishing on this part of the river.  There are lots of submerged boulders in deep water, and I've caught some nice smallmouth bass there. Just as I was thinking I'd make my last cast and head back to the car to avoid the storms, a fairly large catfish grabbed my lure, right as I was pulling it out of the water. I use a pretty lightweight setup when I'm fishing for smallmouth, and this was probably a ten pound catfish, so I spent the next ten minutes or more, fighting it. Mainly, I didn't want to lose my lure.  Finally, I got him/her in the kayak, took a photo and flew back down the river. I got the kayak on the roof just as the first drops were starting to fall.

Here's the catfish and below that is my last painting of this spot:

Monocacy Island III

 

Monocacy Island III

8" x 8" oil on board

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My third painting of this same spot on the Monocacy River, this one done from a distance in the only shady spot I could find within view. It was 95 degrees with a heat advisory in effect. I'm not sure why, but I did this whole painting with one brush, and it was a brush that I've never used before, basically a watercolor brush. The paint was really moving, I guess because it was so hot, so I just stuck with it. And I really like it...Painting outside is usually tough, but this one just kind of painted itself. 

Monacacy Island II

Monocacy Island II
8" x 10" oil on board
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The second of two plein air paintings that I completed yesterday and the second time I've painted this exact location on the Monocacy River.

I was getting alerts on my phone that severe thunderstorms were approaching, but I looked at the radar and decided I had time if I painted quickly.
The light changed repeatedly as I painted, but I really like how it turned out - maybe more than my first attempt (below).  You can see in the original that there used to be two trunks, but the one closest to the river had fallen in the water.

This is such a wonderful spot. In between paintings, I sat in the cool rushing water with only my head sticking out.  There's a little beach where I stand to do my painting and I didn't see another person all day.

River Path

River Path
8" x 10" oil on board
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Completed en plein air by the Monocacy River in Frederick County, MD.  Believe it or not, painting green is difficult. Green out of the tube is really green, so it helps to tone it down with some violet and orange.  I'm really happy with how this turned out.

Monocacy Island

Monocacy Island
8" x 10" oil on board


The photo and the name of this painting - not so great. However, I think this is one of my best plein air paintings.  I got it down quickly, and it's accurate. I like the little reflection of sky in the lower left.  I caught no fish on this day because the river was up, but I had a great time painting.

Monocacy River Train Bridge

Monocacy River Train Bridge
8" x 10" oil on board
$70 plus shipping

Sadly, I am writing this post on the final day of summer vacation before I return to teaching and the stress of the school year. Summer photos have been uploaded and now it's time to scroll, achingly back through the wonderful experiences that I shared this summer and reassure myself that good times will return.

This painting is a reminder of one such experience. I was allowed out of the house for a day of fishing and painting, so I chose the Monocacy River, never having fished it before.  The Monocacy is beautiful and filled with fish.  I paddled upriver for a mile or so, casting along the way and catching tons of decent sized smallmouth bass. Once prime fishing hours had passed, I set up my easel in front of this train bridge and did my best. Amtrak passenger trains rumbled by occasionally as I painted, and when I was finished, I took a swim.