Friday, June 8 - Adirondacks

Chickadee & Milkweed

Drypoint, 4" x 5"

Edition of 75 prints

I completed this print just before I left Virginia.

Slush Pond

Slush Pond this morning before the rain.

Here's the painting with the black flies removed!

Black Spruce

oil, 9" x 12"

Osgood Pond - June 3

A path reveals itself as one moves forward.

Mergansers taking flight

A pair of Common Loons (click here to hear their call)

Buck Pond

Buck Pond around 6 am yesterday. The mosquitoes and Black flies have been joined by the No-see-ums, tiny bugs with big teeth! Even wearing my bug shirt I find the insects a distraction when I'm painting. Today, June 2, was rainy in the morning.


Lady Slippers

Folensby Pond - Adirondacks

Follensby Pond this morning around 6am with a light rain. The Black flies and mosquitoes are out in force. Without the bugshirts this would be unbearable.

The setting for painting at Follensby Pond last evening.






Follensby Pond
Oil, 9" x 12"




The setting for today's morning session.




The results.

White Pine - Follensby Pond
Oil, 9" x 12"

SOLD

Jones Pond - Adirondacks

Jones Pond, near Saranac Lake, NY at 6:30 am. The mosquitoes and black flies are not too bad since the temperature is in the 50's. After today, the forecast calls for rain until next Thursday. Good thing I don't mind painting under an umbrella!

The American Sporting Print - 20th Century Etchers & Drypointists

A selection of my etchings is included in John Ordeman's most recent book, The American Sporting Print - 20th Century Etchers & Drypointists. The book will be available in early September. Among the thirty-six artist featured in the book are Frank W. Benson and Carl Rungius. Only two thousand copies of the book will be printed including 150 books in the deluxe edition. The Trade Edition is $75 and is signed by the author and me. The Deluxe Trade Edition is $275, includes one of my original intaglio prints and the book is signed by John Ordeman and me. The Deluxe Edition is $350 and is signed by the author, artists Gordon Allen and me. It is leather-bound with a slip cover and includes an original etching by Gordon Allen. You may order copies of the book by emailing me at neil@rizosart.com or calling toll free 1-888-214-9067. If you telephone, please leave a message since I'll probably be traveling.

Adirondack Spruce Forest

I painted this in a spruce forest in the northern Adirondacks. The place was magical, with a dark green carpet of moss at least a foot thick. As I painted, two Gray Jays silently appeared and landed on this tree, curious about me. They stayed for a moment and then silently disappeared into the dark woods.

In the Spruce Forest
Oil on canvas, 6" x 8"

This was a classic Adirondack day in early autumn - brilliant blue sky, big white clouds, cool air. A day like that is like a piece of music my whole body hears and I sing along in my way...with paint.

Autumn -Adirondacks
Oil on canvas, 6" x 8"

Bog - Early Morning

I made this painting while in a bog early one morning - early for me, that is ...7 AM.

Bog - Early Morning
Oil, 6" x 8"