Day After Labor Day on Keuka Lake

"Cumulus Clouds over Keuka Lake"

8"x10"

Oil on canvas

Price: $225. email me to purchase

left hanging in trees
yesterday’s birthday banners
now just memory
after Labor Day
though hot humid conditions
swimming beach empty
paddling slowly
two kayakers approach shore
ducks swim out of way
one could never tell
gazing at surface of lake
how deep underneath
from this vantage point
lakeside hills covered in trees
is this wine country
empty swimming dock
other than one lone black duck
occasional quack
yellow butterfly
lands, flies, lands, flies, lands, flies, lands
on dandelions

"Day After Labor Day, Keuaka Lake"

16"x20"

Watercolor on 300lb paper

Price: $300. email me to purchase

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"Plein Air Painting and Poetry" on exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
On view now through November 16, 2018

 Click here to see all plein air paintings and poetry in this series. 
 

* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 

Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *

Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Mossy Bank Park, Bath NY

Destroying Angels, Mossy Bank Park

16"x20"

Watercolor on 300lb gallery wrapped paper

SOLD!

far below

Cohocton River
flows slowly by
cars, trucks
speed by on highway
four decades ago
I stood here
gazed at river
gazed at highway
time, too, flows by
speeds by


Poem by Michael Czarnecki

Mossy Bank Park in Bath, NY was the setting for session six on September 1. If haven't been there yet, you should go! They have great educational programs spring though fall. The park has lovely trails through shaded woods, and a great view out over the river valley.
This has been the year of rain, and there were plenty of mushrooms around - some edible, some deadly poisonous. Destroying Angels are deadly, don't eat them if you find them in the woods! They do have an other-worldly glow with their pure white translucent skin against the dark forest floor - good for painting, not for eating. Michael knows a lot about mushrooms, and even had a near death experience with them years ago. Ask him about it.

Follow this link to find out more about Mossy Bank Park: https://mossybankpark.com/

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"Plein Air Painting and Poetry" on exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
On view now through November 16, 2018

 Click here to see all plein air paintings and poetry in this series. 
 

* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 

Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *

Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Finding our way

"Morning Fog, Evening Primrose"

16"x20"

Watercolor on 300lb gallery wrapped paper *

while brown Chemung flows by
Bridget’s colorful paint
flows on to canvas
__________________________________________

osprey flies by high over river
water brown from heavy rains
with such murkiness
can osprey see its way
to finding food for young

Poems by Michael Czarnecki

For session five we started out early near the river launch site on the Chemung River in Corning, NY. If you live in Corning, you're familiar with the fog that covers the river valley in the morning, usually lifting by late morning.
As I set up to paint the river, Michael pointed out the abundance of wildflowers growing on the unmowed sloop. I had to add these bright yellow Evening Primroses to my painting. I think they're a nice bright pop of color in an otherwise melancholy scene. Many of us here in the Southern Tier are hoping for brighter days soon. Don't forget to vote!

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"Plein Air Painting and Poetry" on exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
On view now through November 16, 2018
 

* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 

Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *

Click here to see all plein air paintings and poetry in this series.
Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

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Back Alley Views

"Corning Alleyway, Market Street" 14x10 watercolor, SOLD!

back alley
back doors
of shops
of businesses
smokers’ alley
doors open
guys walk out
light up

***
small touch of New Orleans
hanging pots of flowers
other living greenery
enliven back alley
but only scattered places
not like French Quarter
plants, flowers festooning
residential, business buildings
on nearly every street
where’s street musicians
where’s riverside walkway
where’s horse drawn carriages
where’s urine smelling morning Bourbon Street
where’s homeless people sleeping on benches
only a small touch of New Orleans

Poems by Michael Czarnecki

Session Four took place on July 19, 2018. We met at the Farmer's Market and didn't have to walk far to find subjects to paint and write about.

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"Plein Air Painting and Poetry" on exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
On view now through November 16, 2018
 

* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 

Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *

Click here to see all plein air paintings and poetry in this series.
Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Blackbird atop tombstone

"Hadley Graveyard" Canisteo River Valley *

6"x9" oil on canvas by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo

blackbird atop tombstone
perches a few minutes
then flies far away
tombstone still remains
___________________________________________
young artist stands under umbrella
dabs paint onto canvas
along side of road
scene she is painting:
old barn, dead standing tree
weathered tombstones
mid-summer, sun bright, air warm
winter, not all that far away
_________________________________________

old river flows through
narrow valley
lawn mower whirrs in distance
flies buzz around my head
a sudden breeze
sways branches of trees
occasional car speeds by
robin chirps, blue jay shrieks
soft gentle sounds, all
fitting this remote setting
suddenly, growing roar
like wind building in storm
but no, freight train rumbles by
after passing, loud whistle
as it approaches nearby crossing
this loud intrusion, no intrusion at all
fits perfectly in this bucolic setting
of narrow steep-hill-lined valley
___________________________________________ 
Poems by Michael Czarnecki


Session Three - the beautiful, remote Canisteo River Valley. First time there for me. Michael has forty-year-old memories of it, living above in the hills, 3 miles from the river.
Various scenes were possibilities for painting as we slowly drove along the River Road from Addison to Cameron. We had talked earlier on the ride about cemeteries. I've never been drawn to paint cemeteries, until that afternoon.


"Plein Air Painting and Poetry" on exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
On view now through November 16, 2018
 

* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 

Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *

---

See all plein air paintings and poetry in this series on my website: www.bridgetbossartvanotterloo.com
Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Houghton Land Preserve, a gift to our community.

"Trail Marker" 8x12 watercolor by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo*

"View from Here" 8x12 watercolor by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo*

what is it that draws us
to field, to forest
to other than human
as I sit on old log
slowly rotting back to earth
sudden brisk wind shakes tops of trees
at same time, tree shadows
dance on leaf-strewn woodland floor
all the while, wood thrush’s sweet song
floats through shaded forest air

Poem by Michael Czarnecki

Houghton Land Preserve, Finger Lakes Land Trust, Corning, NY
"Located just a stone’s throw from downtown Corning, the Houghton Land Preserve features mature hardwood forests, 2 miles of hiking trails, and scenic meadows with sweeping views of the surrounding hills.
The preserve is a gift from Jamie and Maisie Houghton, who gave their 194-acre property to the Finger Lakes Land Trust in 2016 to create a new nature preserve.  Jamie is the retired Chairman of the Board of Corning Incorporated, a company founded by his great-great grandfather in 1851.  By donating their family land to the Land Trust, the Houghtons are continuing their deep commitment to the Corning community."
Learn more at: www.fllt.org/preserves/houghton-land-preserve/

Reception with the Artist and Poet tonight! 5-8 pm

171 Cedar Arts Center
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
Please join us for a reception and Artist/Poet Talk, TONIGHT! Friday, October 26 5–8pm
Talk begins at 6pm, bring your questions!
This exhibit is will be on view through November 16, 2018
 

* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 

Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *

---

See all plein air paintings and poetry in this series on my website: www.bridgetbossartvanotterloo.com
Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Forgotten Beauty - Denison Park, Corning NY

"Cherry Trees" 8x12 watercolor by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo*

Plein Air Painting & Poetry

Beginning in the spring of 2018, painter Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poet, Michael Czarnecki traveled together to 10 different locations around Steuben County to create works of art inspired by each location: Bridget painted plein air paintings, Michael wrote plein air poems. “En plein air” is a French phrase meaning “in the open air.” We hope our work inspires you to enjoy our beautiful area.
Visit the exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center
Houghton Gallery, 171 Cedar Street, Corning, NY
October 22–November 16, 2018
Please join us for a reception and Artist/Poet Talk on Friday, October 26 5–8pm
Talk begins at 6pm

Location #1: Denison Park, Corning NY
On May 14, 2018 we met for our first session in Denison Park. The trees were in full bloom. I set up to paint under the ornamental cherry trees. Petals floated down and stuck in my wet paint.

"Under the Cherry Tress" 18x24 oil on linen by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo*

Poems written on location by Michael Czarnecki

sentient stillness
could almost be a sculpture
turtle on old log

***

such transitoriness
these colorful ornamental trees
pink blossoms, white blossoms
in full bloom
fragrancing nearby air
already
here and there
a petal drifts to ground

"Study of Trees" 8x5 watercolor and ink by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo

*

 This little study started as a demo during our workshop in Denison Park.

* All paintings are framed and available for sale. 

Please email me at bbvanotterloo@gmail.com to inquire about purchasing a painting. *

---

See all plein air paintings and poetry in this series on my website:
www.bridgetbossartvanotterloo.com
Paintings by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo and poetry by Michael Czarnecki, inspired by landscapes in Steuben County, New York.
Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Plein Air Painting & Poetry

"Under the Cherry Trees" 20x24 oil on linen by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo, Poem by Michael Czarnecki

I've been getting ready to present the work created during our 6 month long project, Plein Air Painting & Poetry.
During this grant funded project Michael Czarnecki and I traveled together to 10 locations in Steuben County. We live in a beautiful part of the world, and there was plenty to inspire us. Along the way we talked about the similarites and differences between painting and poetry.
We can't wait to share it all with you!
Plein Air Painting & Poetry, Steuben County will be on exhibit from October 22 - November 16, 2018 at 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning NY.
You are invited to a Reception and Artist/Poet Talk on Friday October 26, 5-8pm, during Corning's Urban Arts Crawl. We will begin our talk at 6pm. Michael will read his poetry and I will talk about my paintings. Please bring your questions!

You can see some pictures from our journey on our facebook project page:
Plein Air and Poetry: Steuben County

Plein air painting under the cherry trees in Denison Park, Corning NY

Grateful acknowledgments and appreciation to The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes for assistance in making this project possible by awarding us an Individual Artists Grant for 2018.

Sketching Along the Way - Yosemite National Park

Morning Light, Yosemite Valley

Whenever I travel I always make room for my sketchbook and painting supplies. Here's a peek into my sketchbook from my recent trip to Yosemite National Park. The light in this awe-inspiring place was amazing! This first sketch shown above was started at about 8 am, as the light was cresting over the granite mountains into Yosemite Valley.
I'm really liking Strathmore's hard cover watercolor sketchbooks, you can find them at our local Michaels Store. I still use my Winsor & Newton travel watercolor set from college. It's held up really well, and when I run out of a color, I just squeeze more into the well from tube paints. My favorite brush for traveling is a 1/4 inch dagger brush from Princeton Art & Brush Company. If you've taken a class with me, you've heard be talk about this brush.
There's something about capturing the feeling of a place that makes the challenges of sketching in the great outdoors worth it.
If you love to sketch too, consider meeting up with our friendly Urban Sketchers Corning Group. The group meets every weekend and anyone is welcome to join us. Check out more, including upcoming meet-ups, here on their Facebook page: Urban Sketchers Corning

My set-up: sketchbook, folding watercolor set that fits brushes, pencil box, plastic container for water, paper towels.

 

Giant Redwood Tree in Mariposa Grove, pen and watercolor.

Quick pen sketch of a Ponderosa Pine Cone

Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, pencil and watercolor. 

Aspen Leaf, pencil and watercolor

Merced River, near Happy Isles, Yosemite. Pen and watercolor

I'd love to hear about your sketching adventures and any sketching tips or questions in the comments below.
Happy Sketching!
Bridget

Pollinators, 171 Summer Mosaics

Pollinators Series at 171 Cedar Arts Center

I've been working on a series of 50 6x6 oil paintings for this year's Summer Mosaics Exhibit at 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning, NY. The Mosaics show includes 31 talented artists who created 50 works of art each in a variety of mediums. Go see the show now through July 22. Artwork will start disappearing from the gallery during Thursday's reception. For more information, and tickets to the two receptions click here: summer-mosaic-tickets-available-here

View all 50 Pollinator Paintings here in my website: bridgetbossartvanotterloo.com/pollinators-2018

If one catches your eye, email me to inquire if it is still available:
bbvanotterloo@gmail.com

50 Pollinators by Bridget Bossart van Otterloo