Call to Paint -- Foote Memorial Park -- Thursday, 3 October 2013 -- After 9 AM

Greetings to All,

As I mentioned in last week's recap, this will be a new venue for CTSA -- a park setting on the east side of the Branford River, just north of the Brewer's Marina. There are picnic tables and a shelter.  I think there might also be toilets. The walk from the parking lot to the overlook is paved, but it's a little distance. Jay tells me the parking lot opens at 9 AM, so it doesn't make sense to arrive earlier. Like Madison Beach Club, this site is designated for town residents, but with light usage, I expect no enforcement at this time of year.

From the overlook, the scene includes the river marinas in the middle distance and the bend in the river as it turns to run northwest through a more treed landscape. Think simplification.

We can expect clouds on Thursday, but mid-70's, little wind, and they say a low probability of rain.

Directions below.

I hope to see you there.

/j

FOOTE MEMORIAL PARK –  Melrose Avenue, Branford

Heading south on I-95, take Exit 55. Turn RIGHT on Rte 1 (East Main), and move to left lane. After 0.3 mi., turn LEFT (south) on Windmill Hill Road. After 0.5 mi., turn RIGHT (southwest) on Damascus Road. After 0.9 mi., Damascus merges with Pine Orchard Road. Stay straight, heading west for another 0.4 mile. Turn LEFT (south) on South Montowese Street, and continue for about 0.5 mile to the first stop sign. Turn right (west) on Indian Neck Avenue, and then take the first left (southwest) on Melrose Avenue. The park entrance is at the end of Melrose. The path to the overlook runs along the right side of the tennis courts.

Clinton Town Hall Waterfront -- 26 September 2013

Greetings to All,

We found a little chill in the air as we arrived to paint, and I found Tom already setting up at 8:45 or so. We were eleven -- Tom, Kay, Patty, Cheryl, Sally, Jay, Veronica, Silvia, Bob, Betsey, and me -- a nice turnout now that we're out of the heat and other agendas of summer. You will think, from the photos that it was a sunny morning, but those periods were brief -- not long enough to give us the light and shadow that we had hoped to paint. Well, when you don't get sun and shadow, you either imagine it and paint it in or paint what you get.

Bob was late for a meeting and had to leave before we wrapped up. Veronica, as she often does, went back to do some more finishing on her painting. A few people shared lunch and chat.

Next week, Foote Memorial Park in Branford, overlooking the Branford River and marinas -- a new venue for CTSA.

Clinton Waterfront Photos

Call to Paint -- Thursday (Tomorrow), 26 September 2013

Greetings to All,

Distracted and late again.

Tomorrow is looking about as perfect for Clinton as you can get. Sunny, cool, light breeze from the northeast. This is a beautiful site, but often the prevailing southwest winds can make things a bit blustery. Looks like we caught a winner this time.

Directions below.

I hope to see you there.

/j

CLINTON TOWN HALL, 54 East Main Street, Clinton

From I-95, either way, take EXIT 63 - Route 81. Turn RIGHT (south) on High Street (Route 81), and drive for about 0.7 mile. At the traffic signal, turn LEFT (east) on Route 1. Drive about 0.2 mile, through Clinton center and over a little bridge. The town hall will be on your right. We will meet at the back of the parking area near the gazebo.

Guilford Train Station -- 19 September 2013

Here I am at last. I sort of forgot to post our Thursday outing. Too many irons in the fire again.

Anyway, it was a beautiful morning for eight of us -- some early, others later -- Jay, Sally, Patty, Kay, Cheryl, Veronica, Silvia, and me. Veronica came late and did not want to stop for the recap. Silvia also came a little late and painted on the back side of the parking lot, so she did not notice when everyone came in for the wrap up, and I forgot to count heads. I'm glad it took me a while to pack up, or I would have missed Silvia entirely.

Next week, the river frontage by Clinton Town Hall, but not if it's windy from the ssw.

Guilford Train Station Images

A link from Hans

Greetings to All,

Hans sent the following link that he thought might interest many of you... on the restorative powers of painting... Sounds familiar? To find Hans' comments in the blog, sort Newest First.

The Hobby Every Frazzled Executive Should Take Up

linkedin.com

Forget golf. If you want to look at things more intently and conjure up a time and memory far better than a photograph, postcard or Instagram snap, pick up a paint brush.

http://lnkd.in/bnrZwGZ

 

 

CORRECTION -- Train Station TODAY -- September 18 -- 9 AM

Sorry. I really got ahead of myself on this month's evaporating calendar! The Call to Paint said September 26! YIKES!

I hope you know I meant today. Please come.

/j

Call to Paint -- Thursday, 26 September 2013 -- 9 AM -- Guilford Train Station

Greetings to All,

Thursday is looking really fine for our outing at the train station. We can expect cool weather, and with the shorter daylight hours, 9 AM will be a fine starting time. Last year, we had a lot of fun at this venue, high and dry on the station platform, with pouring rain outside.

Directions below.

I hope to see you there.

/j

GUILFORD TRAIN STATION

From  I-95 take exit 58 (Route 77). Turn south onto Route 77  (Church Street) and continue for approximately 0.8 mile to the center of Guilford. Turn right (west) onto Broad Street, and then take a quick left (south) onto Whitfield Street, driving along the west side of the Guilford Town Green.

At the southwest corner of the green, continue straight on Whitfield Street. After 0.3 mile, bear slightly right on New Whitfield. Cross over the train tracks, and take your first left (east) (Pages Lane). Go to the stop sign, and turn left again. The train station is straight ahead. You may want to drop your gear near the platform area before parking.

Art and Photography Exhibition

I received this info from Tom today --  Charles Lagana, photography, and Thomas G. Mayer, paintings --  Saturday, September 21, 2013 -- 1-4 P.M. Held at Essex Art Association, 104 Main Street, Essex, CT.  -- The public is welcome.

Meig's Point -- 12 September 2013 -- and CTSA Member Notes

Hammonassett was golden! The marshes are all starting to glow with their fall colors, and the trees are filled with migrating birds, including the great swarms of tree swallows in the photos below. There was at least one new observation platform along the beach path, and workers were clearing grass and brush around what I call Larry's Beach, right at the waterfront entrance from the Meig's Point parking area. But storm damage still is evident, and places where we once had paintable vistas still have not healed.

I arrived around 8:15 and hiked around the two "island" trails behind the Nature Center. Although both were beautiful, the paths were swarming with hungry mosquitos. I ran the circuit, snapped some pics, and headed back just as Patty called, wondering where I was. We decided to head out to Meig's Point, where we found Jay, Tom, Gail Bannock, and Dick McKillip (all MAS plein air veterans) already setting up.

Patty ultimately had to give up, probably around 10, because of her allergies, just before Veronica arrived. So altogether we were 7 for the day, although Patty is not in our group shot. Some of the others got together for lunch.

Yesterday, I had an email from Hans, who is just back from a week in Tuscany, where he says he completed an impressive 16 paintings. He sent me 8 of them, which I'm including in this post.  Very nice work, Hans! We're looking forward to your being out with us again next week at Guilford Train Station.

On another note -- Congratulations to Eileen Eder for her first prize painting, Blue Glass Shadow, in the Guilford Art League show and to Joan McP (Seagull Cottage) and Pam Carlson (High Meadow), who also won prizes in the GAL show.

Meig's Point Photos

Tuscany According to Hans

/j