Houghton Maine, Persistance

Watercolor completed on location

Houghton Maine

Persistence

A slight turn off the paved road

The grass quickly rises above the bumper, gently pushing us along

The road constricts, tree tops block out the sun

Branches tap the roof

Gently at first, then with more urgent groans, warning us to stop

How far the road will let us go?

A birch sapling stretches across the road

A warning

A long steep drop hidden around the corner

The road sprints downhill

Ending in a small clearing

Hidden by the last drop in the road

Surrounded by thickly wooded hills

Guarding their secrets

Bear scat and moose track tell me that we are not alone

I grab my paints and slip into the woods

Heading for high ground

The trees refuse to surrender the view I hope to find

Persistence

Stubbornness

A fine line

Rewarded

Invisible to a casual glance

A small scar, a remnant of past storms,

Offers an opportunity

To see above and beyond the trees

To see the entire valley

Persistence

Pine, Birch, and spruce claw their way skyward

Pushing rocks aside

The scar was already fading

Hours spent painting, the memory is set

My back is aching, paying the price for hours of concentration elsewhere

It was worth it

I don’t need to return here to know - this view is no more

The moose and bear travel as the mist, fleeting yet present,

Unwilling to be seen

They persist

Oil painting completed on location
Looking up from the campsite

Watercolor
Interrupted by swarms of black flies

Wilson's Mills

Wilsons Mills ME. Sun and storm From an on location study. The mountains and mountain valleys particularly interest me due to their sudden changes in weather and light. I remember quite vividly being very warm painting the on location study despite setting up in the tall grass in the shade of an old Spruce. By the time I hiked back to the campsite it was raining and quite cool.

Wilsons Mills

Golden fields, slow moving water with violet deep swirls, virtually no sound 

to the rivers ebb and flow

set up camp in the river basin

so still, the abrupt loud whoosh of crow's wings

snaps my head 'round - with no wild animal to be found (this time)

till I look up and slowly realize what I'm hearing

slowly, for it takes time to leave civilization behind

While painting, observing nature

nature was observing me

moose and deer 10 yards behind

moving through the tall grass and the fallen, gnarled brittle branches

with a grace and quietness not to be believed 

had I not been there

The sound of wind through the tall grass, pine, and spruce

Soothing - reminds me of carefree days exploring the woods close to home

later, the windblown birch branches are a metronome

slow and steady 

a soothing tempo

The fall chill - briefly held at bay,

so hot 

layers pealed, the shade of an old spruce to work  

but a storm was coming

tumbling leaves, thickening clouds, and the rush of cool air announces the coming rain

The wind whispers urgently while tugging at my sleeve

time to go

For the joy of painting

I'm starting this blog in the hopes of sharing the enjoyment I get from painting - in particular painting on location - and my love of writing.  I've never thought to combine both of these passions before, but for some reason I was thinking of one of my favorite and most influential professers from my time at the University of Maine at Orono, Constance Hunting.  Though I doubt my writing will reach her lofty standards, I will never forget her ability to inspire.  She reignited my passion for writing and I've been obsessed with painting for years now.


                                     

                                                          Lisbon Falls, ME
                                                   Acrylic on Canvas Board

I'd love to hear from fellow artists especially those of you who enjoy painting on location.



https://www.facebook.com/Robert-Kahler-landscape-paintings-1654823951409868/

robert.kahler65@gmail.com