Category Archives: Petersham

Painting from Plein Air Drawings, Part 2

Posted on March 13, 2015 by

The routine: door closed, music cranked up, paint brush moves to the beat. Time flies agreeably as a painting takes shape. Yesterday’s soundtrack: Warren Zevon, Talking Heads and the ever-energetic Rolling Stones. These are places of rich history. The beautiful ruin of an apple-cider mill on … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, architecture, Art Studio, bird art, Culture, Diversions, Environment, field sketching, Harvard Forest, history, landscapes, Music, natural history, Nature, New England, painting, Petersham, plein air, Pop culture references | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

The Artist Emerges

Posted on October 23, 2011 by

After many months, I just looked up and realized just how late it’s gotten- while I was busy, the forest changed from a symphony of green to an arboreal fiesta of reds and yellows. People are stuffed into coats and … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, Artists, Drawing, Environment, history, Nature, New England, Petersham, Wildlife | 22 Comments

Drawing at the Edge of History

Posted on June 25, 2011 by

Oh the chimney’s fallen down and the roof’s all caved in Lettin’ in the sunshine and the rain And the only friend I’ve got now is that good old dog of mine And the little old log cabin in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure!, archeology, Art, Artists, birds, Drawing, Family, field sketching, history, New England, Petersham, plein air | 12 Comments

A Note on the Fly

Posted on May 15, 2011 by

Spring arrived sometime yesterday, I think, but it’s flowering nicely and greening right up. The blackflies and mosquitoes got the memo and arrived en masse, as did a goodly number of warblers and other feathered eye candy. I got up … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, bird art, birding, birds, Drawing, Environment, field sketching, Nature, New England, Petersham | 8 Comments

Earth Day 2011: Trees and Other Necessities

Posted on April 22, 2011 by

White-throated sparrows are singing in cold, blustery Petersham. Back  in Oklahoma that   would have announced the onset of winter.  Here in the north it ostensibly heralds spring, which at this point is a mere promise; I’m still dressed in down … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, Art, Drawing, field sketching, Harvard Forest, history, Nature, New England, Petersham, plein air, Sketching, Weather | 15 Comments

A Story Set in Stone

Posted on April 11, 2011 by

I spent almost all of Sunday drawing a single-boulder slab quarry.  My project here in Harvard Forest is to make drawings of certain things, namely, the abandoned ruins of early New England settlement being reclaimed by nature. Nature tends to … Continue reading →

Posted in archeology, Art, birds, field sketching, Harvard Forest, history, Nature, New England, Petersham | 5 Comments

New England Hearth-Warming

Posted on March 25, 2011 by

I’m sitting beside a crackling blaze in our Petersham parlor, enjoying the warmth and comfort of one of the three fireplaces in our four room apartment (we’re just using one fireplace. Not to worry). In the 18th century when Higginson … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Harvard Forest, history, Nature, New England, Petersham | 9 Comments