April 27th, 2014
Haggett’s Pond, Andover MA
Oil on Canvas, 18 x 24 in

I can go about my business thinking all is fine, until I go painting and find myself choosing a subject of such dense, convoluted complexity as this. The weekend at Essex was rained out, so I decided to try a lake I love to visit. I found a nice spot with a great view of the lake, but found my mind arrested by this pond / swamp beside it instead. From the very beginning it was a disaster, but I pushed through for six hours because sometimes you just have to be brave and push through all the ugly to something truly beautiful. I didn’t get there on Sunday by a longshot, but the next few days of rain will be spent trying to make good of this unweeded garden of my mind and painting alike.