Wasn't that the best summer camp?

 

This congenial little group, gently shepherded by Dr. Woods (the "grown-up" with the glasses), is hoping you had as great a time at this year's summer camp as they did.  And maybe you'll come back for more next year?  I certainly met some new people and made at least one lasting friendship. I know that Harold Weston and I will stay in touch.

 

The seasons have changed now, and in times past, the Adirondacks summer vacationers would be heading back by train to Eastern seaboard cities – a phenomenon that took off in a frenzy in 1869 when a young preacher published the first guidebook to a wilderness area.

 

I caught this group of early 20^th century vacationers and imagined them grabbing their last sketching session before it was time to catch the train.  Don't worry – bags are packed, bills are paid, and now they have a few hours before they say goodbye.

 

Thinking about how memories inevitably fade, I decided to catch that phenomenon in paint.  The people in the photo, existing originally in "living colour," would fade to grey.  To fit them all into that creek-side setting, I started with a formal grid.

 

Here's an early lay-in stage – do you notice anything missing?

 

What seemed to be missing was someone to occupy the space on the left.  I had to look further in Adirondack archives and found a group that's perhaps native to the region, taking a break from farm work….while the city slickers pack up their easels.

 

 

Let's morph two of these guys together and fill in that space.

 

 

Moving along, I realized that I would have done better to start out differently.  Maybe I should have proceeded as if tinting an old black-and-white photo.

 

Ah, well – we're getting there – or somewhere, at least.

 

And here's the finale:  "Fading to Grey – Summer's End," copyright 2023.

 

 

Oh, what's that whistle?!   The train is leaving the station!   Destination?  I'm not sure -- it was just a blur on the "Departures" sign.  We'll know when we get there.

 

Coming to a close

Just one week now till the official change of seasons, and my summer camp experience is coming to a close.  Back in June, I'd researched and selected the late 19^th – early 20^th century Adirondack artists who I was counting on to help me fill "the Empty Frame."   I knew as soon as I discovered him that I'd be saving the best until last – Harold Weston, who some critics of the time had nicknamed "the Thoreau of the Adirondacks."

 

I have a particular soft spot for him, for all the reasons noted in this very readable short article  -- his strong response to nature, the improbable love story, his perseverance despite medical challenges, and most of all – for his part-time hermit's life in a remote cabin.  There's another reason, too.  In the past year and across the expanse of time, I've "met" the father of a NY state school friend via his unpublished memoir that she's bringing together for her grandchildren.  He was a near contemporary of Weston's and – curiouser and curiouser – from an entirely different background, he embraced the Adirondacks at first sight and spent a similar remote existence in a makeshift cabin in the very years and the very region where the young Weston was first living there solo.  They might have criss-crossed snowshoe tracks!

 

At first sight, I was so taken with Weston that I sought out the book he wrote – he was as fine a writer as he was an artist.  Thank you, Vancouver Public Library and inter-library loan services – eventually, the book reached me for a firm 3-week loan (no renewals!) from the University of Alberta library.

 

 

In this 2-minute video, you can see his granddaughter introducing the book and some of its photos, along with the more "futuristic" paintings that marked his late career.

 

I was – and am – so taken with Weston that I decided not to try any funny business this time.  Here's one of his self-portraits, and of course, the firm use of line and outline is always a draw for me. 

 

 

I decided my best lesson would come from trying to copy it.  Here's an early stage.

 

And the finale:  "Framed: Harold Weston."

 

 

Now, to a landscape – Weston's "Adirondacks in Autumn."   Again, his use of line intrigues me.

 

I paired this with a photo I took from Grouse Mountain...

 

 

...and set to work over an old painting.

 

 

And here's the final:  "Midsummer - Looking Southeast from Grouse Mountain" – Empty Frame series, copyright 2023.

 

 

It's by no means flawless – rather, it's at that stage where it's best to just down the brushes.  But – as with Weston and his superlative results, it's been something of a labour of love.

 

It sounds silly – but inevitable – that as I worked to finish this over the past two weeks, I couldn't help but think of "September Song."